Checking Your Breasts for Breast Lumps – What You May Feel

Would you know what a breast lump feels like? If you are like a lot of women, when you’re checking your breasts, you may not know exactly what you are feeling. Having just recently started performing regular breast checks myself, some times I feel nothing but breast lumps. Learning to tell what is normal and usual for your breasts is part of the process. Many women who choose not to do monthly self breast exams don’t because they feel anxious about not knowing what to feel for, or are afraid that they will do it wrong.

If this is you, try to tell yourself that checking your breasts for lumps is a skill, and you can learn skills. It just takes some time, and practice, and the help of your doctor.

Again, the most important thing to remember when checking your breasts is to notice CHANGES. Work with your doctor to understand what is normal for your breasts. Ask you doctor to review your technique. The more months of practice that you have, the more knowledge you will have about your breasts, and the more comfortable you will become with the skills. Remember, dealing with breast cancer is a war – and early detection is key to improving your chances of winning. A self breast exam, though not as effective as a mammogram , can still be a vital tool in your early detection program. And if you are under the age of 40 and not receiving regularly scheduled mammograms – all the more reason to check yourself!!

So, what does breast cancer feel like? Here we will review what breast lumps may feel like. Be sure to also read about other signs and symptoms of breast cancer so that you are familiar with other ways breast cancer may show up besides a lump.

In general, a breast lump that is cancerous may feel hard. The edges of the lump usually are not smooth, and may feel bumpy. The lump could be anywhere in your breast, including under your arm. Remember, there is breast tissue under your arm. A cancerous lump usually does not move when you feel it, though this can be difficult to tell, as the breast tissue near it may move. Keep in mind also that a 2 cm lump would be about the size of a quarter. A 1 cm lump is about the size of a pencil eraser.

You may feel breast lumps that are smooth and squishy, or that are round and firm. These may be cysts or fibroadenomas that are often benign or not cancerous. You may also feel lumps at certain times during your monthly cycle that go away. It is good that you are able to detect the changes in your breasts and recognize what feels normal for you.

The majority of breast lumps are NOT cancer. However, if you detect something different, especially if it lasts longer than one monthly cycle, your best option is to SEE YOUR DOCTOR. Something that is different than your last breast check and that has lasted for 1 – 2 months is worthy of further investigation. Don’t feel foolish if you go to your doctor and it turns out to be a cyst or a normal part of your breast. If you have naturally lumpy breasts or fibrocystic breasts, you may already be at increased risk for breast cancer. By being diligent in checking your breasts you are increasing your chances of detecting breast cancer earlier than if you weren’t checking at all.

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