Breast tissue normally might feel lumpy or ropy and you may have tenderness that comes and goes with your menstrual period.  If you have an underlying breast condition, you might notice changes in how your breasts normally feel, such as:  A round, smooth and firm breast lump A large, solid-feeling lump that moves easily under your skin A hard, irregular-shaped breast lump Skin redness or dimpling like an orange Changes in breast size or shape Fluid leaking from your nipple  Causes Breast lumps can result from:  Breast cysts. If you find a breast lump that feels round, smooth and firm, it could be a cyst — a dilated milk duct filled with fluid. A breast cyst can be large or small, and the surrounding breast tissue may be tender. A breast cyst may appear before your menstrual period and get smaller or disappear afterward. Fibrocystic breast changes. With fibrocystic breast changes, you may feel fullness in your breasts with areas of lumpiness or ridgelike areas. Your breasts may feel tender. Many women experience fibrocystic breast changes related to their menstrual cycles that tend to improve after the menstrual cycle. Fibroadenomas. Fibroadenomas are solid, noncancerous breast tumors that are smooth and move easily under your skin when touched. A fibroadenoma may grow larger. Factors that may be associated with fibroadenoma growth include being pregnant, using hormone therapy or menstruation. Injuries and infections. A severe injury to your breast tissue or nearby nerves can create a breast lump. Doctors describe this condition as fat necrosis. A collection of infected fluid (abscess) in breast tissue also can cause a breast lump, one that's often associated with localized breast pain and inflammation of the skin. Breast cancer. A breast lump that's painless, hard, irregularly shaped and different from surrounding breast tissue might be breast cancer. Skin covering the lump may look red, dimpled or pitted like the skin of an orange. Your breast size and shape may change, or you may notice discharge from the nipple.  Only by seeing your doctor for evaluation can you be certain of what kinds of tests you might need and which type of breast lump you have. Clinical trials  Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.       Explore Mayo Clinic studies             By Mayo Clinic Staff By Mayo Clinic Staff  Suspicious breast lumps care at Mayo Clinic 
breast tissue normally feel lumpy ropy may tenderness comes goes menstrual period   underlying breast condition  notice changes breasts normally feel  as:  round  smooth firm breast lump large  solid-feeling lump moves easily skin hard  irregular-shaped breast lump skin redness dimpling like orange changes breast size shape fluid leaking nipple  causes breast lumps can result from:  breast cysts  find breast lump feels round  smooth firm  cyst — dilated milk duct filled fluid  breast cyst can large small  surrounding breast tissue may tender  breast cyst may menstrual period smaller disappear afterward  fibrocystic breast changes  fibrocystic breast changes  may feel fullness breasts areas lumpiness ridgelike areas  breasts may feel tender  women experience fibrocystic breast changes menstrual cycles tend improve menstrual cycle  fibroadenomas  fibroadenomas solid  noncancerous breast tumors smooth move easily skin touched  fibroadenoma may grow larger  factors may associated fibroadenoma growth include being pregnant  using hormone therapy menstruation  injuries infections  severe injury breast tissue nearby nerves can create breast lump  doctors condition fat necrosis  collection infected fluid (abscess) breast tissue can cause breast lump  that's associated localized breast pain inflammation skin  breast cancer  breast lump that's painless  hard  irregularly shaped surrounding breast tissue breast cancer  skin covering lump may look red  dimpled pitted like skin orange  breast size shape may change  may notice discharge nipple   only seeing doctor evaluation can kinds tests need type breast lump have  clinical trials  explore mayo clinic studies testing new treatments  interventions tests means prevent  detect  treat manage condition        explore mayo clinic studies             mayo clinic staff mayo clinic staff  suspicious breast lumps care mayo clinic 
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