Know Your Normal: What to Feel and Look for When It Comes to Breast Health

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, making it a great time to focus on something simple but important: knowing what is normal for your breasts.

Breasts naturally change throughout life. Hormones, menstrual cycles, pregnancy, breastfeeding, and aging can all affect how your breasts look and feel. While many breast changes are not cancer, becoming familiar with your normal breast appearance and texture can help you recognize when something has changed.

And when you notice a new or unusual change, let your health care provider know.

What Should You Feel and Look For?

There isn’t one specific way breast cancer feels. Changes can vary from person to person, which is why it’s important to pay attention to anything that feels new or different for you.

Changes to discuss with your health care provider may include:

• A new lump or area that feels different from the surrounding tissue

• A thickened or firm area

• A change in the size or shape of one breast

• New swelling or fullness in part of the breast

• Changes in the skin, such as dimpling, puckering, redness, or a texture that looks different

• A nipple that becomes newly inverted or changes in appearance

• Unusual nipple discharge, particularly if it occurs without squeezing the nipple

• A new or persistent area of breast pain or discomfort

You may notice a change while showering, getting dressed, or simply going about your daily routine. The important thing is to become familiar with what is normal for you.

A Change Doesn’t Always Mean Cancer

Finding a lump or noticing a change can be concerning, but a breast change does not automatically mean breast cancer.

Breasts naturally contain glands, ducts, fatty tissue, and connective tissue, and they can sometimes feel lumpy or uneven. Benign conditions can also cause lumps and other breast changes.

Rather than trying to determine what a change means on your own, let your health care provider know about it. They can evaluate your concern and determine whether additional testing or diagnostic breast imaging is appropriate.

Screening vs. Diagnostic Mammograms: What’s the Difference?

One reason it’s important to tell your provider about a new breast change is that there is a difference between a screening mammogram and a diagnostic mammogram.

Screening Mammogram

A screening mammogram is a routine breast imaging exam for people who have no signs or symptoms of breast disease. It is performed as part of recommended breast cancer screening and is designed to look for potential abnormalities that may not be noticeable or felt.

At TRA, screening mammography uses low-dose X-ray imaging, and digital breast tomosynthesis, commonly known as 3D mammography, may be performed in combination with 2D digital mammography.

Diagnostic Mammogram

A diagnostic mammogram is used when there is a specific breast concern that needs to be evaluated.

This could include a new lump, breast mass, nipple discharge, unusual breast pain, skin changes, or an area that requires additional evaluation after a screening mammogram.

A diagnostic mammogram may include additional, specialized views that allow the radiologist to take a closer look at a particular area. In some circumstances, a breast ultrasound may also be performed.

So, if you notice a new change, don’t simply wait for your next routine screening appointment. Let your health care provider know what you’ve noticed. They can determine whether diagnostic imaging is appropriate.

Why Speaking Up Matters

One of the most important things you can do for your breast health is communicate changes to your health care provider.

A routine screening mammogram is designed for people who do not have a known breast concern. When you have a new symptom or change, your provider needs to know so that your imaging and evaluation can be tailored to your specific concern.

And remember: being referred for diagnostic imaging does not mean you have breast cancer.

Additional imaging is often needed simply to better understand something seen on a screening mammogram or to evaluate a symptom. Many breast abnormalities are benign.

Mammograms Can Find What You Can’t Feel

Knowing your normal breast appearance and texture is important, but it is only one part of breast health.

Breast cancer does not always cause a lump or noticeable symptoms. A screening mammogram can sometimes identify potential abnormalities before they can be felt.

That’s why paying attention to changes and staying up to date with recommended screening are both important.

Think of them as two different pieces of the same picture:

Know your normal.
Notice changes.
Tell your provider.
Stay current with recommended screening.

This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Know Your Normal

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an opportunity to do more than wear pink. It’s a reminder to be informed about your breast health and understand when it’s important to speak up.

This October, take a moment to become familiar with what is normal for you. If you notice a new lump, skin or nipple change, unusual discharge, persistent pain, or another change that concerns you, tell your health care provider.

Don’t wait and wonder. Your provider can help determine what comes next, including whether diagnostic breast imaging is needed.

And if you’re due for your routine screening mammogram, make that part of your breast health routine, too.

Know your normal. Notice when something changes. Let your provider know. And stay up to date with recommended breast screening.

Need to schedule your mammogram? Were happy to assist. Check out our scheduling link here: https://www.tranow.com/for-patients/scheduling/