How can I tell if a lump is cancerous
Whats the Difference Between Cysts and Tumors?
Cysts and tumors are two common types of lumps. It can be hard to tell them apart because theyre often found in the same places. However, there are a few key differences between the two.
Finding a lump under your skin is alarming, but most of the time theyre harmless. If its a cyst, it is a small sac filled with air, fluid, or other material.
A tumor refers to any unusual area of extra tissue. Both cysts and tumors can appear in your skin, tissue, organs, and bones.
Sometimes you can have both such as ovarian cysts and ovarian tumors. If youre concerned, your doctor can help you determine what you have and whether it is serious.
Most peoples first thought is cancer when they notice a new lump. While certain types of cancer can cause cysts, cysts themselves are almost always benign. Tumors, however, can be either benign or malignant. Benign tumors tend to stay in one place. Malignant tumors grow and may cause new tumors to develop in other parts of your body.
In most cases, you cant tell the difference between a cyst and a tumor just by looking at them. However, there are a few things you can watch for to see whether its more likely to be a cyst or a tumor. Keep in mind that these arent strict rules, so its best to have your doctor take a look.
Tumors can sometimes grow large enough that they put pressure on surrounding tissues. Depending on where your lump is located, you may experience additional symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, moving your joints, eating, or controlling your bladder. Contact your doctor as soon as possible if you notice a lump accompanied by unusual symptoms, even if they dont seem related.
There are many types of cysts with a variety of causes. Some types are related to an underlying medical condition, such as polycystic ovary syndrome. Others form directly on your skins surface when dead skin cells multiply instead of falling off like they usually do. Other causes of cysts include:
Tumors are the result of abnormal cell growth. Usually, the cells in your body grow and divide to form new cells whenever your body needs them. When older cells die, theyre replaced by new ones. Tumors form when this process breaks down. Old, damaged cells survive when they should die, and new cells form when your body doesnt need them. When these extra cells keep dividing, it may form a tumor.
Some tumors are benign, which means they form in only one spot without spreading to surrounding tissue. Malignant tumors are cancerous and can spread to nearby tissue. As cancerous tumors grow, cancer cells can break off and travel throughout the body, forming new tumors.
Sometimes doctors recognize cysts during a physical exam, but they often rely on diagnostic imaging. Diagnostic images help your doctor figure out whats inside the lump. These types of imaging include ultrasounds, CT scans, MRI scans, and mammograms.
Cysts that look smooth, both to the naked eye and in diagnostic images, are almost always benign. If the lump has solid components, due to tissue rather than liquid or air, it could be either benign or malignant.
However, the only way to confirm whether a cyst or tumor is cancerous is to have it biopsied by your doctor. This involves surgically removing some or all of the lump. Theyll look at the tissue from the cyst or tumor under a microscope to check for cancer cells.
If the lump is filled with fluid, your doctor might use something called fine needle aspiration. Theyll insert a long, thin needle into the lump to pull out a sample of the fluid.
Depending on the location of the lump, most biopsies and aspirations are done in an outpatient setting.
Treatment for cysts and tumors depends entirely on whats causing them, whether theyre cancerous, and where theyre located. However, most cysts dont require treatment. If its painful or you dont like the way it looks, your doctor can remove it or drain the fluid thats within it. If you decide to drain it, theres a chance the cyst will regrow and require complete removal.
Benign tumors also usually dont need treatment. If the tumor is impacting a nearby area or causing other problems, you may need surgery to remove it. Cancerous tumors almost always require treatment with surgical removal, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. In some cases, you may need a combination of these treatments.
While most cysts and tumors can wait until your next appointment with your doctor, let them know immediately if you notice that the lump:
- bleeds or oozes
- changes color
- grows quickly
- itches
- ruptures
- looks red or swollen
Its often hard to tell the difference between a cyst and a tumor even for doctors. While there are a few things you can look for to help you identify whether a lump is more likely to be a cyst or a tumor, its best to make an appointment with your doctor. They can take a small sample of the lump to determine whether its a cyst, tumor, or something else, and recommend the best course of treatment.
Signs and Symptoms of Cancer
Signs and symptoms are ways the body lets you know that you have an injury, illness, or disease.
- Asign, such as fever or bleeding, can be seen or measured by someone else.
- A symptom, such as pain or fatigue,is felt or noticed by the person who has it.
Signs and symptoms of cancer depend on where the cancer is, how big it is, and how much it affects nearby organs or tissues. If a cancer has spread (metastasized), signs or symptoms may appear in different parts of the body.
