If you are pregnant and find a lump in your breast, tell your doctor immediately. It's normal for your breasts to change and get larger during pregnancy, but lumps need to be checked out.
The first test is to examine yourself; have your doctor check you if you find a lump. After your examination, your doctor may schedule you for a mammogram or an ultrasound. If a mammogram is done, be sure to tell the technicians you are pregnant. They will cover your abdomen with a lead shield.
Often a lump in the breast can be drained or aspirated during pregnancy. If it cannot be drained, biopsy or removal of the lump may be necessary. Depending on how serious it is, surgery or other treatment may be needed. A breast lump doesn't always mean cancer, but it's important to check breast lumps.
Some patients ask me if pregnancy can make a breast cancer grow faster. Not everyone agrees on the answer to this question. Most medical experts don't believe pregnancy accelerates the course or growth of a breast cancer.
