I have a lump under my nipple that hurts when you touch it

Last updated on September 15, 2020

Question:

My left chest has a bump inside my nipple and it hurts if you touch it. I am really scared because I don’t know but I hope it isn’t breast cancer. My health teacher says that men and boys can also have breast cancer, so I am really scared.

Please answer as soon as possible.

Answer:

While it is possible for men to get breast cancer, it is extremely rare (about 100 times less likely than a woman getting breast cancer) and breast cancer is less common in young men than in older men. Symptoms of breast cancer in men include:

  • Skin dimpling or puckering
  • Nipple retraction when they use to stick out.
  • Redness or scaling of the nipple or breast skin
  • Nipple discharge

Rather than reaching for something rare, let’s consider that it might be something common. When a boy is growing, the changing hormones can cause an adolescent nodule. This is a small, hard lump directly under the nipple that is tender to the touch. These require no treatment and typically disappear in about a year.