Fibroadenomas are another type of common, benign breast lump s . Usually these solid round lumps are painless and most often found by women themselves. They develop most frequently in women in their late teens and early 20s; however, they can occur in women of any age. Fibroadenomas are found twice as often in African-American women, compared to the rest of the population. Although fibroadenomas do not become malignant, they can enlarge with menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and breast-feeding. Increasingly, they are being seen in postmenopausal women who are taking hormone replacement therapy.

The painless lump feels rubbery and moves around freely and very often is found by the woman herself. Fibroadenoma lumps vary in size and can grow anywhere in the breast tissue.

Care: While most healthcare providers can identify this type of lump simply by clinical breast examination, generally the diagnosis is confirmed by some combination of mammography, ultrasound, or biopsy. These tumors sometimes enlarge in young women, or during pregnancy and breastfeeding. For this reason, healthcare providers may recommend surgically removing them.