Painful lump under the breast

Tenderness can occur when a blocked follicle, skin cyst, or breast cyst becomes irritated. Hormonal breast swelling may feel sore before a period. Strained chest muscles, bruised ribs, pressure from clothing, or inflammation near the breast fold can also produce a painful lump. A breast lump is a common presentation of breast cancer, but pain does not establish that a painful lump has a particular cause.

Describe whether the pain is burning, aching, sharp, or worse with touch, movement, breathing, or the menstrual cycle. Redness, heat, or fever raises concern for infection and should not be watched at home for long.

Avoid squeezing the area and reduce friction from tight clothing. A comfortable supportive bra and a wrapped cool or warm compress may ease irritation; stop if either increases pain. Keep a note of the lump's size, skin changes, and symptoms. Contact a clinician if the pain or lump persists, returns, grows, or interferes with normal activity. They can decide whether examination, imaging, or treatment is needed.

Seek prompt care for fever, spreading redness, warmth, pus, rapidly increasing swelling, severe pain, bloody nipple fluid, skin dimpling, nipple inversion, or an armpit lump. Emergency care is needed for severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, faintness, or sudden deterioration.

Ask whether the pain appears to come from skin, breast tissue, muscle, or ribs; what symptom relief is suitable for you; whether infection is possible; and when the lump should be reviewed again.