Breast Health

Ever since we entered puberty and began to menstruate we began experiencing other changes in our bodies as well. Many of these occurred in our breasts.

Checking our breasts for noticeable changes and conducting breast self exams routinely can be helpful in detecting lumps and tumors early. Remember in our age group many women will have lumpy and bumpy breasts but these are benign changes. Breast changes can also occur with the menstrual cycle.

Studies show that 80 percent of breast conditions for which biopsies are done are not cancerous, but only a doctor can tell whether a condition is malignant (cancer) or benign (not cancer), so it is important to begin getting regular check-ups early.

There are several types of breast tumors. Most are benign; that is, they are not cancer. These lumps are often caused by fibrocystic changes, which can cause swelling and pain in your breast. The breasts may also feel lumpy and you could notice a clear or slightly cloudy discharge from your nipples. Benign breast tumors are abnormal growths, but they do not spread outside of the breast and they are not life threatening.

Breast cancer, on the other hand, involves malignant tumors.

For more detailed information about breast cancer and other breast changes check out the webpage for the American Cancer Society.

One way to help detect changes is to perform a breast self exam to check for lumps or thickenings in your breasts. These changes should be brought to your doctor's attention immediately when they are found.

Click here for a quick reference guide to symptoms and what they may mean. [ To Top ]

While 99% of all breast cancer cases are in women, there are some men who develop similar changes. The vast majority of breast cancers in men, therefore, arise in the area at the center of the breast beneath the nipple and areola, rather than in the outer quadrants so commonly affected in women. A painless lump or abnormalities around the nipple are the most common complaints made by men who are found to have breast cancer. [ To Top ]

Harris JR, Hellman S, Henderson IC, Kinne DW. Breast Diseases. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott; 1991.

Marchant D. Breast Disease. Philadelphia: Saunders; 1997. [ To Top ]