Learn more. A leading indicator of our success is the feedback we get from our patients. Do your breasts feel lumpy? It may be that you are experiencing fibrocystic breast changes—a benign condition that occurs in women of childbearing age. It sounds very unglamorous, but the human breast is no more than a lumpy gland made up of milk glands, ducts, and the tissues that separate and support them.
Most breasts have at least 1 or 2 lumps; however, if your breast feels especially lumpy and uncomfortable, you are probably experiencing fibrocystic breast changes. Fibrocystic changes are benign breast changes. The medical literature used to refer to them as fibrocystic disease.
That was before fibrocystic changes were found to be no more a disease than menstruation or menopause. The breast tissue may feel dense with an irregular area of thicker tissue having a lumpy or ridge-like surface. You might also feel tiny bead-like masses scattered throughout the breasts.
Your breasts may feel tender, swollen, and full with a dull, heavy pain. They may be sensitive to touch with a burning sensation. This discomfort is normal and does not indicate the presence of disease.
For some women, the pain is so severe that they cannot exercise or lie on their stomachs. Fibrocystic changes usually occur in both breasts, most often in the upper outer quadrant and the underside of the breast where most of the milk-producing glands are located. Fibrocystic changes are associated with hormonal shifts in estrogen and progesterone, which affect the breast tissue. During the menstrual cycle, the breasts swell as the milk glands and ducts enlarge and the breasts retain water.
After menstruation, the breast swelling goes down and the breasts return to normal. 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.
Some women with fibrocystic changes develop cysts in their breasts. A cyst is a fluid-filled sac that is usually smooth, firm, movable, and sometimes tender. The cyst will generally enlarge before the menstrual period and shrink afterwards. A large cyst may be round and feel like an eyeball when pressed with the eyelid closed.
If you are concerned about a lump, your healthcare provider can determine whether or not it warrants further attention. Determining whether a lump is a cyst or something more serious can be determined by a simple office procedure known as fine needle aspiration. A fine-gauge needle is inserted into the lump and fluid is withdrawn. If the lump is a cyst, it will collapse once the fluid is removed. If there is concern about the lump, a needle biopsy or a surgical biopsy can be done.
While there is no definitive, medically proven treatment for breast pain caused by fibrocystic changes, there are various remedies that may be helpful. For some women, avoiding foods and beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee, tea, chocolate, and soft drinks, may help to alleviate the discomfort. Women who stop smoking may notice that their lumps decrease as well.
Aspirin and other over-the-counter pain relievers, as well as heat application can relieve uncomfortable symptoms, as does wearing a bra that provides firm support. In serious cases, oral contraceptives—which change the hormonal balance in your body—can lessen fibrocystic changes. For severe cases, a synthetic form of the hormone androgen, may be prescribed. However, many women find that the side effects, including weight gain, hair growth, and voice changes, are more distressing than the fibrocystic discomfort.
There is no correlation between fibrocystic changes and breast cancer. However, fibrocystic changes can make it more difficult to detect breast cancer. Being familiar with your breasts, and the changes throughout the month may be the best way to alleviate concerns about these cyclic changes.
If you have any concerns though, it is a good idea to get any breast changes evaluated by your doctor. Experts have different views about if and when a woman should have a clinical breast exam breast exam by a health professional.
For women with average risk, The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends a clinical breast exam every years for women ages and every year for women over Skip to content. Warning signs The warning signs of breast cancer are not the same for all women.
The most common signs are: A change in the look or feel of the breast OR A change in the look or feel of the nipple OR Nipple discharge If you have any of the warning signs described below, see a health care provider [ ]. In Your Own Words How has having breast cancer changed your outlook? Areas of fibrosis may feel rubbery, firm, or hard to the touch. Meanwhile, cysts are round, movable, fluid-filled lumps most common in women in their forties.
Watch this video for instructions on how to give yourself a breast self-exam:. It can also be caused by trauma to the breast region, overly vigorous exercise, or wearing a bra that is too tight. The good news is that it generally goes away on its own. While the hormonal changes of your period can aggravate many of these other breast issues, your period itself will also cause your breast to swell and often feel…different.
According to the National Cancer Institute , it's normal to feel lumps and bumps during your menstrual cycle thanks to extra fluid in your chest due to hormones.
This should resolve itself once your time of the month is over. Slow clap. Thanks, Aunt Flo. Know thy breasts.
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