Breast Tumour/ Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the uncontrollable growth of breast cells that leads to the formation of a tumour. A tumour describes a mass of abnormal tissue that forms in your body. Breast tumours refer to abnormal lumps that may form in either or both of the breasts.

There are two types of breast tumours:

• Benign tumours – these are tumours that are non-cancerous. Doctors usually leave these alone and do not remove it unless they continue to grow, start to put pressure on organs and cause pain and other negative symptoms.
  

• Malignant tumours – these tumours are cancerous and described as aggressive because they attack and damage tissues. These tumours are most often treated surgically, after your doctor has assessed the severity and stage of the cancer. 

When to seek expert advise

If you notice one or more of these symptoms, it is not necessarily indicative of breast cancer. For instance, nipple discharge could be due to an infection and not due to breast cancer.

You should however, consult a doctor working with the Department of Surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital for a complete evaluation if you experience any of these signs or symptoms. To seek medical advice from a specialist, you can request an appointment at the Section of Breast Surgery.

You can also consult a specialist working with the Department of Oncology​​ for expert analysis,

It is also recommended for all women to receive a full breast examination at least every three years if you are in your twenties or thirties, and every year if you are forty and above.