A lump in the breast

In the final season of Sex and the City , confident-as-hell Samantha Jones is at a consultation for a breast augmentation when her plastic surgeon discovers a lump. After all, a lump in the breast is one of most noticeable signs of breast cancer. Ross , M. G, author of She-ology and She-ology: The She-quel. In fact, lumps in the breast can stem from something as simple where you are in your menstrual cycle. In the days leading up to your period, estrogen and progesterone levels can fluctuate causing an increase in the nodularity aka lumpiness of breast tissue.

If you have any of the warning signs described below, see a health care provider [ ]. If you have insurance, your insurance company may also have a list of providers in your area. One example is breast pain. Pain is more common with benign breast conditions than with breast cancer, but the only way to know for sure is to get it checked. Some women have more lumpiness in their breasts than others. In most cases, this lumpiness is no cause to worry.

The male breast is composed of a mixture of tissue types, any of which may give rise to a mass or swelling. Cancerous breast tumors in men are rare but do occur 4. Men can also develop noncancerous breast disorders, causing breast lumps. The characteristics of a lump and a man's age are important criteria in evaluating any breast mass.

Back to Health A to Z. If you feel a lump in your breast, you should always get it checked by a GP. Most breast lumps are harmless, but some can be serious.