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Breast lumps and cancer

Breast lumps and cancer

Alternative Names

Cancer and breast lumps

Information

It is understandable that a newly discovered breast lump may cause fear and concern, but the fact is that only a small percentage of lumps turn out to be cancer. Many women have "lumpy breasts" or fibrocystic breast disease, a common and benign (harmless) condition.

If you have this condition, examining your breasts can be confusing and, at times, alarming. It is still very important to check your breasts at the same time each month and bring anything that feels new or different to your doctor's attention. It may be helpful to know that a cancerous lump tends to be hard and unmovable.

See also:

Review Date: 8/27/2007
Reviewed By: Stephen Grund, M.D. Ph.D., Chief of Hematology/Oncology and Director of the George Bray Cancer Center at New Britain General Hospital, New Britain, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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