How does cancer cause signs and symptoms?
A cancer can grow into,or begin to push on nearby organs, blood vessels, and nerves. This pressure causes some of the signs and symptoms of cancer.
A cancer may also cause symptoms like fever, extreme tiredness (fatigue), or weight loss. This may be because cancer cells use up much of the bodys energy supply. Or the cancer could release substances that change the way the body makes energy. Cancer can also cause the immune system to react in ways that produce these signs and symptoms.
What are some general signs and symptoms of cancer?
Most signs and symptoms are not caused by cancer but can be caused by other things.If you have any signs and symptoms that don't go away or get worse, you should see a doctor to find out whats causing them. If cancer is not the cause, a doctor can help figure out what the cause is and treat it, if needed.
For instance, lymph nodes are part of the bodys immune system and help capture harmful substances in the body. Normal lymph nodes are tiny and can be hard to find. But when theres infection, inflammation, or cancer, the nodes can get larger. Those near the bodys surface can get big enough to feel with your fingers, and some can even be seen as swelling or a lump under the skin. One reason lymph nodes may swell is if cancer gets trapped there. So, if you have unusual swelling or a lump, you should see your doctor to figure out whats going on.
Here are some of the more common signs and symptoms that may be caused by cancer. However, any of these can be caused by other problems as well.
- Fatigue or extreme tiredness that doesnt get better with rest.
- Weight loss or gain of 10 pounds or more for no known reason
- Eating problems such as not feeling hungry, trouble swallowing, belly pain, or nausea and vomiting
- Swelling or lumps anywhere in the body
- Thickening or lump in the breast or other part of the body
- Pain, especially new or with no known reason, that doesnt go away or gets worse
- Skin changes such as a lump that bleeds or turns scaly, a new mole or a change in a mole, a sore that does not heal, or a yellowish color to the skin or eyes (jaundice).
- Cough or hoarseness that does not go away
- Unusual bleeding or bruising for no known reason
- Change in bowel habits, such as constipation or diarrhea, that doesnt go away or a change in how your stools look
- Bladder changes such as pain when passing urine, blood in the urine or needing to pass urine more or less often
- Fever or nights sweats
- Headaches
- Vision or hearing problems
- Mouth changes such as sores, bleeding, pain, or numbness
The signs and symptoms listed above are the more common ones seen with cancer, but there are many others that are not listed here. If you notice any major changes in the way your body works or the way you feel especially if it lasts for a long time or gets worse let a doctor know. If it has nothing to do with cancer, the doctor can find out more about whats going on and, if needed, treat it. If it is cancer, youll give yourself the chance to have it treated early, when treatment is more successful.
Sometimes, its possible to find cancer before you have symptoms. The American Cancer Society and other health groups recommend cancer-related check-ups and certain tests for people even though they have no symptoms. This helps find certain cancers early. You can find more information on early detection at theAmerican Cancer Society Guidelines for the Early Detection of Cancer.
And keep in mind, even if you have cancer-related screening tests, its still important to see a doctor if you have any new or worsening signs or symptoms. The signs and symptoms might mean cancer or another illness that needs to be treated.
What types of breast lumps indicate cancer?
Sometimes, a lump in the breast is a symptom of breast cancer. These lumps typically feel hard, uneven, and are painless. However, not all breast lumps indicate cancer.
Other
Read on to learn more about different types of breast lumps and when they are a symptom of breast cancer.
Nobodys breasts are the same, and how they look and feel may change throughout the menstrual cycle.
Many conditions and medications could cause lumps in the breast. These
However, if a person is concerned about a lump, they should speak with a doctor who can physically examine it.
According to a
When a person sees or feels a change in their breast, be it a new lump or skin dimpling, they should consult a doctor who will physically examine the breast. To learn more about the lump, the doctor usually
Other symptoms of breast cancer
Other changes in the breast people should look out for include:
- nipple discharge, which may be clear or tea-colored
- nipple texture and color changes
- changes in the breast, including color changes and itchy, flaky, or dimpled skin
Although breast cancer is
Cancerous breast lumps do not have a set size. Some could be the size of a pea while others could be larger. Any lump, no matter how big or small,
That said, the longer a cancerous lump grows, the greater the risk of cancer spreading to other parts of the body. This is why it is important that people speak with a doctor as soon as they notice a lump in their breast of any size.
Benign breast lumps are non-cancerous, and it is normal for people to have them at some point during their lives. Cysts and fibroadenomas are examples of benign breast lumps.
