You should be concerned about a breast lump and see a doctor if any of the following apply:
- The lump is new and feels firm, hard, or fixed.
- The lump doesn't go away or changes in size or how it feels after about 4 to 6 weeks.
- The lump has definite borders or feels different from surrounding breast tissue or the other breast.
- There are skin changes on the breast such as dimpling, puckering, redness, or changes that look like orange peel.
- You notice nipple changes, such as the nipple turning inward or fluid discharge from the nipple, especially if bloody.
- One breast becomes noticeably larger than the other.
- You find a lump in your armpit or it seems to be growing.
- The lump is accompanied by breast pain or tenderness that doesn’t go away.
Most breast lumps are benign (non-cancerous), such as cysts, fibroadenomas, or fibrocystic breast changes, especially common in younger women and often related to menstrual cycles. But because some lumps can be signs of breast cancer or other serious conditions, it’s important to get any new, changing, or unusual lumps checked promptly by a healthcare provider for proper evaluation and diagnosis.
