Breast changes are common, and most are not caused by cancer. A new lump, breast pain, skin or nipple change, or another unexpected finding may still need evaluation to determine what is causing it and whether additional imaging, testing or follow-up is appropriate.
Understanding Breast Health and Breast Changes
Breast tissue can change throughout life, and many changes have benign causes such as cysts, hormonal changes, inflammation or other noncancerous breast conditions. Knowing what is normal for you can make it easier to recognize a change that is new, persistent or otherwise concerning.
You do not need to determine what a breast change means before seeking care. The purpose of breast evaluation is to understand the concern, identify its cause when possible and determine whether anything further needs to be done.
When Should a Breast Change Be Evaluated?
A new or persistent breast change is worth discussing with a healthcare provider, particularly when it is different from what is normal for you. Many of these changes have noncancerous explanations, but evaluation can help distinguish conditions that need treatment or follow-up from those that do not.
Changes that may warrant evaluation include:
- A new breast lump, mass or area of thickening
- Persistent or localized breast pain
- New swelling or a noticeable change in breast shape or size
- Redness, dimpling, thickening, scaling or another persistent skin change
- New nipple inversion or a change in nipple appearance
- Unexpected nipple discharge, particularly when it is spontaneous or bloody
- A new breast or nipple concern in a man
A new concern should not be postponed simply because your most recent screening mammogram was normal or your next routine mammogram is already scheduled. Screening looks for breast cancer before symptoms develop, while a new breast change may require diagnostic evaluation based on the specific concern.
How Are Breast Concerns Evaluated?
Breast evaluation begins with understanding what you have noticed and reviewing relevant personal and family history. Depending on the concern, your evaluation may include a clinical breast examination and breast imaging such as mammography or ultrasound. You do not need to know which test you need before making an appointment.
If imaging cannot determine what a breast finding represents, a breast biopsy may be recommended so tissue can be examined by a pathologist. Most breast findings do not turn out to be cancer, but timely evaluation can determine what a finding is and what, if anything, should happen next.
Prompt Breast Evaluation
The Margie Petersen Breast Center can evaluate many new breast concerns promptly, with clinical examination and imaging available as appropriate and biopsy coordinated when tissue is needed. This coordinated approach can reduce unnecessary waiting between discovering a breast change, evaluating it and understanding the next step.
Learn more about Breast Evaluation & Screening.
Common Breast Conditions and Concerns
Breast changes can occur for many reasons, and most breast conditions are not cancer. The type of change you notice—such as a lump, pain, skin or nipple change—can help guide the evaluation, but symptoms alone usually cannot determine the cause. Understanding the common types of breast concerns can help you know when to seek care and what may happen next.
Breast Lumps and Masses
A breast lump or mass can have many causes, including fluid-filled cysts, fibroadenomas and other benign breast changes. Because a new lump cannot be reliably identified by touch alone, clinical evaluation and imaging may be used to determine its characteristics and whether additional testing is needed.
Breast Pain
Breast pain is common and is usually not caused by breast cancer. Pain may be related to hormonal changes, inflammation, cysts, injury or structures in the chest wall, but persistent, localized or unexplained pain should be evaluated when appropriate.
Breast Skin Conditions
Rashes, redness, swelling, thickening, dimpling and other breast skin changes can result from irritation, infection, inflammatory conditions and other causes. Persistent or unexplained changes deserve evaluation because some breast cancers can also affect the appearance of the skin.
High-Risk Breast Lesions
Some abnormal breast findings are not invasive breast cancer but may indicate an increased risk of developing breast cancer in the future. High-risk breast lesions are often identified through imaging and biopsy, and the specific finding helps determine whether monitoring, additional evaluation or treatment may be appropriate.
Nipple Conditions
Changes involving the nipple can include discharge, inversion, scaling, irritation or changes in appearance. Many nipple conditions have benign causes, but a new, persistent or unexplained change may require evaluation to determine what is causing it.
Male Breast Conditions
Men can also develop breast lumps, enlargement, pain and nipple changes. Most male breast conditions are benign, but a new lump or persistent change should be evaluated because men can also develop breast cancer.
What Happens After a Breast Condition Is Identified?
Some breast conditions require no treatment, while others may benefit from monitoring, medication, a procedure or additional evaluation. If a finding raises concern for cancer, further testing can establish a diagnosis and help the breast care team determine the appropriate next steps. The goal is not simply to identify an abnormality, but to understand what it means for you.
Understanding Your Breast Cancer Risk
Breast cancer risk is influenced by many factors, and having one or more risk factors does not mean that you will develop breast cancer. Some factors cannot be changed, including age, family history, inherited genetic changes, breast density, certain high-risk breast lesions and previous medical treatments or exposures. Other factors related to health and lifestyle may also influence risk.
Risk factors are most useful when considered together rather than individually. Your personal history, family history, breast imaging and previous biopsy results can help your care team determine whether your risk differs from average and whether additional screening, genetic evaluation or other risk-reduction strategies may be appropriate.
Family History and Inherited Risk
A family history of breast, ovarian or certain other cancers may provide important information about inherited cancer risk, particularly when cancers occur at younger ages or affect multiple relatives. Inherited risk can come from either side of the family, and genetic testing may be appropriate for some people even without an extensive family history.
A genetic test result is only one part of risk assessment. Personal history, family history and other breast cancer risk factors remain important when determining appropriate screening and follow-up. A detailed Family History Evaluation may also be needed to collects and analyze multi-generational medical and family pedigrees to map inherited patterns and identify hereditary cancer syndromes like hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC). A genetics counselor can also provide family education, identifying at-risk relatives and coordinating family-focused testing strategies to protect children, siblings, and extended family members.
Can I Lower My Risk of Breast Cancer?
Not every breast cancer can be prevented, and many important risk factors cannot be changed. However, regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight and limiting or avoiding alcohol are among the
For people at increased risk, additional strategies may be considered based on individual circumstances. These can include enhanced screening, medications that reduce breast cancer risk and, for some people with substantially increased risk, risk-reducing surgery. Your care team can help determine whether any of these approaches are appropriate for you.
Learn more about Family History of Cancer and Genetic Testing.
Preparing for Your Breast Clinic Visit
If you are coming to the Breast Center for evaluation, bring any relevant medical records and prior breast imaging that may not already be available to your care team. Be prepared to describe what you have noticed, when the change began and whether it has changed over time, along with any relevant personal or family history.
If mammography is planned, you may be asked to avoid deodorant, powder or lotion on the breasts or underarms on the day of your exam because some products can interfere with mammogram images. Our team can let you know about any additional preparation when your appointment is scheduled.
When Should I Contact the Breast Center?
Contact your healthcare provider or the Margie Peteresen Breast Center at Saint John’s if you discover a new breast lump, an area of thickening or another persistent breast change. You do not need to wait for your next routine mammogram or determine whether the finding feels concerning before seeking evaluation.
The Margie Petersen Breast Center can evaluate many breast concerns promptly, coordinating clinical examination, imaging and biopsy when appropriate to help patients move from finding a lump to understanding what it means.
Talk With Our Breast Clinic Team
The Breast Health Clinic can be reached at (310) 582-7209. If you have questions about a new breast symptom, need an evaluation or would like help determining your next step, call and a member of our team can assist you.
