Finally, check for nipple discharge by gently squeezing the nipple between your fingertips. This means that you are more likely to pick up a breast cancer on yourself first, if it presents as a palpable change. Any significant lump or change, including unexplained nipple discharge, should be reported to your physician right away. The most common palpable breast nodules encountered are fibrocystic breast changes which represent a fluid filled fiberous cyst in the breast tissue. These usually are tender, rubbery in consistency and moveable during the exam as opposed to fixed by connective tissue to the solid tissue underneath them.
Fibrocystic changes can become worse prior to menses and when on some hormonal therapies.
Supportive measures which may help include restriction of caffeine, salt and alcohol, anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and possibly vitamin E or B complex supplementation. Fibrocystic areas in the breast can perhaps best be distinguished from solid tumors by ultrasound. Fibroadenomas are another type of generally benign breast lump. They occur as painless, freely moveable, solid masses and are slow growing. Although there have been reports of occasional carcinoma growing in fibroadenomas, it may be that the cancer has occurred coincidentally and not because of the fibroadenoma.