A new study conducted by the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center shows that woman who have benign breast lumps may actually have a higher risk for breast cancer.

According to the study, published by the New England Journal of Medicine, there are different types of benign lumps.

If you have a lump removed, breast surgeon Anne Rosenberg says that you need to find out what kind of benign lump it is, because that will tell you your future risk for developing breast cancer. If you have one particular kind of benign lump, you could be 400 times more likely to get breast cancer.

Pathologists who look at the tissue under the microscope will determine if it's cancerous or benign. If it is benign, a new study finds that the type of benign it is makes a big difference.

If the cells are non-proliferative and there are just fibrocystic changes, your pathology report will say your lump is either a cyst or a fibroadenoma. In that case you have no increased risk of breast cancer.

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Chemo Prevention Drugs: Tamoxofin, Arimidex, Raloxifen

Non-Proliferative Fibrocystic Change: Cysts, Fibroadenomas, No Increased Risk of Breast Cancer

Proliferative Fibrocystic Changes Without Atypical Cells: Papilloma, Ductal Hyperplasia, Sclerosing Adenosis, Radial Scar, 27 Percent Increased Risk Of Breast Cancer.

Proliferative Fibrocystic Changes With Atypical Cells: Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia, Atypical Lobular Hyperplasia, 400 Percent Increased Risk Of Breast Cancer

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If you have proliferative fibrocystic changes without atypical cells your report will say papilloma, ductal hyperplasia, sclorsing adenosis or radial scar. Then you have an 88-percent increased risk of breast cancer.

"The absolute numbers would be that the standard woman has a 10 to 11 percent lifetime risk. A person in this category would have an 18 to 19 percent risk (of developing breast cancer over her lifetime)," Rosenberg said.

Rosenberg said that these women should be more diligent about getting their mammograms on time and getting physical exams from their doctors.

Then there are a small number of women whose lumps have proliferative fibrocystic changes with atypical cells. Their pathology reports would say atypical ductal hyperplasia or lobular hyperplasia. They have a 400 percent increased risk of getting breast cancer.

This group of women has between a 30 and 40 percent lifetime risk of developing breast cancer.

"These women are the ones we really want to identify so they can be offered additional monitoring like MRIs and ultrasounds, plus the standard mammography screenings. Plus, if their risk is high enough they may be candidates for chemo prevention," Rosenberg said.

Chemo prevention includes using drugs like Tamoxifen, Arimidex and Raloxifen.

Rosenberg said that you should always get a copy of your pathology report and file it so that future doctors can refer to it in the future.