FIBROCYSTIC BREASTS

It may not even be possible to feel any lumps when the breasts are examined by the woman herself or by her doctor. In other women with fibrocystic breasts, the pain and tenderness are constant, and many lumpy or nodular areas can be felt throughout both breasts.

FIBROCYSTIC BREASTS causes

The breasts are mostly made up of tissue that is affected by hormones produced by the ovaries. In general breasts are easily responding to female hormonal changes. Change of hormones throughout women’s menstrual cycle can cause the breasts to feel swollen, lumpy, and painful. The most significant contributing factor to fibrocystic breasts is women’s normal hormonal variation during menstrual cycle. The most important of these hormones are estrogen and progesterone. These two hormones directly affect the breast tissues by causing cells to grow and multiply. Many hormones aside from estrogen and progesterone also play an important role in causing fibrocystic breasts. Prolactin, growth factor, insulin, and thyroid hormone are some of the other major hormones that are produced outside of the breast tissue, yet act in important ways on the breast. In addition, the breast itself produces hormonal products from its glandular and fat cells. Signals that are released from these hormonal products are sent to neighboring breast cells. The signals from these hormone-like factors may, in fact, be the key contributors to the symptoms of fibrocystic breast condition. These substances may also enhance the effects of estrogen and progesterone and vice versa.

In the breast, these same hormones stimulate the growth of breast glandular tissue and increase the activity of blood vessels, cell metabolism, and supporting tissue. All this activity may contribute to the feeling of breast fullness and fluid retention that women commonly experience before their menstrual period.

After menopause hormonal fluctuations are dramatically changed (reduced) and fibrocystic changes in the breasts usually stop happening.

Changes in breasts during menstrual could be noted in more than 60% of women, and are most common in women ages 30 - 50. Women who take hormone replacement therapy may have more symptoms or more severe symptoms. Women who take birth control pills sometimes also could feel breast tenderness – one of the common side effects of birth control pills.

There is no definite cause of painful, lumpy breasts. There is no proof that eating chocolate, drinking caffeine, or eating a high-fat diet can cause these symptoms.

FIBROCYSTIC BREASTS risk group

Age factor - fibrocystic breasts mainly affecting women after 30 up to 50. The reason for this is that the condition likely results from a cumulative process of repeated monthly hormonal cycles and the accumulation of fluid, cells, and cellular debris within the breast. The process starts with puberty and continues through menopause. After menopause, fibrocystic breasts become less problematic.

Can fibrocystic breast condition affect just one breast?

Not usually. As a rule, fibrocystic breast condition tends to be symmetrical (bilateral) and affects both breasts. A woman can have more fibrocystic involvement in one breast than in the other. The less affected breast, however, often "catches up" over the years, and eventually both breasts become almost equally fibrocystic.

FIBROCYSTIC BREASTS symptoms

Fibrocystic breasts’ symptoms include:

• Breasts’ tenderness and/or sensitivity,
• One or more lumps in your breasts,
• Pain in breasts,
• Nipple discharge.

Fibrocystic breasts’ symptoms are usually worse right before your menstrual period, and then improve after the period starts. You may feel pain or discomfort, usually in both breasts. Breast pain commonly comes and goes, but it can be persistent. Your breasts may feel full, swollen, and heavy.

Some breast cysts are very small, but others can be as large as a hen's egg. If you apply pressure, larger cysts may change shape slightly and can be moved around a bit under your skin.
Most fibroadenomas have a firm, smooth, rubbery feeling and a well-defined shape. They also tend to move around under your skin.

FIBROCYSTIC BREASTS diagnosis

Most common indicator of fibrocystic breasts is breast pain or discomfort, but women with fibrocystic breasts may also not have any symptoms. If discomfort is present, the discomfort may include a dull, heavy pain in the breasts, breast tenderness, nipple itching, and/or a feeling of fullness in the breasts. These symptoms may be persistent or intermittent (coming and going), especially appearing at the onset of each menstrual period and going away immediately afterwards.

