Finding a breast lump can be frightening, but a...

Finding a breast lump can be frightening, but a lump is not always a sign of breast cancer. There are various reasons why a lump can develop, and most are not cancerous. Eight out of 10 lumps that occur in the breast are not cancerous. Nevertheless, people should seek medical help if a new lump appears or if an existing lump changes. Often, the lump does not need treatment but, sometimes, if a person needs treatment, we may recommend surgery. This kind of breast surgery is known as a lumpectomy. Sometimes, a surgeon will carry out a biopsy to test a sample of tissue. At the same time, we might remove a small lump that looks suspicious. If tests confirm the presence of breast cancer, we will often remove the tumor by way of a lumpectomy. A person who has breast cancer may need chemotherapy, radiation, or medication after undergoing the lumpectomy. This is to treat the cancer and prevent it from returning. The outlook after surgery depends on several factors, including the type of lump that the surgeon finds and the stage of the cancer if a lump is malignant.