It is usually the woman or her partner, rather than the doctor, who first notices the lump. Many women with fibroadenosis have a generalised lumpiness or thickening of both breasts rather than a single, well-defined lump. The thickening increases before a period and decreases just after it. The upper outer quarter of the breast is the area most affected. The lumps caused by fibroadenosis can be tender or painful, and they may shrink and disappear altogether.
Cysts tend to appear suddenly and grow quickly.
Benign lumps can usually be moved around inside the breast tissue. This is particularly true of a fibroadenoma, which is very mobile and is described as a breast mouse because it runs away from under the fingers. In the long term, benign breast lumps do not have any serious consequences for a woman s health, but of course they can be the cause of a lot of anxiety. Breast cancer Cancerous lumps are often hard and irregular in shape, and can be attached firmly to the breast tissue or the chest muscles beneath, which makes them difficult to move. Wrinkling or pitting of the skin may appear over the lump.