The key symptom of breast cancer is a painless lump that can be felt, but not all lumps indicate breast cancer. In 2021, there were 28,000 breast cancer patients, making it the most common female cancer (National Cancer Information Center). Since it is prevalent, it is important to understand and pay attention to lumps in the breast and to examine your body carefully. This article explores lumps that can be felt in the breast.
Tumors are classified into benign and malignant tumors. Benign tumors grow relatively slowly and do not metastasize, while malignant tumors grow rapidly and spread to surrounding tissues and other parts of the body, potentially threatening life.
Fibroadenomas are the most common benign tumors of the breast. They are known to occur because a specific area of the breast tissue is more sensitive to estrogen compared to other areas. They are mainly common in women aged 20 to 50 and are mostly benign lumps unrelated to cancer. Many stop growing once they reach a certain size, and most are less than 1 cm. While it is generally advisable to remove typical fibroadenomas if they grow, leaving them untreated is not usually dangerous. Especially in young women, the tendency is to perform only follow-up breast ultrasound examinations without any special treatment.
However, if it is a complex fibrous adenoma, careful examination is necessary. Since cancer can develop around the tumor, a complete tissue biopsy is required. It is known that the risk of cancer increases in the case of complex fibrous adenoma compared to simple fibrous adenoma. Surgery is definitely necessary for complex fibrous adenoma.
Phyllodes tumors are relatively rare breast tumors but are dangerous. The tumor interior resembles leaves, hence the name phyllodes tumor, and it grows very quickly and becomes large. It is often difficult to distinguish from malignant tumors and fibroadenomas, so a biopsy is essential. Generally, over 60-70% are benign, while 16-30% are malignant. In cases of malignant phyllodes tumors, 20-25% metastasize to the lungs or bones.
Phyllodes tumors tend to recur frequently. It is safer to perform wide excision up to normal margins during surgery to eliminate the possibility of recurrence. Initially, they start as benign phyllodes tumors that do not spread to other areas, but through repeated recurrences, they transform into malignant phyllodes tumors. The prognosis is not good, and the treatment differs from that of typical breast cancer.
The treatment of phyllodes tumors of the breast is primarily surgical. Small benign phyllodes tumors are excised extensively, including normal breast tissue. For larger phyllodes tumors or malignant phyllodes tumors, extensive mastectomy should be performed to reduce the risk of recurrence.
Chief Jung Hong-kyu of the Department of Surgery at Seran Hospital said, "Phyllodes tumors are malignant tumors that can progress to malignancy, and they need to be differentiated from fibroadenomas," adding, "Most are benign, but rarely they can be malignant, and in benign cases, local recurrence is common, so complete excision is necessary." He continued, "Not all lumps felt in the breast are cancer; they are more likely benign conditions such as fibroadenomas," and "It is important to determine whether a tumor in the breast is benign or malignant through mammography and ultrasound, and to identify early whether the tumor has a high potential to develop into breast cancer."
Tumors are classified into benign and malignant tumors. Benign tumors grow relatively slowly and do not metastasize, while malignant tumors grow rapidly and spread to surrounding tissues and other parts of the body, potentially threatening life.
Fibroadenomas are the most common benign tumors of the breast. They are known to occur because a specific area of the breast tissue is more sensitive to estrogen compared to other areas. They are mainly common in women aged 20 to 50 and are mostly benign lumps unrelated to cancer. Many stop growing once they reach a certain size, and most are less than 1 cm. While it is generally advisable to remove typical fibroadenomas if they grow, leaving them untreated is not usually dangerous. Especially in young women, the tendency is to perform only follow-up breast ultrasound examinations without any special treatment.
However, if it is a complex fibrous adenoma, careful examination is necessary. Since cancer can develop around the tumor, a complete tissue biopsy is required. It is known that the risk of cancer increases in the case of complex fibrous adenoma compared to simple fibrous adenoma. Surgery is definitely necessary for complex fibrous adenoma.
Phyllodes tumors are relatively rare breast tumors but are dangerous. The tumor interior resembles leaves, hence the name phyllodes tumor, and it grows very quickly and becomes large. It is often difficult to distinguish from malignant tumors and fibroadenomas, so a biopsy is essential. Generally, over 60-70% are benign, while 16-30% are malignant. In cases of malignant phyllodes tumors, 20-25% metastasize to the lungs or bones.
Phyllodes tumors tend to recur frequently. It is safer to perform wide excision up to normal margins during surgery to eliminate the possibility of recurrence. Initially, they start as benign phyllodes tumors that do not spread to other areas, but through repeated recurrences, they transform into malignant phyllodes tumors. The prognosis is not good, and the treatment differs from that of typical breast cancer.
The treatment of phyllodes tumors of the breast is primarily surgical. Small benign phyllodes tumors are excised extensively, including normal breast tissue. For larger phyllodes tumors or malignant phyllodes tumors, extensive mastectomy should be performed to reduce the risk of recurrence.
Chief Jung Hong-kyu of the Department of Surgery at Seran Hospital said, "Phyllodes tumors are malignant tumors that can progress to malignancy, and they need to be differentiated from fibroadenomas," adding, "Most are benign, but rarely they can be malignant, and in benign cases, local recurrence is common, so complete excision is necessary." He continued, "Not all lumps felt in the breast are cancer; they are more likely benign conditions such as fibroadenomas," and "It is important to determine whether a tumor in the breast is benign or malignant through mammography and ultrasound, and to identify early whether the tumor has a high potential to develop into breast cancer."
