Breast lumps are common in females of all ages. Nature of these lumps can vary from benign (non cancerous) disease like fibroadenoma seen in young females to phyllodes tumor (borderline cancerous) in middle aged females to cancer seen in elderly females. Though no age is immune to the occurrence of cancer, not every lump is a cancer. Sometimes a hardness present in breast due to a benign condition like fibroadenosis may seem like a lump to a female. A number of risk factors increase the risk of cancer of which presence of family history of breast and ovarian cancer is of paramount importance. Presence of lump should not cause panic to the female. Expert consultation and timely intervention leads to cure in a large percentage of patients. Proper evaluation by a doctor experienced in these cases helps to arrive at a correct diagnosis and tailor treatment. Even with a diagnosis of cancer, cure is achieved in majority of patients presenting with localized disease.
Not all lumps need surgery. As for example, when the diagnosis of fibroadenoma is firmly established, small fibroadenomas can be observed and closely followed up. Fibroadenosis can be managed with medications. When these lesions need surgery, only removal of lump is sufficient and these procedures are relatively safe with low incidence of complications.
Following a diagnosis of cancer, the diseases needs to be staged by a expert in breast cancer. With the advent of multimodality treatment involving chemotherapy, surgery and radiation, even advanced diseases can be controlled. Small tumors can be operated preserving the breast and even in advanced cases tumors can be downstaged with chemotherapy prior to surgery in select patients to allow preservation of breast. Not all patients need chemotherapy. Some patients with favorable characteristics can avoid chemotherapy which is assessed by the treating physician.
Breast lump timely managed by an expert gives good survival and good quality of life!