6Breast Infections
Another common cause of a suspicious lump on the breast may be an infection or injury. When breast tissue or surrounding nerves are severely injured, it would cause the breast to create a mass. This condition is also known as fat necrosis. An abscess or build-up of infected fluids in breast tissue may lead to a suspicious breast lump as well. This is usually linked to localized breast inflammation and pain.
The most common cause of breast infections is the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, which can be found on normal skin. They may penetrate the skin through a crack or break on the surface, typically on the breast’s nipple, and cause an infection in the fatty tissue. This leads to inflammation, swelling, and redness. The swelling would push on the milk ducts, leading to the development of a lump and pain in the affected breast areas. A breast infection is more common in breastfeeding women and not associated with breast cancer. [9]
