Benign Breast Disease

The most common kinds of non-cancerous breast problems are lumps and thickening, breast pain, discharge from the nipple, and breast infections.

Lumps and thickening
Breast pain
Discharge from the nipple
Breast infections

Lumps and Thickenings

If you find a breast lump or thickening, it may be prudent to wait a week or through one menstrual cycle and then recheck your breast. If the problem is still there, call your doctor or nurse practitioner.

How is this problem treated?

First, your doctor or nurse practitioner will perform a clinical examination of both breasts. The results of this exam may assure your doctor or nurse practitioner that the problem does not need further testing.

Should more testing be necessary, you and your doctor or nurse practitioner will discuss whether diagnostic tests like mammography, ultrasonography, needle aspiration studies (cytology) or biopsies (histology) are needed.

If a biopsy is necessary, it may be performed in many ways: office core or fine needle aspiration biopsy, stereotactic biopsy (Mammotone or ABBI, a less invasive procedure), ultrasound-guided biopsy, or excisional biopsy in the operating room under local anesthesia or sedation.

Lumps and thickening
Breast pain
Discharge from the nipple
Breast infections