Fibrocystic breasts, a condition causing breast pain, cysts, and noncancerous breast lumps, affects many women. It may also be called fibroglandular changes, fibrocystic changes, chronic cystic mastitis, mammary dysplasia, or benign breast disease. Fibrocystic breasts s is a condition that commonly affects women between the ages of 25 and 50 years. It may involve finding one lump or several in both breasts.
The vast majority (almost 85%) of breast lumps are not malignant (i.e., they are not cancerous). Nevertheless, some are, so if a woman notices a lump, she should have it examined by her doctor. Most women have some general lumpiness in their breasts, usually in the upper, outer area. This kind of lumpiness is quite common and does not mean that she has an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
Beyond the occasional discomfort, if a breast lump is not malignant, it’s not considered harmful. Although early studies showed a higher risk of breast cancer in women with lumpy breasts, recent studies have shown that most types of fibrocystic changes are not associated with higher cancer risk.
Many breast lumps are actually cysts (fluid-filled sacs) that may grow bigger towards the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle when her body is retaining more fluid. However, not all breast lumps are cysts. They may also be benign tumours called fibroadenomas (this condition is usually found in younger women). Infection or severe injury can also cause lumps in the breast. Lumps may also be the result of a tumour made up of fatty tissues (called a lipoma) or even a blocked milk duct (called an intraductal papilloma). None of these conditions are malignant or cancerous.
No one knows the cause of cysts. They usually disappear after menopause, so it’s suspected that female hormones may be involved.
The discomfort caused by breast lumps may be treated by medication. Usually, mild pain relievers such as acetaminophen* or ibuprofen are quite effective. In addition, a well-fitted bra that provides good support may also be effective. The bra can even be worn at night. Some women say vitamin E helps, but there is no solid evidence for this type of treatment. Other women find warm compresses, ice packs, and gentle massage to be helpful.
If medication doesn’t alleviate the discomfort, your doctor may try to treat cysts by removing the fluid through aspiration. If the cyst persists and continues to cause discomfort, it may be removed surgically. Other breast lumps may also be removed by surgery.
Proper nutrition may help in the treatment of breast lumps. If a woman smokes or drinks caffeine, she may want to reduce her consumption or eliminate these altogether. Although the evidence is inconclusive, some women have reported that their lumps subsided after they stopped smoking or gave up caffeine.
Regular breast examinations are extremely important. The Canadian Cancer Society recommends that women in all age groups become familiar with their breasts and know what is normal for their breasts and notify their doctors about any detected changes. Breast self-exams are no longer recommended for women to screen for breast cancer, as research shows that this form of screening is not necessary. However, women aged 40 to 49 should talk to their doctor about their risk of breast cancer and whether they should get a mammogram. Women aged 50 to 74 should have a mammogram every two years.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2026. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Fibrocystic-Breast-Disease
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