Is fibrous breast tissue cancerous?
Fibrocystic breast changes are not cancer. Doctors sometimes call fibrocystic breast changes fibrocystic breast disease. Many breast lumps are due to fibrocystic changes. The lumps can be caused by a collection of fibrous tissue in an area of the breast.
What is a fibrous breast lump?
Fibrocystic breast changes lead to the development of fluid-filled round or oval sacs (cysts) and more prominent scar-like (fibrous) tissue, which can make breasts feel tender, lumpy or ropy. Fibrocystic breasts are composed of tissue that feels lumpy or ropelike in texture.
Do fibrous breast cysts go away?
You usually won’t need treatment unless your doctor finds cancer. If it’s a cyst, your doctor can puncture and drain it. This can lessen pain and pressure, but the fluid may come back. Sometimes, cysts go away on their own.
Is it normal to have fibrous breast tissue?
Many breast lumps turn out to be non-cancerous (benign) changes in fibrous tissue (fibrosis) and/or cysts, which together are known as fibrocystic changes. These changes used to be called fibrocystic disease, but they are a normal finding in many women.
Should fibrocystic breast lumps be removed?
Your doctor might recommend surgery to remove the fibroadenoma if one of your tests — the clinical breast exam, an imaging test or a biopsy — is abnormal or if the fibroadenoma is extremely large, gets bigger or causes symptoms. Procedures to remove a fibroadenoma include: Lumpectomy or excisional biopsy.
Can fibrocystic lumps be hard?
The lumps may be hard or rubbery and could feel like a single (large or small) lump. Fibrocystic changes can also cause breast tissue to thicken.
How do you get rid of fibrous breast tissue?
Surgical excision.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or prescription medication.
- Oral contraceptives, which lower the levels of cycle-related hormones linked to fibrocystic breast changes.
How long do fibrocystic lumps last?
Fibrocystic changes generally begin when women are in their 20s or 30s and usually last until menopause. For a small number of women, the condition worsens over the years, causing constant pain and lumpiness. In general, some of the lumps become permanent and may or may not shrink after menopause.
What foods should I avoid with fibrocystic breasts?
To try to help prevent fibrocystic breast changes, some providers advise avoiding food and beverages that contain caffeine, such as coffee, tea, cola, and chocolate. However, it is not clear that these foods have a significant impact on symptoms.
What to avoid when you have fibrocystic breasts?
avoid caffeine and other stimulants (such as coffee, tea, chocolate, soft drinks) lower the amount of salt and saturated fats in your diet. add 25 grams of ground flaxseed to your diet each day. take evening primrose oil or vitamin E supplements.