Most people are only aware of the cancerous breast tumor, but for continued breast health, there are many other tumors to learn about. There are many types of tumors in the breast, but they all fall under two general categories. These are benign tumors, which means they are not cancerous and they do not have other adverse medical effects and malignant tumors which are cancerous. It is hard for an untrained person to tell between a benign and a malignant tumor and for this reason, any sign of a lump on the breast or under the armpit should be reported to a doctor. This same applies to men although they are at a lower risk of getting breast cancer. It is important to check for lumps when taking a bath or a shower every day. This is because early detection is the only way cancer can be reached and contained before it spreads to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body. However, note that checking for lumps is hardly the most effective way of combating breast cancer because mammograms can detect the cancer 2 to 3 years before a person can feel a lump, meaning there is a chance it will have spread.

When a lump is found on the breast, a mammogram is done to determine what kind of tumor it is. It is not necessary to take further action on benign breast tumors, but if they are painful or they are preventing the breast from functioning properly, they can be removed through such methods as surgery or needle aspiration.

The most common breast tumors that are noncancerous are fibrocystic lumps or cysts. Cysts are basically sacs that are full of fluid. Another common tumor is fibroadenoma, which is a solid lump that rolls around inside the breast. The other common tumor is papilloma, which very small and they are found inside the mammary ducts near the nipple.

Doctors will detect a breast cancer tumor through a mammogram and once this is done, treatment should start immediately because cancer cells multiply very quickly. There are four types of this tumor and these are HER2, basal, luminal A and luminal B. Classification is based on the molecular features of the tumor and the appearance.

Most breast cancer tumors are hard, with the feel of a raw carrot. One way of identifying these tumors is that they are usually irregularly shaped and they have a bumpy feel. Women past their 30s and those who have a history of breast cancer are at a higher risk and they should go for regular screenings.

Any breast tumor should be checked to make sure it is not malignant. Due to breast cancer awareness and the pressure that has been there from non-governmental organizations, many governments and hospitals have invested in machines to do mammograms and the breast tumor detection services are cheap and even free in some cases.