Causes

By Mayo Clinic Staff

Breast lumps can be caused by:

  1. Breast cancer
  2. Breast cysts (fluid-filled sacs in breast tissue that are usually benign)
  3. Fibroadenoma (a solid, benign mass most common in young women)
  4. Fibrocystic breasts (lumpy or rope-like breast tissue)
  5. Galactocele (a milk-filled cyst that's usually harmless)
  6. Injury or trauma to the breast
  7. Intraductal papilloma (a benign, wartlike growth in a milk duct)
  8. Lipoma (a slow-growing, doughy mass that's usually harmless)
  9. Mastitis (an infection in breast tissue that most commonly affects women who are breast-feeding)

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

Nov. 26, 2020

See also

  1. Alternative and complementary medicine for metastatic breast cancer
  2. Breast cancer
  3. Breast cancer chemoprevention
  4. Breast Cancer Education Tool
  5. Breast cancer radiation: Can it cause dry skin?
  6. Infographic: Breast Cancer Risk
  7. Breast cancer staging
  8. Breast cancer types
  9. Breast cysts
  10. Breast cysts: What role does caffeine play?
  11. Breast pain
  12. Infographic: Breast Reconstruction Options
  13. Dragon Boats and Breast Cancer
  14. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
  15. Fibrocystic breast changes: Linked to breast cancer?
  16. Fibrocystic breasts
  17. Gene expression profiling for breast cancer: What is it?
  18. Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer
  19. Genetic testing for breast cancer: Psychological and social impact
  20. Get the support you need when you have metastatic breast cancer
  21. Metastatic breast cancer
  22. Male breast cancer
  23. Mammary duct ectasia
  24. Metastatic breast cancer: Should you get a second opinion?
  25. Paget's disease of the breast
  26. Palliative care for metastatic breast cancer
  27. Palliative care: Who is it for?
  28. Paulas story A team approach to battling breast cancer
  29. Pink Sisters
  30. Recurrent breast cancer
  31. Relationships and metastatic breast cancer
  32. Female breast anatomy
  33. The Long Race Beating Cancer
  34. Treatment options for metastatic breast cancer
  35. Weight Loss After Breast Cancer
  36. What is metastatic breast cancer?
  37. Working with your doctor when you have metastatic breast cancer: Interview with a Mayo Clinic expert.