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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

Assessing the statistical risk for any individual woman requires a careful assessment of all her relevant health issues. The best estimates of cancer risk relate specifically to the microscopic tissue types of fibrocystic condition. Other factors such as family history and the presence of an inherited gene that increases the risk of breast cancer (BRCA 1 and 2 genes) are also taken into account. However, unless a woman with fibrocystic breast condition has a breast biopsy; it is not possible to calculate her specific risk of developing breast cancer.

Only 5% of women with fibrocystic breast condition have the type of cellular changes, namely cellular hyperplasia, which represents a risk factor for breast cancer. When compared to a "normal population" of women, these patients have a two to six fold increased risk of breast cancer. The exact risk depends on the degree of the hyperplasia and whether atypical-appearing cells are also present.

It is critical for the patient with fibrocystic breast condition to understand that this figure represents her total risk accumulated over a lifetime. This means that her actual increased risk of breast cancer in any given year is rather low.

Breast cancer risk assessment can also be performed using a system known as the Gail Breast Risk Assessment tool. This system takes into account the following factors when calculating an individual women's risk: age (the model is valid only for women aged >35 yrs), age at menarche (the begnining of menstruation), age at first live birth, number of first-degree relatives with breast cancer, number of previous breast biopsies, the presence of atypical hyperplasia on any previous breast biopsy, and race.