The primary method of diagnosing fibrocystic breast condition is breast exam (made by your doctor) or breast self-exam. Breast lumps can be discovered during palpation. Breast lumps are most commonly found in the upper outer quadrant of the breast. The lumps in fibrocystic breasts are typically mobile (they are not anchored to overlying or underlying tissue). They usually feel rounded, have smooth borders, and may feel rubbery or somewhat changeable in shape. Sometimes, the fibrocystic areas may feel irregular, ridge-like, or like tiny beads. These characteristics all vary from one woman to another.

Breasts that are extremely fibrocystic can be very difficult to examine by palpation (touching and feeling). Even mammograms of such extremely fibrocystic breasts may be difficult to interpret. In these cases, specialized breast ultrasound exams and other tests can be very helpful. It may sometimes be necessary to obtain a sample (biopsy) of breast tissue with a needle or by surgery in order to make an accurate diagnosis and differentiate between fibrocystic breast condition and breast cancer.

FIBROCYSTIC BREASTS treatment

The treatments for fibrocystic breast condition are directed at the individual components of the condition, including the relief of symptoms (such as breast pain and tenderness) and the correction of hormonal irregularities:

   Relief of symptoms: Some simple measures, such as adequate support of the breasts and perhaps wearing a bra at night, may provide relief from many of the symptoms of fibrocystic breast condition. Anti-inflammatory medications, including acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), often reduce the breast pain significantly.

       Hormonal irregularities: Some women with very irregular menstrual cycles seem to progressively suffer more severe fibrocystic breast condition. This tendency is most likely due to the prolonged and irregular hormonal stimulation of the breasts. In these patients, it is sometimes helpful to establish menstrual cycle regularity with oral contraceptives. Regular cycles seem to allow the breast tissue to recover more completely at the end of each menstrual cycle.

    In patients who have had a hysterectomy and who are on hormone therapy, it may be helpful to be "off estrogen" for five days during each monthly cycle rather than remain on continuous estrogen. Again, this schedule is designed to avoid the continuous stimulation of the breast tissues by estrogen. It is important that any such hormone regulation be under the direct supervision of a physician.

    Certain common hormonal (endocrine) abnormalities, such as diabetes or thyroid dysfunction, may contribute to fibrocystic breast condition. Since these conditions may aggravate the symptoms of fibrocystic breast condition, they should be diagnosed and treated.

  Studies have shown some benefit from the short term use of the antiestrogenic drug Tamoxifen in relieving breast pain. However, tamoxifen use may be associated with a number of adverse effects, especially in postmenopausal women, and its use should be limited to the short term. Likewise, the androgenic steroid drug Danazol (Danocrine) has also been shown to reduce breast pain and nodule size in women with fibrocystic breast condition. Danazol is also associated with a number of side effects. Both of these medications may be considered for use in women with severe cyclical breast pain due to fibrocystic condition.

FIBROCYSTIC BREASTS prognosis

There is no increased risk of cancer. Symptoms usually improve after menopause.

FIBROCYSTIC BREASTS Prevention

There is no proof that anything you do or don't do will prevent symptoms.

Reducing the amount of fat and caffeine in your diet may help reduce symptoms, although studies have questioned their role in the disease.

Fibrocystic breasts easy prevention – wear a well-fitting bra or consider braless and give your breasts a freedom.

FIBROCYSTIC BREASTS at a Glance

Fibrocystic breasts is a condition of lumpiness in one or both breasts.

Breast tenderness or pains are usually present in fibrocystic breasts.

Fibrocystic breasts are very common and benign condition.

Normal hormonal variation during the menstrual cycle is the primary contributing factor to fibrocystic breasts.

Fibrocystic breasts condition is a cumulative process that mainly affects women over 30.

The foremost concern is not fibrocystic breasts themself but the threat of breast cancer.

The lumps in fibrocystic breasts can mimic and mask breast cancer.

Recommended measures for women with fibrocystic breasts include:

- - - - Learning about fibrocystic breasts and its symptoms;
- - - - Learning breast self-examination;
- - - - Having regular breast exams by a doctor; and
- - - - Having regular breast imaging (mammograms).

Treatment of fibrocystic breasts aims at the relief of breast pain and tenderness and correction of menstrual irregularities.