Finding a breast mass can be a deeply concerning moment, bringing with it worries about breast cancer, related expenses, and the battle ahead. While most commonly associated with breast cancer, this disease isn’t the only reason you may develop lumps in your breasts. In 80% of all cases, lumps in the breast are non-cancerous, so if you’ve discovered one, there’s a good chance you have nothing to worry about. An exam performed by a women’s health professional is the only way to be completely certain.
What Are breast masses?
So if breast masses aren’t an immediate indicator of cancer, what are they? A breast mass can be a tumor, or a cyst, or one of a variety of fibrous masses that form in the breast. Tumors aren’t explicitly cancerous, and when biopsied, nearly 80% of them are discovered to be benign (non-cancerous). When a tumor has been revealed to be cancerous, it is called a malignant tumor. Breast masses can also be caused by an abscess in the breast or an infection.
Questions You May Want To Ask Your Provider
What are the stages of breast cancer?
There are three general stages of breast cancer described as early, advanced, and disseminated breast cancer. Early breast cancer describes a tumor that only exists within the breast, and hasn’t spread to anywhere else in the body. Advanced breast cancer has spread to the lymph nodes of the chest, neck, or armpit. The last stage of breast cancer is called disseminated breast cancer and occurs when the tumors have spread beyond the lymph nodes to enter the bones, the lungs, the liver, the brain, or other organs in the body.
Is Breast Cancer Treatable?
When caught in the earliest stages, breast cancer is imminently treatable, with nearly a 96% success rate in cases of early breast cancer. As cancer advances, the chances of treating it successfully drop dramatically, with advanced breast cancer treatments only showing a 76% rate over a five-year period. Disseminated breast cancer can be treated, but has a five-year survival rate that is exceedingly low. Catching it early is absolutely critical to ensuring the patient’s best chance of survival.
What Treatment Options Are Available For Breast masses/Cancer?
When the lumps are the results of fibroids or cysts in the breast, treatment generally isn’t necessary as they are not life-threatening. Only in the event that another lump is found will treatment begin, often involving surgical removal. Breast abscesses are often successfully treated by draining, as antibiotics are typically unable to properly treat them. Women who are breastfeeding will occasionally experience an infection known as mastitis. Massage, hot showers and application of heat help the breast drain by opening the ducts.
How Our Clinic Can Help With Breast masses?
Our clinic is dedicated to helping to treat a full range of women’s health concerns. When you join our clinic’s patient family, you’ll receive treatment at the hands of specialists who are dedicated to helping women treat and manage their health concerns. We use the latest technology and techniques to ensure that the treatments we provide are up to date and effective.
If you’re looking for a new women’s health care provider, or have discovered a breast mass that you need to be examined, call our clinic today. We’ll schedule an appointment with one of our practitioners and help you prepare for your first visit to our office. We look forward to hearing from you.
