A professor of pharmacology and fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Isa Hussaini, has said that women can have a recurring breast lump that is not cancerous. According to Hussaini, while women who have a reoccurring case of breast lumps should always have it checked by physicians, they should not panic unduly because lumps do not necessarily indicate breast cancer.
Speaking with PUNCH HealthWise, Hussaini who specialised in cancer research also noted that having repeated breast lumps does not necessarily increase breast cancer risk. According to the American Cancer Society, a lump or mass in the breast is the most common symptom of breast cancer.
“Lumps are often hard and painless, although some are painful. However, not all lumps are cancer. There are benign breast conditions (like cysts) that can also cause lumps,” the society said
The pharmacology professor said that recurring lumps are not usually from the same cells that caused the initial lump.
“Most likely this lump is not from the cell of the other one that was removed.
“Once they have removed the first one, apparently it will not reoccur so probably this is a different cell that has a lump or mass.
“Even if they remove this one, just watch it. They can go for mammography and a good gynaecologist can confirm if it is benign or malignant or just something very mild.”
Hussaini, however, cautioned women who have a recurring lump to ensure they go for mammography to know the type of lump they have.
Citing the case of popular American actress, Angelina Jolie, the physician said it may not be a bad decision for someone with a family history of breast cancer to remove their breast as a preventive measure.
“You must have heard of Angelina Jolie. Breast cancer runs in their family and her aunty developed breast cancer. Because of that, she removed both her breasts and inserted silicone.
“With that, there’s no way she can get breast cancer. For that one, it was confirmed that there’s a history of breast cancer in the family,” Hussaini said.
source: HealthWise
