What percentage of breast lumps are cancerous?

Benign (non-cancerous) breast conditions are very common, and most women have them. In fact, most breast changes are benign. Unlike breast cancers, benign breast conditions are not life-threatening. But some are linked with a higher risk of getting breast cancer later on. Some breast changes may not cause symptoms and may be found during a mammogram. read more

In general, cancerous lumps tend to be more irregular in shape. They may also feel firm or solid, and might be fixed to the tissue in the breast. They are also often painless. However, in a small percentage of women, a painful breast lump turns out to be cancer. Cysts, which are fluid-filled lumps, are common in the breast and are benign. read more

While the sizes of breast cancer lumps vary from case to case depending on the stage of the disease, what typically differentiates a benign breast lump from a cancerous breast lump is movement. That is, a fluid-filled lump that rolls between the fingers is less likely to be cancer than a hard lump in your breast that is rooted. read more