The Odds of a Breast Lump Being Cancerous are Low
- "Love Island" star Faye Winter, 27, revealed she found a lump on her breast. She's currently awaiting test results to determine what the lump is.
- A mammogram is the primary screening method for breast cancer.
- If something abnormal is found during your mammogram like a lump, expect additional testing, but in most cases, there is no need for alarm.
- "Fewer than one in 10 women called back for more tests are found to have cancer,” according to the American Cancer Society.
- Dr. Connie Lehman says the general consensus for when to begin annual mammograms is 45.
- If your emotions run high while awaiting mammogram results, SurvivorNet suggests activities that help relax your nerves such as exercising or meditation.
Fans have been showing warm concern for "Love Island" star Faye Winter, 27, when she didn’t post as often on social media recently. Thanking them for their sympathy, she revealed that something was indeed going on in her personal life: she found a lump in her breast as she was putting on sunscreen while on a girls’ vacation.
Now she wants others to feel confident getting something checked when it doesn’t seem right. And her story is a good reminder that there is usually no cause for alarm, as most breast lumps found don’t turn out to be cancer.
Read MoreView this post on Instagram
Winter's stardom comes from her role on the love-filled reality show "Love Island." The show features a group of single men and women seeking romance. Each week a member of the group is voted off the show. She usually posts on her popular Instagram channel sharing daily life updates with her 1.2 million followers. However, she had good reason to take a step back and focus on her personal well-being recently.
Winter explained she was enjoying time in the sun with her girlfriends when she noticed the lump on her breast.
"I was putting my sunscreen on…and I felt it. ‘Oooh, what is she?’" Winter said while rubbing her chest.
"I found a little lump," Winter continued.
The reality star wasted no time getting an appointment with her doctor.
"I'm going to have a mammogram and an ultrasound to make sure it's okay, to make sure it's nothing sinister. I'm sure it probably isn't, it's probably just a cyst or something," Winter said.
"It's one of those things that has played on my mind. I haven't been able to get it out of my mind," she added. And that’s a feeling so many people can relate to – waiting to get answers after discovering something concerning.
As Winter awaits her testing, she's encouraging her followers to, "Just have a little check" when something doesn't feel right.
If You Find a Lump, What Happens Next?
When it comes to breast cancer, a mammogram is the primary screening method, such as what Faye Winter is having. If something abnormal is found like a lump, expect additional testing but in most cases, there is usually no need for alarm.
More than 80% of breast lumps people find are not cancerous, according to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a comprehensive cancer center.
And for people who go to get a mammogram, “fewer than one in 10 women called back for more tests are found to have cancer,” the American Cancer Society says. When women are called back, the tests may involve an additional mammogram or ultrasound to take a more thorough look at the breast tissue.
Possible reasons for callbacks may be because the pictures of breast tissue were unclear or an unspecified mass like a cyst appears.
In some cases, a mammogram can lead to a biopsy. During a biopsy, a small piece of breast tissue is checked under a microscope searching for cancer. It's important to remember, just because you need a biopsy does not mean you have cancer.
Dr. Connie Lehman is a diagnostic radiologist who specializes in breast cancer at Massachusetts General Hospital. She says the general consensus is that women should have annual mammograms between the ages of 45 and 54.
Though if you have an increased risk of developing cancer, you should talk with your doctor about whether it makes sense to begin screening earlier, such as at 40 or earlier.
"You should start yearly mammogram screening as early as age 30 if you fit into the high-risk category, meaning you have a first-degree relative who has had breast cancer, have the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation, or had radiation to the chest area when you were young," Dr. Lehman said.
But when it comes to screening and finding cancer, Dr. Lehman told SurvivorNet "Of the approximately 10% of women who get called back, the vast majority will be absolutely fine after more imaging…Only 20% of those will need a biopsy and just 5% of that group will be found to have cancer."
"If you haven’t gone through menopause yet, I think it’s very important that you have a mammogram every year," Dr. Lehman explains to SurvivorNet.
WATCH: Things to Know about Mammograms
Keeping Track of Your Breast Health with Self-exams
In between your regularly scheduled mammogram, you can monitor your breast health at home by conducting breast self-exams. A breast self-exam involves you checking your breasts by feeling and observing them for anything unusual. If you notice something you hadn’t felt before, talk with you doctor about it and they can help determine if or what more needs to be done.
Here are some steps to follow, according to BreastCancer.org:
Step 1: Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror.
- Stand with shoulders straight and arms on hips, and look for the following:
- Breasts that are their usual size, shape, and color
- Breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling
- If you notice dimpling, puckering, or bulging, bring this to your doctor's attention.
- Also, check with your doctor if a nipple has inverted or changed position; or if you see redness, soreness, a rash, or swelling.
Step 2: Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.
- While you're facing the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood).
Step 3: Next, feel your breasts while lying down:
- Use your right hand to feel your left breast; your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping fingers flat and together. Use a circular motion, about the size of a quarter.
- Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage.
- Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast. You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows, as if you were mowing a lawn. This up-and-down approach seems to work best for most women.
- Be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts: for the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back. When you've reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your ribcage.
Step 4: Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting.
- Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in step 3.
WATCH: Getting to Know Your Breasts with Self-Exams
How to Manage Anxiety While Awaiting Results
Faye Winter admitted she was filled with anxious feelings as she awaits her test results. It's completely normal to run the gamut of emotions from nervousness to anger to sadness when waiting for test results.
If you find yourself awaiting test results and your nerves are running rampant, try doing something that relaxes you such as exercising or listening to your favorite music. Breathing exercises and meditation can also help relax.
If your mental health continues to run haywire while waiting for a callback from your doctor, consider some of the following tips below. SurvivorNet has a list of resources to help you:
- Seeking professional help from a psychiatrist or therapist
- Learning healthy coping skills
- Medication to help calm you, which you doctor can help you with
- Adding more physical activity to your routine
- Adjusting your sleep schedule
- Connecting with others via support groups
- Mindfulness and meditation
Questions for Your Doctor
If you happen to find a lump in your breast, here are some questions you can ask your doctor on the next steps:
- This is what the lump feels like, what do you suspect it could be?
- Should I schedule an immediate mammogram even if I've already had one for the year?
- Will I need a biopsy, if so, how soon will I learn the results?
- What's the likelihood that my breast lump is breast cancer?
- If the lump changes in the coming days, what should I do?
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
