Breast Lumps | Психология взаимоотношений

Three types of lumps can occur in the breasts. The two most common are cysts, which are fluid-filled sacs, and fibroadenomas, which are solid, rounded tumors. Both are benign (not cancerous or harmful) tumors, and together they account for approximately 80% of breast lumps. In some women the lumps create breast tenderness that ranges from mild to severe discomfort, which is called fibrocystic disease (Deckers & Ricci, 1992). The causes of fibrocystic disease are unknown but may be hormonally related. Caffeine in coffee, tea, cola drinks, and chocolate might contribute to the development of benign breast lumps. Dietary changes that have helped some women reduce their symptoms include eating more fish, chicken, and grains and less red meat, salt, and fats.

The third kind of breast lump is a malignant tumor (a tumor made up of cancer cells). Breast cancer affects approximately 1 in 8 women in the United States. In one year breast cancer kills about 40,000 U. S. women and 500,000 women worldwide (American Cancer Society, 2010; Leitzmann et al., 2008). The risk of breast cancer rises with age; half of all breast cancers are diagnosed in women age 65 and older. Although breast cancer is less common in women in their 20s and 30s, cancers that occur in young women are often more aggressive and result in a higher mortality rate (Fraunfelder, 2000). Breast cancer in men is relatively rare, accounting for 1% of all cases—in 2010 about 2,000 men had breast cancer, which was fatal for 390 (Fentiman et al., 2006; National Cancer Institute, 2011b).

The good news is that overall mortality from breast cancer in the United States is at its lowest since 1950, most likely because of earlier detection. Unfortunately, the survival rate for Black women (78%) is lower than that for White women (90%) (National Cancer Institute, 2010). African American women are more likely to have aggressive cancers, and socioeconomic characteristics of lower income, lack of health-care coverage, and apprehension about using health and medical services lead to differences in preventive health care (such as breast exams and mammograms). As a result, African American women tend to have more-advanced breast cancer prior to detection (Aldridge et al., 2006; Brinton et al., 2008).

At a Glance

Breast cancer is no longer a disease that primarily affects women in North America and Western Europe. The incidence in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe is increasing steadily, partially because women in these regions are living longer, having fewer children, and adopting Western lifestyle patterns (e. g., eating fatty foods and not exercising) (Porter, 2008). For example, a study of Chinese women found that those who ate a Western diet were 60% more likely to develop breast cancer than were those who ate a traditional diet of vegetables, beans, tofu, soy milk, and fish. In addition, breast cancer detection and treatment in poorer countries is inadequate. For example, in South Africa 5% of breast cancers are detected in the early stage, compared to 50% in the United States (Kingsbury, 2007b).