Breast lumps

When and where to get medical help

If you have a lump in your breast, it's important to get checked. If it is a sign of breast cancer, finding it early can make it easier to treat.

See a GP if you notice:

• a lump in your breast or armpit
• any other unusual changes in your breasts – such as the nipple turning inwards, dimpled skin or bloodstained nipple discharge

Information

Check your symptoms with NHS 111 online

If you're worried about your symptoms, NHS 111 online can help you find the support or treatment you may need.

Get help from 111 online

What happens at your GP appointment

If you have a breast lump, a GP will look at and examine your breasts.

If they're not sure what's causing the lump, they'll refer you to a hospital or breast clinic for further tests.

These tests usually show that a lump is not cancer.

What happens at the breast clinic

At the hospital or breast clinic, you may have a:

• breast examination
• scan – usually a breast X-ray (mammogram) or ultrasound
• biopsy – where a needle is inserted into the lump to remove some cells for testing

These tests are often done during the same visit. You'll usually be told the results on the same day, although biopsy results take longer – you may have to wait about a week.

Treatment for a breast lump depends on the cause. Most are harmless and may go away on their own without treatment.

Causes of breast lumps

Lumps in the breasts can have lots of different causes.

They're often caused by something harmless like a non-cancerous tissue growth (fibroadenoma) or a build-up of fluid (breast cyst).

Sometimes, a breast lump can be a sign of something serious like breast cancer.

Do not try to self-diagnose the cause of your lump – always see a GP.

Breast lumps

Breast lumps

There are lots of possible causes of breast lumps. Most lumps are not cancer and are caused by something harmless like a build-up of fluid (cyst).

To find out what is causing a breast lump, you may have a scan, a biopsy and a breast examination at a hospital or breast clinic.