Fibrocystic breast is a benign condition in which breast tissue becomes lumpy and nodular due to the formation of cysts or fibrosis. It is a very common breast condition experienced by almost half of the women at some point in their lives. Fibrocystic breast disease is nothing to be worried about. Presenting complaint of most women with this condition is discomfort and Mastalgia associated with Fibrocystic changes in Breast.
- Location of pain
- Symptoms
- Causes
- Risk factors
- Fibrocystic changes in breast and its association with cancer
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Home Remedies
- When to consult the doctor?
Location of pain
Pain and lumps can be present anywhere but most commonly they are felt in the upper and outer quadrant of the breast.
Symptoms
Symptoms may vary according to the severity of the disease and may be present in one or both breasts:
- Feeling of lumps and knots in the breast.
- The lumps are fluctuant.
- Tenderness and Mastalgia associated with fibrocystic changes.
- Swollen breasts.
- Greenish brown discharge from nipples.
- Thick or rubbery feeling in the breast.
- Pain in the armpit.
- Feeling of heaviness.
- Skin puckering.
- The symptoms aggravate just around the menstrual cycle.
Causes
Fibrocystic changes in the breast are a result of fluctuating levels of reproductive hormones especially estrogen throughout the menstrual cycle. The hormones cause the following changes in the breast:
- Cells that line lactiferous ducts undergo an overgrowth.
- Fibrosis of the breast tissue.
- Adenosis of breast.
- Formation of fluid-filled cysts in the breast.
Risk factors
- Women who are more sensitive to hormonal fluctuations.
- Females who are in their premenopausal period.
- Women in the age group of 20 to 50.
- Women taking estrogen replacement therapy.
Fibrocystic Changes in Breast and its association with Cancer
Fibrocystic changes are a normal phenomenon and more than half of the women experience this condition at least once in a lifetime. The occurrence of fibrocystic breasts does not increase the risk of cancer in women and has no association with it.
Diagnosis
Most of the time diagnosis is made on the basis of the detailed history of symptoms and a clinical breast examination. Your doctor might suggest getting an ultrasound or mammography done for further investigations. Fibrocystic changes in the breast is often accompanied by discharge from the nipple, in such cases, your doctor might drain the cyst and send the sample for biopsy.
Treatment
- For excessive pain: over the counter painkillers oral as well as topical.
- Topical progesterone gel.
- Hormone therapy to regulate and balance hormone levels.
- Vitamin B6 as a long term treatment.
- In the case of a breast cyst that does not go away, your doctor might suggest Fine-needle Aspiration of the fluid relieve the Mastalgia due to Fibrocystic changes in the breast.
- A persistent cyst can also be removed by surgical excision.
Home Remedies
- Take evening primrose oil.
- Wear a properly fitted bra that supports your breast properly.
- Limit your caffeine intake.
- If you are taking hormone replacement therapy, discontinue for some time.
- A heating pad to relieve the discomfort.
When to consult the doctor?
If you experience worsening of mastalgia, the occurrence of new lumps, or lumps growing in size, you should not ignore these changes and book an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.
FAQ
No, fibrocystic changes occur in response to fluctuating hormones and are experienced by half of the women at least once in their lifetime. Most of the time the condition gets better without any sort of treatment, other times conservative approach is enough.
Fine needle aspiration of this cyst can be done to drain the fluid-filled cyst. Surgical excision is also done to remove a persistent cyst.
The cysts enlarge in size in response to estrogen levels in the body.
A Breast examination can help you detect the occurrence of new lumps and differentiate between lumpy breasts due to fibrocystic changes or the formation of a lump that may be associated with a tumor.
