Breast lumps and breast cancer: what to check, and when to get it checked
Most breast lumps are not cancer, but every new lump deserves a proper look. Breast awareness is a simple habit, not a source of anxiety: knowing what your breasts normally feel like makes it easier to notice a genuine change early, when it is simplest to investigate and act on.
Why early attention matters
A change that is checked early is usually simpler to investigate than one that has been left. That is really the whole case for breast awareness — not fear, just familiarity. You are not looking for anything in particular every time; you are simply building a sense of what is normal for you, so that anything unusual stands out.
How to do a self-examination
A simple routine, done once a month, is enough. If you still have periods, a few days after your period ends is a good time, since breasts are less tender or swollen then. If you no longer have periods, pick a date you will remember, such as the first of the month.
Looking
Stand in front of a mirror with your arms relaxed, then again with your arms raised. Look for any change in size, shape or skin — puckering, dimpling, redness, or a nipple that has pulled inward when it did not before.
Feeling
Lying down, use the flat of your fingers to press gently but firmly, covering the whole breast and the area up into the armpit, in a pattern you can repeat each time — circles, or up-and-down strips, either works. Feel for anything that feels different from the surrounding tissue or from the same spot on the other side.
Breast tissue is naturally a little lumpy and changes with your cycle, so the goal is not a perfectly smooth result — it is noticing a change from your own normal.
Signs worth getting checked
None of these mean cancer on their own, and most turn out to have a straightforward explanation. But any of them is a reason to come in and get examined, rather than wait and watch:
- A new lump or thickened area in the breast or armpit that was not there before.
- A change in the size or shape of one breast compared with the other.
- Skin changes — dimpling, puckering, redness, or a texture like orange peel.
- A nipple that turns inward, or discharge from the nipple that is not milk.
- Persistent pain or discomfort in one area that does not settle.
If you notice any of these, get it looked at within a few weeks rather than waiting for your next routine visit.
How a breast lump is investigated
The work-up is stepwise, and most people never need to go past the first one or two steps:
1. Clinical examination
A careful examination of both breasts and the armpits, by hand, to characterise exactly what has been felt — its size, its texture, whether it moves freely, and whether the corresponding armpit glands feel involved.
2. Imaging
An ultrasound, and depending on age and findings a mammogram, to get a clearer picture of what the lump actually is — many turn out to be simple cysts or fibrous tissue that need no further action beyond monitoring.
3. Biopsy, where indicated
If imaging cannot fully characterise a lump, a small sample is taken and sent for laboratory examination. This is the step that gives a definite answer, and it is only done when the earlier steps make it necessary.
What we do at Pai Hospital
We examine, investigate with ultrasound and onward imaging as needed, and arrange biopsy where a lump cannot be confirmed as benign by examination and scan alone. Where the findings point toward something that needs oncology treatment, we guide you on the next step and the specialist care that follows, rather than leaving you to work that out on your own. Coming in for a lump that turns out to be nothing is never a wasted visit — it is exactly what the appointment is for.
Getting here
If you are travelling from elsewhere in Goa for an examination or a scan, we send a car for you and bring you home again, free of cost — call or WhatsApp first so we can plan the visit. See our full range of services or read more about Dr. Mayur Pai.
Does a breast lump always mean cancer?
No. Most breast lumps turn out to be cysts, fibrous tissue, or other benign changes. The point of getting a lump checked is to find out what it actually is, not to assume the worst.
How often should I do a breast self-examination?
Once a month is enough — a few days after your period ends if you are still menstruating, or on a fixed date each month if you are not. The aim is familiarity with your own normal, not a daily check.
What happens when I come in with a lump?
A clinical examination first, then imaging such as an ultrasound or mammogram if needed. A biopsy is only done if the lump cannot be fully characterised by examination and imaging alone.
Will I need to travel elsewhere for treatment?
Examination, investigation and imaging are done here. If the findings point toward a condition needing specialist oncology treatment, we guide you on the appropriate next step and the referral involved.
This page is for general education and is not personal medical advice. Treatment depends on your own examination and reports, so please speak to a doctor about your situation. We do not carry out or offer sex determination of any kind.