Is It OK To Ignore A Lump If I Just Had My Mammogram?

I am 42 years old and I think I can feel a lump in my right breast. I just had my mammogram done 3 months ago at the polyclinic and they told me it was normal. Is it ok to leave the breast lump alone then?

THE BREAST DOCTORS SAY:

The short answer to your question is no it’s not OK to leave it alone. You should see a breast specialist and have the lump checked.

But don’t panic. Many women develop some form of breast symptoms some time in their life and the good news is that the majority are not caused by cancer.

It’s great that you have discovered the lump during a self-examination. It is probably not cancerous, but it may be, and early detection and acting quickly will significantly improve the odds of treating it successfully. In fact, breast cancer that is discovered in the first stage is now curable in 90% of cases.

What you have could be a real lump or it could be just lumpy tissue. A mammogram can miss up to 5-10% of cancers, so a normal mammogram does not mean that you can leave the lump alone. Your breast specialist will discuss with you whether you may need additional tests, such as an ultrasound of the breast.

For more indepth information, try these articles in our library:

• Breast Symptoms and What They Mean
• What Should I Do If I Have Breast Symptoms?
• Frequently Asked Questions (and Answers) About Breast Cancer