Noticing changes in your breasts can be concerning. While many breast alterations are benign, understanding their characteristics is helpful. Always seek professional medical evaluation for any new or persistent breast changes, as only a healthcare provider can accurately determine the cause.
Breast Cancer Skin Manifestations
Breast cancer can present in various ways on the skin, sometimes mimicking more common, less serious conditions. One manifestation is redness and inflammation, which can be mistaken for a skin infection like cellulitis.
Some forms of breast cancer, such as inflammatory breast carcinoma, can resemble mastitis, a breast abscess, or dermatitis. This type of cancer can cause widespread skin changes, including erythema and edema, leading to a pitted appearance similar to an orange peel, known as “peau d’orange.”
Skin changes can also include a lasting rash, thickening of the skin, or firm, painless nodules that may be flesh-colored or red. These nodules can be smooth, ulcerated, or crusted.
Changes to the nipple, such as inversion (turning inward), discharge, or scaling, can also be signs of breast cancer. Breast cancer can also present as draining nodules or sinus tracts on or between the breasts, which might be misdiagnosed as other inflammatory skin conditions.
Differentiating Boils from Suspicious Breast Changes
Distinguishing a boil from a potentially cancerous breast change involves observing several characteristics. A boil typically begins as a small, red, painful lump that develops pus, leading to discharge and surrounding skin swelling. Boils are acutely painful, whereas cancerous lumps are often painless in their early stages.
Boils typically contain and may drain pus, while cancerous lumps usually do not. A boil is a superficial skin infection, often caused by bacteria, and usually feels softer and more mobile under the skin. In contrast, a cancerous lump feels hard, may have irregular edges, and can be fixed or less movable within the breast tissue.
Boils typically resolve within a week or two, but suspicious changes associated with cancer persist or worsen over time.
Other Common Causes of Breast Lumps and Skin Changes
Beyond boils, many other non-cancerous conditions can cause breast lumps or skin changes. Breast cysts are common, fluid-filled sacs that can feel round, smooth, and firm. These cysts may fluctuate with the menstrual cycle, appearing before a period and potentially changing in size afterwards.
Fibroadenomas are another common benign cause of breast lumps, presenting as solid, smooth tumors that move easily under the skin. These can decrease in size or grow, influenced by factors like pregnancy or hormone therapy.
Other causes include fat necrosis, which is scar tissue forming after an injury, surgery, or radiation, and infections such as mastitis or abscesses, which can cause painful, red, and swollen areas.
Hormonal fluctuations related to menstruation or menopause can also lead to fibrocystic breast changes, causing generalized fullness, lumpiness, or tenderness that improves after a menstrual period.
When to Seek Professional Medical Advice
Any new, persistent, or changing breast symptom warrants prompt medical evaluation. If a boil-like bump on the breast does not resolve within two weeks, becomes larger or more severe, or if you experience a fever, red streaks around the area, or recurring boils, seek medical attention. Similarly, any persistent changes in breast size, shape, texture, or nipple abnormalities should be evaluated by a doctor.