Finding a Lump in Your Breast: Why It’s Not Always Cancer and What to Do Next

[medi K / HEALTH IN NEWS] A growing number of women are seeking medical attention after discovering a lump in their breast. The discovery often triggers anxiety and fear, but not every lump signals cancer. In fact, the majority are benign tumors that can be effectively managed with early detection and appropriate care. The key is to avoid jumping to conclusions and instead focus on evaluating the lump’s characteristics.

The size, shape, hardness and borders of a lump provide critical clues in distinguishing benign from malignant growths. Many lumps cause no pain, which can delay detection, yet diagnosis at an early stage significantly improves treatment outcomes and prognosis. Prioritizing objective medical evaluation over worry is the safest approach.

Safe Testing and Accurate Diagnosis

When a lump is felt, ultrasound and mammography are typically used to differentiate benign from malignant lesions. If needed, a biopsy offers a more precise diagnosis by comprehensively assessing the tumor’s shape, borders and changes in surrounding tissue. The procedure, performed under local anesthesia with a needle to extract tissue, involves minimal discomfort.

Advances such as vacuum-assisted biopsy—often referred to by the brand name Mammotome—allow removal of the tumor through a small incision. Unlike traditional open surgery, this method leaves virtually no scar and enables simultaneous diagnosis and excision of benign tumors, substantially reducing patient burden. These techniques enhance treatment efficacy and speed recovery when lumps are caught early.



The Value of Early Detection and Routine Screening

Breast cancer outcomes improve dramatically with early detection. Standard treatment begins with surgical removal of the lesion; if there is no spread to other organs, surgery is essential. Depending on the case, preoperative chemotherapy, radiation or hormone therapy may be employed as adjuvant treatments. The plan hinges on tumor size and metastasis, underscoring the paramount importance of early discovery.

Routine screening is indispensable for prevention and early detection. The Korean Society for Breast Cancer recommends that women 30 and older perform monthly self-examinations, those 35 and older undergo clinical breast exams every two years, and women 40 and older receive mammography combined with clinical exams every one to two years. High-risk individuals—those with family history or BRCA gene mutations—require systematic screening, including MRI, starting at a younger age.

Hee-sook Kwak, chief of breast surgery at Centum General Hospital, stresses: “A palpable breast lump should not be immediately assumed to be cancer. Prompt confirmation and management through a physician’s diagnosis are crucial.”

Lim Hye Jung / press@themedik.kr

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