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Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In this Article

• What are fibrocystic breasts?
• Is there a difference between fibrocystic breast condition and fibrocystic breast disease?
• What causes fibrocystic breasts?
• Which women are more likely to develop fibrocystic breast condition?
• Can fibrocystic breast condition affect just one breast?
• Why is it important to diagnosis fibrocystic breasts?
• How is fibrocystic breast condition diagnosed?
• Is there more than one type of fibrocystic breast condition?
• Why can fibrocystic breast condition be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer?
• Why don't all women with fibrocystic breast condition have breast biopsies?
• What is the recommended follow-up for women with fibrocystic breast condition?
• How is the risk of breast cancer in fibrocystic breast condition patients calculated?
• What are the treatments for fibrocystic breast condition?
• Are there any dietary or life style factors associated with fibrocystic breast condition?
• Fibrocystic Breast condition At A Glance
• Patient Comments: Fibrocystic Breast Condition - Diagnosis
• Patient Comments: Fibrocystic Breast Condition - Experience
• Find a local Obstetrician-Gynecologist in your town
• Fibrocystic Breast Condition Index

Caffeine has been implicated as contributing to both the symptoms and scarring (fibrocystic) changes in fibrocystic breast condition. However, when the scientific evidence is reviewed, the results are conflicting, and no firm benefit of caffeine restriction has been be scientifically established. Additionally, there appears to be no evidence that caffeine increases the risk of breast cancer. However, in women with fibrocystic breast condition, it might still be worth a trial of caffeine restriction. (Note that coffee is not the only source of caffeine. Tea, chocolate, and certain soft drinks also contain caffeine.) There is no harm in trying caffeine avoidance, and there may some fibrocystic breast condition patients for whom it is beneficial.

At this time, there is a great deal of circumstantial evidence that dietary and hormonal factors can affect fibrocystic breast condition and its associated risk of breast cancer. Still, a firm association between dietary factors and fibrocystic breast condition has not been established.

• Fibrocystic breast condition is lumpiness in one or both breasts.
• Breast tenderness or pain are usually present in fibrocystic breast condition.
• Fibrocystic breast condition is a very common and benign condition.
• Normal hormonal variation during the menstrual cycle is the primary contributing factor to fibrocystic breast condition.
• Fibrocystic breast condition is a cumulative process that mainly affects women over 30.
• The foremost concern is not fibrocystic breast condition itself but the threat of breast cancer.
• The lumps in fibrocystic breast condition can mimic and mask breast cancer.
• Recommended measures for women with fibrocystic breast condition include:

• Learning about fibrocystic breast condition and its symptoms;
• Having regular breast exams by a doctor; and
• Having regular breast imaging (mammograms).

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

REFERENCES:

American Cancer Society. Breast cancer detection.

MedscapeReference. Breast abscess and masses.