According to Breastcancer.org, symptoms of benign breast lumps include:
- general breast pain
- nipple pain
- yellow or green discharge from the nipple
However, some types of breast cancer also present with these symptoms, so it is important that a person speaks with a doctor as soon as they notice any changes in their breast.
Also, some benign breast conditions can increase the risk of a person developing breast cancer later in life. In these cases, a doctor will draw up a treatment plan and monitor the breast for any changes.
Learn more about noncancerous breast lumps here.
Cysts are common in females aged between 3550 and are benign lumps. Unlike cancerous lumps, cysts may enlarge and feel sore during the days before menstruation. Blocked breast glands can cause cysts.
When a person is examining their breast, the lump may feel soft or hard. At the skin surface, a person may think the lump feels like a large blister. If the cyst is deeper in the breast, it may feel hard due to the tissue covering it.
Cysts can go away on their own, but in some cases a doctor may drain the fluid.
Fibroadenomas are small, painless lumps that feel solid, smooth, and round. They are most common in females who are 2030 years old.
Unlike cancerous lumps, fibroadenomas do not present with nipple discharge and swelling. A person may feel they can move the lump around, and that it has a rubbery texture.
One certain type of fibroadenoma may increase the risk of developing breast cancer, particularly in females where breast cancer runs in the family.
Usually, a fibroadenoma will go away on its own, but a doctor will remove it if it does not, or if it grows bigger.
If a person notices their breast is lumpy, tender, and warm while nursing they likely have mastitis.
Mastitis an infection that
If more lumps develop in the breast after the person takes antibiotics, they should speak to their doctor again. While only
Learn more about breast cancer while breastfeeding here.
According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, people should perform breast self-exams at least once a month. The best time for females to do this is immediately after the end of a menstrual period.
A person can perform the following steps to perform a breast self-exam:
- With the pads of the three middle fingers, press down with light, medium, and firm pressure on the entire breast and armpit area. Check for any lumps or thickened knots and areas.
- Visually inspect the breasts with the arms at the sides, and then with the arms raised. Look for changes in breast shape and skin texture.
- Lower the arms and rest the palms on the hips. Press down firmly to cause the chest muscles to flex. Look for dimpling, puckering, or any other changes, particularly on one side.
- Lie down and place a pillow under the right shoulder and place the right arm behind the head. Using the left hand, use the pads of the fingers to press around the breast and armpit area. Again, using light, medium, and firm pressure, check for lumps. Squeeze the nipple to check for discharge. Repeat this step on the left breast.
How to perform a male self-exam
A person can perform the following steps:
- Stand in front of a mirror with the arms at the hips. Tighten the chest muscles and check for any changes, including dimpling, swelling, or inverted nipples.
- Raise the arms above the head and continue looking for breast changes.
- Using the fingertip, move around the breast and armpit area in a circular motion to check for lumps.
- Check the nipple for any discharge.
- Complete this check for both sides.
Breast self exams should not be a substitute for getting regular mammograms to screen for breast cancer. The United States Preventive Services Task Force suggests that females aged 5074 get a mammogram every 2 years. Those aged 4049 should talk to a healthcare professional about when they should get a mammogram.
The
A person may be eligible for free or low-cost screenings if they:
- have no insurance or if their insurance does not cover breast cancer screening
- have a yearly income that is at or below 250% of the federal poverty level
- are aged between 4064
For males
As breast cancer is
However, those with a family history of breast cancer can request genetic testing and counseling. These tests can help discover if a person has a particular gene that increases the chance of developing breast cancer, such as the BRCA gene mutation.
A person should speak with a doctor as soon as they feel a lump in their breast.
It is impossible to tell if a lump is cancerous or benign from self-examination alone.
Other symptoms a person should look out for include nipple discharge, breast skin dimpling that resembles orange peel, and changes in nipple and breast color. If a doctor is unsure of the cause of the lump they generally will request either an ultrasound or mammogram to get more information.
A lump in the breast can be benign or malignant. Breast consistency can change with menstruation, pregnancy, menopause, or weight gain.
If a person has breast cancer, they may notice other symptoms, such as other lumps near the armpit or discharge from the nipple.
A person should always speak with a doctor if they find a lump in their breast, no matter how small the lump is. If the lump is cancerous and grows bigger, the cancer cells could break off and spread to other areas of the body.
Non-cancerous lumps are benign and include cysts and fibroadenomas. Cysts may enlarge and cause pain just before a persons period starts. Fibroadenomas feel solid and move when a person pokes them.
