Fibrocystic Breast Condition (cont.)
In this Article
Which women are more likely to develop fibrocystic
breast condition?
Fibrocystic breast condition is said to primarily affect women age 30 and
older. 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 breast
condition becomes less of a problem.
Can fibrositic 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.
Why is it important to diagnosis fibrocystic breasts?
The basic problem with fibrocystic breast condition is the threat of breast
cancer. Fibrocystic breast condition is itself benign (non-cancerous) and
exceedingly common. Additionally, breast cancer is a common malignancy in women.
Both conditions, one benign and the other a leading cause of cancer deaths in
women, involve the same organ — the breast.
Fibrocystic lumps in the breast can closely mimic those found in breast
cancer. They can also sometimes make breast cancer difficult to detect.
Therefore, fibrocystic breast condition often makes both the patient and her
physician quite concerned about the possibility of breast cancer. If a woman's
breasts are fibrocystic, additional diagnostic tests may be necessary in order
to rule out an underlying breast cancer.
How is fibrocystic breast condition diagnosed?
A common indicator of fibrocystic breast condition 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 physically
touching and feeling (palpation) the lumpy areas in the breast(s). These lumps
may be detected by a woman on self-examination or by her physician. This
lumpiness is most commonly found in the upper outer quadrant of the breast. (The
breast is conventionally divided into quadrants or quarters. The upper outer
quadrant is the one closest to the armpit.) The lumps in fibrocystic breast
condition 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.
Next: Is there more than one type of fibrocystic breast condition? »
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