Can an injury or blow to the breast cause cancer?
- Injury, trauma, or a blow to the breast does not cause cancer
- There’s also no good explanation for how an injury could cause cancer in breast tissue
- But injuries may sometimes lead to someone finding a cancer near to the injured area that was already there
What can happen after an injury to the breast?
If someone has an injury or blow to the breast, they might check it themselves or have it checked by a health professional. If there’s already a cancer in the area, these checks could find it. This doesn’t mean that the injury has caused the cancer.
Sometimes an injury can cause a lump that’s not cancer. This can be bruising or scar tissue that can form when the body naturally repairs itself. There’s no evidence to suggest that these lumps increase the risk of cancer, but they may need treatment if they don’t go away on their own.
If you notice a change to the look or feel of your breasts, or anything else that’s not normal for you, tell your doctor. It probably won’t be cancer, but it’s important to have it checked.
There are many myths about what causes cancer, including physical injuries to breasts. However, there are also proven causes, and things you can do to reduce your risk.
This page is currently being reviewed. An update will be published as soon as possible.
Li B, Nguyen J, Williams CA, Cardenas K, Pidhorecky I. Rare Papillary Breast Carcinoma Incidentally Discovered After Trauma-Induced Hematoma. Cureus. 2021;13(9):e18215.
Genova R, Garza RF. Breast Fat Necrosis. StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL)2021
Last reviewed: 1 December 2021
Next review due: 1 December 2024
