This article will focus more on breast lumps that include benign or non-cancerous tumours.
Causes of Breast Lumps
Chest
Cysts are
fluid-filled lumps. Women can have one or more cysts on one or both
breasts. Breast cysts
are generally round or oblong. Although naturally soft, cysts are also
sometimes palpable solid.
Cysts are formed
due to the buildup of fluid inside the breast glands. It is unknown why this
happens, but it is thought to be related to changes in female hormones in the
menstrual cycle.
Fibroadenoma
Fibroadenoma is a benign tumour of the breast that often
occurs in women aged 20-30 years. Fibroadenoma is formed from the breast tissue
and connective tissue and can occur in one or both breasts.
Fibroadenomas are
divided into two types. The first type is a simple fibroadenoma, which
is not cancerous. While the second type is a complex fibroadenoma, which
can increase the risk of breast cancer. If it is considered dangerous, surgery will usually be recommended.
To date, it is
not yet known what causes fibroadenoma. However, this condition is thought to
be related to the hormone estrogen or the use of birth control pills before the
age of 20 years.
Fibrocystic breast
Breast
fibrocystic is an abnormal growth of fibrous tissue, making it more prominent
than fat tissue. Fibrous tissue is the building tissue of ligaments, which is
the tissue that connects between bones. Fibrous tissue also forms scar tissue
and connective tissue. This condition can occur in anyone but usually affects
women in 30-50 years.
The cause of
breast fibrocystic is not yet known with certainty, but it is thought to change
the hormone estrogen in the menstrual cycle.
Intraduktal papilloma
Intraductal papillomas
are benign tumours that form in the ducts, which are the ducts that carry milk
from the mammary glands (lobules) to the nipple. These tumours are formed from
fibrous tissue, glands, and blood vessels. Intraductal papillomas are known to
most commonly affecting women aged 35-55 years.
Intraductal
papillomas can be singletumors (solitary intraductal papilloma). This
type generally grows near the nipple and is not cancerous. While papillomas
consisting of many tumours (multiple papillomas)are more at risk of
developing into cancer.
Intraductal
papillomas generally occur in women in the age range of 35-55 years. However,
it is not yet known what causes and risk factors for this condition.
Mastitis
Mastitis is inflammation of the breast tissue, which is
sometimes accompanied by infection. This condition can cause the formation of
abscesses (pus collection) in breast tissue. In severe cases, mastitis will be
fatal if not treated immediately. Although it generally afflicts nursing
mothers, mastitis can also be experienced by women in general, even men.
Mastitis is caused by bacteria that enter the skin
layer, then infect breast tissue. In addition to bacterial infections, mastitis
can also be caused by blockages in the ducts, which carry breast milk from the
breast glands to the nipples. The backup will make breast milk settle in the
breast, then trigger inflammation that leads to infection.
Lipoma
Lipomas are lumps of fat that grow slowly under the skin. These lumps can grow on
any part of the body, such as the neck, shoulders, back, abdomen, and breasts.
Lipomas include benign and harmless tumours but can be removed when they are
large enough and bothersome.
It is not yet
known precisely what causes lipomas. However, this condition tends to occur in
someone from a family who has a history of lipomas. Although it can be
experienced by people of all ages, lipomas are more common in people aged 40-60
years.
Fat necrosis
Fat necrosis is
damage to the fatty glands in the breast, which generally occurs due to injury.
This condition can also happen after undergoing surgery or radiation therapy on
the breast.
Necrosis can be
caused by many factors, including
radiotherapy side effects or surgical procedures. Some breast surgery
methods are lumpectomy, mastectomy, breast reconstruction, breast reduction,
and breast biopsy.
Symptoms of Breast Lumps
Breast lumps can
vary in size and texture, depending on the type of lump. Some of the
characteristics of nodes that can appear, among others:
- Bumps can appear single or numerous
in one or both breasts.
- The size of the lump can be less or
more than 5 cm, but it can grow enlarged.
- Nodes can be palpable soft, chewy, or
solid.
- The shape of the lump can be round or
oblong and can be moved.
- The protrusion enlarges before
menstruation and returns to its original size after menstruation is
complete.
In addition, other symptoms that can appear are:
- Breasts are palpable hard.
- Changes in shape in both breasts.
- Breasts swell.
- The nipples are itchy or sensitive.
- The breasts feel hard and warm when
touched.
- Fever.
- Slogans.
- The nipple secretes a liquid that can
look clear or cloudy.
Immediately consult a doctor if the following symptoms appear:
- The lump does not go away after menstruation
or more than 4 or 6 weeks.
- A new bubble appears.
- The node is enlarged.
- The lumps are palpably dense and do
not shift when moved.
- Nipples bleed.
- Breast skin reddens, hardens, or
wrinkles like orange peel.
- Bruised breasts for no apparent
reason.
- The nipple that goes into or its
position is not normal.
