While rare, children can still develop breast cancer, causing lumps in their upper chest. However, not every bump in the breast is cancerous.

While most breast lumps in children are benign, it is essential to consult a healthcare professional if any changes in a child’s breasts occur. These changes may include a lump, thickening, pain, discharge, or skin alterations.

With prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment, the outlook for childhood breast cancer is usually positive.

This article will review childhood breast cancer, its symptoms, its potential causes, how doctors diagnose and treat it, and the outlook for the disease.

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Breast cancer is extremely rare in children but possible. The most common type in children is secretory breast cancer, which mainly involves biological females, and it can have a good outlook if a doctor detects it early and with appropriate treatment.

While breast cancer primarily affects biological females and risk increases with age, children can develop noncancerous breast lumps known as fibroadenomas. These are benign and do not usually cause symptoms but require monitoring. In rare cases, they may start growing and become cancerous.

What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal breast cells, forming tumors. These tumors can spread through the body, involving other organs, and become life threatening. The most common type of breast cancer originates in milk ducts or the milk-producing lobules. It may remain contained initially, known as in situ breast cancer, allowing early detection.

However, in the later stages, cancer can spread to nearby tissues, forming lumps or thickening. Further spread to lymph nodes or other organs — metastasis — is life threatening and potentially fatal.

Learn more about breast cancer.

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer in children may include:

  • the development of a lump or thickening in or near the breast or underarm
  • changes in the breast’s size or shape
  • puckering on the breast skin
  • having an inverted nipple
  • nipple discharge, including blood
  • scaly, swollen, or discolored skin on the nipple, areola, or breast
  • dimpled breast skin resembling an orange peel

If a person notices any new lumps or growths on the chest of their child, or if they develop any symptoms of childhood breast cancer, they should contact a doctor. A specialist can perform the relevant tests to determine the cause of the child’s symptoms and recommend the most appropriate steps.

Receiving a diagnosis in the initial stages of cancer and starting the treatment as soon as possible can significantly improve the outlook of the disease at any age.

Breast cancer in children is rare. While abnormal breast cell growth may cause it, breast tumors in children sometimes develop when cancer cells have spread from another part of the body. These secondary cancers typically originate from more common childhood cancers, such as:

Other potential risk factors that may increase the risk of childhood breast cancer include:

  • previous chest or breast radiation treatment for another cancer
  • family history of breast cancer, especially in parents or siblings
  • inherited genetic changes to the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes
  • other genetic mutations with links to breast cancer

To diagnose cancer, a doctor gathers information about the child’s medical history and conducts a thorough physical examination. If the symptoms suggest a cancerous condition, the doctor may order imaging tests, such as X-rays, MRI, or CT scans.

The specialist may also perform a biopsy, collecting a sample of liquid or tissue from the lump in the chest if there is one. They will then send the sample for laboratory testing to determine if cancer cells are present or if the lump is benign.

Treatment for childhood breast cancer varies on the basis of the specific tumor type. Benign fibroadenomas, the most common breast lumps in children, may require no treatment and disappear independently. However, regular monitoring is essential to detect any changes.

Malignant breast cancer in children needs comprehensive treatment from a pediatric oncology team. Treatment plans typically involve a combination of therapies tailored to the child’s symptoms and overall health conditions. This usually includes a combination of surgery to remove the tumor and radiation therapy to kill cancer cells.

Sometimes, doctors may use new targeted drug therapies that attack cancer cells without damaging healthy tissue. However, these treatments are in their early stages and may not be suitable or safe for every type of cancer.

The most common causes of breast lumps in children are fibroadenomas. These may disappear independently, but regular check-ups are essential to monitor any changes and ensure they are not growing and becoming cancerous.

The outlook for children with breast cancer is generally positive, especially with early detection and after receiving appropriate treatment. Around 87 in 100 children with breast cancer survive. Similar to other childhood cancers, survival rates have significantly improved over the years.

Unlike adults, children do not typically undergo routine cancer screenings. This is because childhood cancers are relatively rare and there is no standard screening method for children without increased risk factors.

However, this changes for children with a family history of cancer or specific genetic mutations that may increase their risk of developing cancer during childhood. These children may require closer medical monitoring, including specialized genetic tests or screening exams, to detect early signs of cancer.

Many charities and nonprofit organizations offer support and resources to children with cancer and their loved ones, including:

Breast cancer in children is rare. Most breast lumps in children are benign growths known as fibroadenomas, which do not usually require treatment but simple monitoring. However, in some cases, these lumps can be cancerous.

The main treatment options for childhood breast cancer include surgery or radiation therapy. With an early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, the outlook for childhood breast cancer is generally positive.