It is important to note that if you do discover one sided breast swelling, with or without any palpable lumps, it is advisable to consult with your doctor or gynecologist first before you jump to any conclusions or decide to ignore it. The reality is that both breasts are not exactly the same size or shape, but it is usually such a subtle difference that it cannot be easily noticed.

Causes of Breast Swelling on One Side

Young girls often find that one of their breasts is slightly larger than the other. This is a normal finding and should not be a cause for concern. Women on contraceptive pills or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may also have slight breast enlargement, usually on both sides (bilateral), but sometimes it may be only on one side (unilateral). These are two of the most common causes of noticeable one-sided breast enlargement.

Other possible causes of one-sided breast swelling may include :

Infection

Mastitis which is breast infection is common in women who are breastfeeding. It can cause swelling of the breast on one side.

A breast abscess is a collection of pus which forms within the breast as a result of infection. It usually occurs in a woman who is breastfeeding.

Cellulitis or inflammation of the skin as a result of an infection can cause swelling of the breast.

Trauma/Injury

Any injury to the breast may cause a swelling due to collection of blood within the breast. A firm irregular mass due to fat necrosis may follow trauma.

Fibrocystic Breast Disease

Fibrocystic disease of the breast (fibroadenosis)  may occur in one or both breasts. It is usually seen during the child bearing years and is common in pre-menopausal women. The lumps may be painful but there is no fear of them becoming cancerous.

Fibroadenoma

A fibroadenoma is also called a “breast mouse” because it is felt as a smooth swelling which is quite mobile within the breast. It usually occurs in young women, causing a painless swelling in the breast and is usually not pre-cancerous.

Cysts

Cysts are little sacs filled with fluid. A cyst may cause swelling of the breast which sometimes becomes painful just before the onset of periods.

Milk cysts may form due to pockets of milk collection within the breast during lactation. These can become infected and form a breast abscess at a later stage.

Cancer

Breast cancer continues to rise globally and a regular mammogram and routine breast examinations are advisable. A biopsy of a lump will assist with the final diagnosis.

Lipoma

A breast lipoma is a lump formed by collection of fatty tissue within the breast.

Lymphatic Obstruction

Lymphatic obstruction is the blockage in lymph flow within the breast and this may be due to a tumor, infection, injury or surgery and can cause a unilateral breast swelling.

Infants, New Born Babies

Breast lumps are sometimes seen in newborn babies and this is formed by the action of the of the maternal hormones. These usually disappear in due course, without any treatment, as the estrogen level falls.

Implants

Toughened silicone implants or scar tissue after breast augmentation surgery  may be felt as pseudolumps in the breast.

All women and girls from the age of around 20 should learn to perform a self breast examination, by getting to know what your breasts feel like, the shape, weight and texture of the skin you will be able to detect if anything feels wrong and this can catch diseases such as breast cancer early. The earlier you catch it the more likely you are to be cured of it, though it is important to note that not all changes to the breast are caused by cancer, there are several other factors which can cause changes most of which are harmless.

Signs to look for

• The formation of a lump.
• Any discharge.
• Any swelling or tenderness not associated with the menstrual cycle.
• Any irritation to the skin or dimpling.
• Any abnormalities of the nipple.

Steps to performing a self breast examination

• Stand in front of a mirror making sure you can see your breasts clearly, look over your breasts for anything that is unusual, things to look for are scaling, puckering, dimpling or redness, also check for discharge from your nipples.
• Watch yourself in the mirror as you bring your arms up and put them behind your head, pressing your arms forward a little, watch for any changes closely.
• Still looking in the mirror put your hands on your hips and pull your arms and elbows forward bending slightly towards the mirror, look closely for any changes.
• Gentle squeeze your nipple between your fingers to check for any signs of discharge as you do.
• Lie down on your back so that your breasts are spread evenly on the chest, raise one arm above your head and preferably with a pillow or folded towel underneath the other arm. By doing this you are helping to flatten the breast making it easier to check for abnormalities.
• Using the pads of your fingers lightly run them over your breast and the surrounding area, you might find this easier if you put a little hand lotion onto your hands first to help your fingers glide.
• Check for anything out of the ordinary such as lumps or masses, be sure to cover the whole of the breast.
• Special attention should be paid to the side of the breast and the under arm including the armpit.
• If you are uncomfortable doing this laid down then the check can be made during your shower, some people find this easier when they have soap to help their fingers glide over the breast.

What to do if you find something

Panic will of course be a natural reaction if you should find something, but try to remain as calm as you can, it doesn’t mean the worse and many changes and lumps are often due to something other than breast cancer. If you find a definite lump or puckering, dimpling or nipple discharge then you should however check it out with your doctor to get the all clear and remember 80% of all breast lumps are benign.

The exact cause of breast cancer isn’t fully understood and the risk of developing breast cancer increases with age with more than half of the cases diagnosed occurring in women over the age of 65. There are thought to be certain factors which do increase the risk of getting breast cancer and these are listed below:

• If you have suffered from certain types of non benign breast problems in the past.
• If you are taking hormone replacement therapy.If you are taking the contraceptive pill.
• Women who have never had children.
• Women who had children but didn’t breast feed them.Being overweight, particularly if you have been through menopause.
• Drinking a lot of alcohol over many years.

A very small number of people who develop breast cancer are thought to have inherited it through genes, though this is a very small percentage. However should the following relate to you and your family then you might wish to talk it over with your doctor.

• 3 blood relatives from the same side of the family have developed breast cancer.
• 2 close blood relatives from the same side of the family under the age of 60 developed breast cancer.One close relative under the age of 40 developed breast cancer.
• A close relative who has breast cancer on both breasts.
• A male relative who has breast cancer.

Of course just because one of the above applies to you this doesn’t necessarily mean that you will go on to develop breast cancer, but just that the risk level will be slightly higher.

The symptoms of breast cancer

The majority of women who have breast cancer first noticed the disease as a painless lump, lumps which are very painful to touch are usually benign, other signs of breast cancer may also include:

• Change in the shape or size of the breast.
• Dimpling of the skin on the breast.
• A nipple suddenly becoming inverted.
• A rash which affects the nipple.Discharge from the nipple which is usually bloodstained.
• A swelling or lump in the armpit.

If you have noticed any of the above then it is important that you do seek the advice of your doctor especially if you have a painless lump in your breast, breast cancer can be successfully cured and the chances are greater the earlier it is detected.