Finding a lump or lump in one of her breasts is extremely scary for a woman because the word “cancer” immediately springs to mind.

When you notice the presence of such a nodule, you must obviously consult your doctor or gynecologist without delay.

However, a lump in the breast is benign in the majority of cases: it is most often a cyst or a “fibroademoma” without gravity. However, it is important to make sure that it is not cancer.

As there is no simple method to distinguish between benign lesions and cancers, additional examinations (mammography, ultrasound, biopsy) are necessary.

Men can also be prone to a breast lump and should see them right away.

Several types of lesions can lead to a breast mass. Benign lesions are distinguished from malignant cancerous lesions.

Benign lesions include, among others:

• The fibroadenoma: it is the most common. It is a firm mass, which “rolls” under the fingers, a little rubbery and well defined.
• Fibrocystic nodules: there is often associated pain, sometimes calcifications
• The cyst, which is sometimes painful
• Hamartome (soft mass)
• Lipom (soft mass)

There are also different types of breast cancer, which imaging and biopsy examinations will identify, so that an appropriate treatment plan can be established.

Often the cancerous lump is hard, non-movable, with irregular contours.

As we have seen, most of the “balls” or lumps are benign. During the consultation, the doctor will make an initial cancer risk assessment based on:

• family and genetic history (are there any cases of breast cancer in the family? other cancers?)
• of age: the risk of cancer is quite low before the age of 35 and peaks around the age of 60
• palpation

An ultrasound and / or mammogram should then be performed to visualize the type of lesion.

If a biopsy is performed, it will further clarify the nature of the lesion.

The only breast lumps that need treatment are cancers. However, some benign lesions can, if they are painful or bothersome, be removed by surgery.

In some cases, if the lesion is benign but presents a risk of cancer in the long term, it will have to be monitored regularly and made sure that it does not change. Regular imaging exams will be advised.

Finally, in cases where the lesion turns out to be cancerous, it will be removed (removed by surgery), then radiotherapy and / or chemotherapy treatment will be offered, depending on the type of cancer and its extent.

Depending on the tumor, hormone therapy may also be given to limit the growth of cancer cells.

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer in women. In more than 80% of cases, it affects women aged 50 and over.