When You Feel a Lump

Don't panic—most turn out to be benign. Here, three types common in young women.

A hard, movable lump in one breast.

If it feels firm and smooth all over, like a marble, and isn't fixed in one place, it's probably a fluid-filled cyst. Have your doctor take a look to be sure. Cysts are harmless but can be drained.

A pimplelike swelling on your areola.

Sounds like a buildup of mucus in one of the many tiny glands that dot the areolae. These glands lubricate your nipples during breast-feeding. Let your gyno diagnose it; you can then leave it alone or apply a warm compress to loosen the buildup. An antibiotic may be needed if there are any signs of infection.

Little lumps that appear in both breasts preperiod.

If this happens just before your flow then smooths out once it's over, it's likely due to hormone changes and nothing to worry about. If a lump or area of thickening persists or gets larger over time, talk to your gyno.

Source: Marisa Weiss, MD, president and founder of breastcancer.org and coauthor of Taking Care of Your "Girls"

- from Cosmopolitan Magazine, October 2009