BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH: FIBROADENOMAS

(FY-BRO-UH-DEH-NO-MUH)

Checking your breasts once a month is a habit every person should follow. Every person of any gender has breast tissue. You could have perfectly healthy breasts one week and the next your breasts could contain lumps, and for no apparent reason! In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, the Anchor brings you information about Fibroadenomas.

CCA SUPPORTS THOSE WITH BREAST CANCER; GRAPHIC BY SAMIRA KUNATE

Fibroadenomas (fy-bro-uh-deh-no-ma) are common, usually benign (non-cancerous), round tumors within the breast. They occur most commonly in young women between the ages 15 to 35, but can occur in anyone of any age. Fibroadenomas feel like smooth, rubbery, solid lumps under the skin, usually have recognizable borders, and move easily within breast tissue. They can be anywhere between the size of a pea to the size of a golf ball, but are typically between 1-3 centimeters in size. In some cases, you may experience pain or discomfort with them, especially around the time of menstruation, in which case you might want to remove them. Whether you have these problems or not, it is important to consult a medical professional whenever you spot new changes in your breast(s), to make sure they will not cause you further problems in the future.