Are breast cancer lumps long?

Breast cancer lumps can vary in size. Typically, a lump has to be about one centimeter (about the size of a large lima bean) before a person can feel it; however, it depends on where the lump arises in the breast, how big the breast is, and how deep the lesion is.

Are breast cancer lumps hard and round?

Breast cancer usually feels like a hard or firm lump (nodule). It usually is irregular in shape (it does not have smooth edges) and may feel like it is attached (fixed) to skin or tissue deep inside the breast so that it cannot be moved without moving breast tissue.

Can breast cancer lumps be hard?

A breast lump that’s painless, hard, irregularly shaped and different from surrounding breast tissue might be breast cancer. Skin covering the lump may look red, dimpled or pitted like the skin of an orange. Your breast size and shape may change, or you may notice discharge from the nipple.

Do breast cancer lumps feel hard or soft?

A cancerous lump may feel rounded, soft, and tender and can occur anywhere in the breast. In some cases, the lump can even be painful. Some women also have dense, fibrous breast tissue. Feeling lumps or changes in your breasts may be more difficult if this is the case.

How quickly do breast cancer lumps grow?

Breast cancer has to divide 30 times before it can be felt. Up to the 28th cell division, neither you nor your doctor can detect it by hand. With most breast cancers, each division takes one to two months, so by the time you can feel a cancerous lump, the cancer has been in your body for two to five years.

What kind of lumps should you worry about?

It’s important to talk with your doctor about any lumps that are larger than two inches (about the size of a golf ball), grow larger, or are painful regardless of their location. “Tell your doctor about new lumps or other symptoms that cannot be explained or that don’t go away in a few weeks,” Dr. Shepard says.

When should I be concerned about a lump in my breast?

Lumps that feel harder or different from the rest of the breast (or the other breast) or that feel like a change are a concern and should be checked. This type of lump may be a sign of breast cancer or a benign breast condition (such as a cyst or fibroadenoma).

Do breast cysts hurt when pressed?

Cysts are not harmful or dangerous, but they are sometimes uncomfortable or painful. Often women find that their cyst(s) get tender or enlarged in the days before their period. Pushing on cysts can also make them tender.

Do breast cancer lumps hurt when you push on them?

A lump or mass in the breast is the most common symptom of breast cancer. Lumps are often hard and painless, although some are painful.

How long does it take to go from Stage 1 to Stage 2 breast cancer?

“Doubling time” is the amount of time it takes for a tumor to double in size. But it’s hard to actually estimate, since factors like type of cancer and tumor size come into play. Still, several studies put the average range between 50 and 200 days.

What is the average size of a breast cancer lump?

The average size of breast tumors at diagnosis fell 23 percent during that time — from 26 millimeters to 20 millimeters (1.02 to 0.79 inches), the researchers found. That’s great news for women, because “in general terms, small breast cancers have a better prognosis than larger ones,” explained study co-author Dr.