A hard, yet benign, breast lump doesn't necessarily mean cancer. Here's how it should be monitored
Approximately 90% of breast lumps that appear are not cancerous. However, they should be evaluated through imaging and monitored.
Even though the percentage of non-dangerous formations is high, it's important to see a doctor no matter what you feel in your breast or armpit.
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Dr. Claudia Teodorescu, primary radiologist: "When you palpate a breast lump, it's not normal to assume that there's no problem and avoid going to the doctor. Indeed, in 80-90% of cases, that formation turns out to be benign. It could be a cyst or a benign lump".
A hard, yet benign, breast lump doesn't necessarily mean cancer. We're talking about a local, but non-dangerous tumor. It won't spread to other organs.
Dr. Claudia Teodorescu, primary radiologist: "A formation should be seen on ultrasound, and if it's benign, it should be checked twice within a 6-month interval. If the formation hasn't changed in shape, size, or appearance, the next checkup will be in 1 year".
However, if the benign formation is more than 3 centimeters, it requires a fine-needle aspiration biopsy. And an anatomic-pathological examination, which means a biopsy.
Fine-needle aspiration biopsy means that the doctor collects a few cells directly from the tumor using a needle. Indications for fine-needle aspiration biopsy exist in other cases as well.
Dr. Claudia Teodorescu, primary radiologist: "If we encounter a lump that exhibits all the characteristics of being benign, but undergoes a significant and sudden increase in size, it warrants surgical removal and histopathological examination".
Patients with a high genetic risk - those who have had cases of breast cancer in their family - need a biopsy for any benign breast formations.
Breast ultrasound is done every year in the absence of any symptoms. The radiologist assesses whether or not a mammogram will be performed after the ultrasound. Regular ultrasounds serve as a preventive measure against breast cancer.
