What should you know about a tiny lump in the breast?

Breast tissue can feel different because of normal hormonal changes, cysts, fibroadenomas, infection, injury or other conditions. A lump may be soft, firm, tender, mobile or fixed, but these qualities are not enough to identify its cause. Most breast lumps are not cancer, yet every new lump should be checked because breast cancer can also present as a lump.

A clinician may examine both breasts and the armpit, then choose imaging based on your age, symptoms and examination findings. Keep track of when you noticed the lump and whether it changes during your menstrual cycle.

Make a routine appointment for a new lump, even when it is very small or painless. Try not to squeeze it or check it repeatedly, as this can cause tenderness. Wear a supportive bra if movement is uncomfortable and mention pregnancy, breastfeeding, recent injury, medicines and family history during the consultation.

Do not wait for a routine appointment if the lump is changing quickly or appears with other warning signs. A breast health professional can explain whether monitoring, imaging, sampling or another step is appropriate.

Seek prompt review for a growing or hard fixed lump, skin dimpling, an orange-peel texture, a new inward-pointing nipple, bloody nipple discharge, redness with fever, or a new lump in the armpit. These findings do not prove a diagnosis, but they should not be ignored.

What could explain this lump based on the examination? Which imaging test is suitable? When will I receive the result, and what changes should prompt earlier review? If a biopsy is advised, what will it involve?