Private breast lumps & changes clinic in London, same-day women's health.

Knowing your own normal

There is no single correct technique and no fixed schedule. What matters is being familiar enough with how your breasts normally look and feel — including how they change through the cycle — that you would notice something different. Look as well as feel, in a mirror, with arms down and then raised. Include the upper chest and armpits.

Breasts are often naturally lumpy, more so before a period, and asymmetry is normal. It is change you are looking for, not perfection.

What most lumps turn out to be

• Fibroadenoma — smooth, firm, mobile, common in younger women. Harmless.
• Breast cyst — fluid-filled, often tender, common in the forties and fifties. Can be drained if uncomfortable.
• Fibrocystic change — generalised lumpiness and tenderness varying with the cycle.
• Fat necrosis — a firm lump following injury or surgery.
• Infection or abscess — a hot, red, painful area, most common while breastfeeding.

Breast pain

Cyclical pain, worse before a period and affecting both breasts, is very common and rarely indicates anything serious. It often improves with a well-fitted supportive bra, regular anti-inflammatories, and reducing caffeine. Non-cyclical pain in one specific spot is worth examining, though it too is usually benign.

Screening

NHS breast screening invites women aged 50 to 71 every three years. Screening is for people without symptoms — if you have found a lump, do not wait for your next invitation, and do not be reassured by a normal mammogram from months ago.

If you have a strong family history — several close relatives, young ages at diagnosis, male breast cancer, ovarian cancer, or a known gene — you may be eligible for earlier and more frequent screening and for genetic assessment. It is worth mapping your family history properly.