Not every lump in the breast tissue is malignant. Approximately 80 percent of all lumps prove to be cysts or fibrous tumors caused by hormones, age or other factors. Even tumors that are not cancerous must sometimes be removed, due to size or position in the breast.

The most common kinds of non-cancerous breast problems are lumps and thickening, breast pain, discharge from the nipple, and breast infection.

None of these mean you have breast cancer, but any of them should lead you to be evaluated.

• You feel a lump in your breast
• Thickening, dimpling or pitting/indentation (retraction) of the skin of the breast
• Nipple discharge that is either clear yellow or bloody
• Newly retracted nipples or inversion
• Asymmetric appearance of the breast
• Redness of the breast

If you find a breast lump or thickening, it may be prudent to wait a week or through one menstrual cycle and then recheck your breast. If the problem is still there, call your doctor.

First, your doctor will perform a clinical examination of both breasts. The result of this exam may assure your doctor that the problem does not need further testing. Should more testing be necessary, you may need diagnostic tests such as a Mammography, ultrasonography, needle aspiration studies (Cytology) or biopsies (histology).

If a biopsy is necessary, it may be performed in may ways; office core or fine needle aspiration biopsy, sterotactic biopsy, ultrasound-guided biopsy, or excisional biopsy in the operating room under local anesthesia with, or without sedation, or general anesthesia.

Breast infections are relatively uncommon. Pain is usually generalized (the whole breast hurts or throbs) or localized (the breast hurts in one area). Generalized breast pain or "mastitis" is usually associated with breast-feeding, pregnancy, or radiation of the breast during cancer treatment.

Localized breast infection is frequently associated with an abscess, cellulitis (a non-contagious infection of the connective tissue beneath the skin), folliculitis (contagious inflammation or infection of one or more hair follicles of the skin), or other skin or soft tissue lesions. Breast infections, like other infections, can become serious and create fever or systemic illness. It is very important that a breast infection be evaluated and treated in a timely fashion.

Breast infections often require treatment with antibiotics. Additional measures, such as heat, pain relievers, and surgical incision and drainage may also be required.

Nipple discharge can be associated with hormonal or normal aging changes (ductal ectasia). Nipple discharge that occurs rarely and in tiny drops, or which occurs during breast self-examination or other breast manipulation, is common. However, when nipple discharge occurs on its own or you notice staining of your bra or nightclothes, you should consult a physician. Most of the time this type of discharge is the result of benign growths in the ducts but rarely it can be a result of cancer. If you notice bloody discharge, spontaneous clear or yellow discharge, or persistent one-sided discharge, please consult your doctor. Discharge that is slightly milky and is coming from both breasts could be the result of pregnancy or rarely a pituitary tumor. All nipple discharge findings should be evaluated.

Complaints of nipple discharge should be evaluated by a clinical breast exam and appropriate screening studies.

If nipple discharge is found on examination, the physician will try to localize the area from which the nipple discharge originates, and determine whether there is blood in the fluid, and consider cytology and/or bacteriology smears of the fluid.

Breast pain may occur at almost any age and may be caused by a number of things. The pain may be one-sided or bilateral, constant, or intermittent, frequent or occasional. Sharp, dull, aching and/or sticking sensations are all typical.

The most common reasons for breast pain are hormonal changes associated with menstruation, pregnancy, perimenopause, and/or menopause, muscular straining of the chest wall, upper back, and shoulder muscles.

A thorough examination of the breasts, lymph nodes, and muscles of the chest and shoulders by a diagnostic test such as a mammography, sonography, or needle aspiration of cysts may be considered.

In addition the amount of caffeine intake, your doctor will want to know your medications, hormones, diuretics, birth control, the type of support bra and daily activities to make a diagnosis and treatment recommendation.