- There's a lump in the armpit.
Diagnosis of Breast Lumps
As the first step
to diagnosis, the doctor will ask about the symptoms experienced and when the
lump begins to appear. After that, the doctor will perform a physical
examination by groping the patient's breasts. A physical exam can help the
doctor ascertain the lump's location so that if a supporting exam is done, the
doctor can focus on the area. However, to ensure that the node in the patient
is not cancer, the doctor will run a supporting examination, such as:
Mammography
Mammography is a photo of X-rays on the breasts. In this
examination, the patient's breasts will be pressed to see the image of breast
tissue more clearly. Through mammography, several abnormalities in the breast
can be seen, such as tumours, calcium buildup, or dense tissue in the breast.
Ultrasonography
Ultrasound is an
examination that uses sound waves to produce images. Breast ultrasound is beneficial in examining breast lumps,
especially in distinguishing solid bumps and fluid-filled lumps.
MRI
MRI uses magnetic
fields and sound waves to display images of the inside of the body. MRI is used
to examine lumps felt during a physical examination more thoroughly but are not
visible on mammography or ultrasound.
Duktografi
Ductography, or
galactoseography, is a procedure of taking pictures of the breast glands with
an X-ray photo machine to help the doctor find out the cause of
discharge from the nipple. This procedure is preceded by the administration of
contrast injections into the nipple.
Biopsy
A biopsy is sampling
a lump or an entire lump to be examined in a laboratory. Some methods of breast
biopsy are:
Fine-needle aspiration
biopsy
Surgical biopsy
(surgical biopsy)
Biopsy with
vacuum assistance (vacuum-assisted biopsy)
Biopsy of the
core needle biopsy
Breast Lump Treatment
In many cases, benign breast lumps do not need to be treated because they
are harmless and bothersome. Even in some cases, the protrusion may disappear
on its own. New medical measures will be taken if the bump gets bigger or
causes severe pain.
Procedures for
dealing with breast lumps depend on the type of lump, including:
Lumpectomy
Lumpectomy begins
with giving the local patient anaesthesia. After the anaesthetic works, the
doctor will make a wedge around the tumour area, then remove the tumour and a
little surrounding tissue. This procedure is usually performed on women with
one lump with a diameter of fewer than 5 centimetres.
Krioterapi
Cryotherapy or
frozen therapy aims to destroy abnormal cells by freezing. In this procedure, a
special needle will be inserted directly into the tumour area. Then, the doctor
will inject liquid nitrogen to freeze the tumour.
Fine needle aspiration
Fine needle
aspiration is a procedure of removing fluid from a breast lump using a special
needle. This procedure is done with the help of an ultrasound so that the
placement of the hand is right on the bump.
In addition to
the above methods, doctors can also prescribe drugs, such as birth control
pills, to lower estrogen levels. In the case of mastitis, your doctor may
prescribe antibiotics and pain medications, such as paracetamol or
ibuprofen. There is no need to stop breastfeeding because it remains safe for
the baby and can actually help to heal.
If a breast lump
is breast cancer, your doctor may perform several surgeries, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or hormone therapy. In some cases,
doctors may combine the 1-2 treatment methods above, depending on the size and
stage of cancer and the age and health condition of the patient.
Prevention of Breast Lumps
Most breast lumps
cannot be prevented, as they occur due to hormonal changes that cannot be
controlled. However, women need to understand their breasts, so it is easier to
realize changes in their organs.
One way that can be done to recognize your own breasts is to do early detection (examine your own breasts). By doing early detection, patients can find out the presence of lumps.
Be aware of it
done once a month, at 7-10 days after the first day of menstruation, in the
following ways:
- Stand in front of a mirror, and
observe if there are changes in the shape, size, skin colour, and surface
of the breast skin. Please note. Generally, the body of the right and left
breast is not symmetrical. Therefore, this is nothing to worry about.
- Raise both hands up, bend your elbows
and position your hands behind your head (nape). Then, push the elbows
forward and backwards while observing the shape and size of the breasts.
- Groping the breast using three
fingers (index, middle, sweet) that are close together. Then with gentle
pressure, do a twisting motion starting from the outside of the breast to
the inside and touching the nipple. Focus and feel well to be known when
there is thickening or lumps.
- When bathing, position the right hand
behind the head. Then after being poisoned, check the right breast with
the left hand in a circular motion, from the nipple to the outer side of
the breast. Do the same on the left breast.
- When lying down, place your left hand
under your head. Then, check the left breast with your right hand. Do the
same with the right breast.
- Squeeze both nipples and observe if
there is any abnormal fluid coming out of the nipple.
In addition to
being aware, another preventive step is SADANIS (clinical breast examination),
which is carried out by trained medical personnel. Every woman is advised to
undergo SADANIS periodically to find lumps or other abnormal signs in the
breast as early as possible.
