Learn About Fibrocystic Breast Disease

What is the definition of Fibrocystic Breast Disease?

Fibrocystic breasts are painful, lumpy breasts. Formerly called fibrocystic breast disease, this common condition is, in fact, not a disease. Many women experience these normal breast changes, usually around their period.

What are the alternative names for Fibrocystic Breast Disease?

Fibrocystic breast disease; Mammary dysplasia; Diffuse cystic mastopathy; Benign breast disease; Glandular breast changes; Cystic changes; Chronic cystic mastitis; Breast lump - fibrocystic; Fibrocystic breast changes

What are the causes of Fibrocystic Breast Disease?

Fibrocystic breast changes occur when thickening of breast tissue (fibrosis) and fluid-filled cysts develop in one or both breasts. It is thought that hormones made in the ovaries during menstruation can trigger these breast changes. This may make your breasts feel swollen, lumpy, or painful before or during your period each month.

More than half of women have this condition at some time during their life. It is most common between the ages of 30 and 50. It is rare in women after menopause unless they are taking estrogen. Fibrocystic breast changes do not change your risk for breast cancer.

What are the symptoms of Fibrocystic Breast Disease?

Symptoms are more often worse right before your menstrual period. They tend to get better after your period starts.

If you have heavy, irregular periods, your symptoms may be worse. If you take birth control pills, you may have fewer symptoms. In most cases, symptoms get better after menopause.

Symptoms may include:

  • Pain or discomfort in both breasts that may come and go with your period, but may last through the whole month
  • Breasts that feel full, swollen, or heavy
  • Pain or discomfort under the arms
  • Breast lumps that change in size with the menstrual period

You may have a lump in the same area of the breast that becomes larger before each period and returns to its original size afterward. This type of lump moves when it is pushed with your fingers. It does not feel stuck or fixed to the tissue around it. This type of lump is common with fibrocystic breasts.

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What are the current treatments for Fibrocystic Breast Disease?

Women who have no symptoms or only mild symptoms do not need treatment.

Your provider may recommend the following self-care measures:

  • Take over-the-counter medicine, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain
  • Apply heat or ice on the breast
  • Wear a well-fitting supportive bra, such as a sports bra

Some women believe that eating less fat, caffeine, or chocolate helps with their symptoms. There is no clear evidence that these measures help.

Vitamin E, thiamine, magnesium, and evening primrose oil are not harmful in most cases. Studies have not shown these to be helpful. Talk with your provider before taking any medicine or supplement.

For more severe symptoms, your provider may prescribe hormones, such as birth control pills or other medicine. Take the medicine exactly as instructed. Be sure to let your provider know if you have side effects from the medicine.

Surgery is never done to treat this condition. However, a lump that stays the same throughout your menstrual cycle is considered suspicious. In this case, your provider may recommend a core needle biopsy. In this test, a small amount of tissue is removed from the lump and examined under a microscope.

Who are the top Fibrocystic Breast Disease Local Doctors?
General Surgery | Surgical Oncology
General Surgery | Surgical Oncology

Medical Faculty Associates, Inc

2300 M St Nw, 
Washington, DC 
 6.9 mi

Christine Teal is a General Surgeon and a Surgical Oncologist in Washington, Washington, D.c.. Dr. Teal and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Fibrocystic Breast Disease. Her top areas of expertise are Breast Cancer, Breast Infection, Fibrocystic Breast Disease, Lymphadenectomy, and Mastectomy.

Virginia Hospital Center Physician Group LLC

1625 N George Mason Dr, Suite 315, 
Arlington, VA 
 7.2 mi
Accepting New Patients
Offers Telehealth

Heidi Gorsuch-Rafferty is a General Surgeon in Arlington, Virginia. Dr. Gorsuch-Rafferty and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Fibrocystic Breast Disease. Her top areas of expertise are Breast Cancer, Paget Disease of the Breast, Fibroadenoma, Angiosarcoma, and Lymphadenectomy. Dr. Gorsuch-Rafferty is currently accepting new patients.

 
 
 
 
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General Surgery
General Surgery

Virginia Cancer Specialists, P.C.

277 S Washington St, Suite 100, 
Alexandria, VA 
 0.1 mi
Accepting New Patients
Offers Telehealth

David Weintritt is a General Surgeon in Alexandria, Virginia. Dr. Weintritt and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Fibrocystic Breast Disease. His top areas of expertise are Breast Cancer, Paget Disease of the Breast, Inflammatory Breast Cancer, Angiosarcoma, and Lymphadenectomy. Dr. Weintritt is currently accepting new patients.

What is the outlook (prognosis) for Fibrocystic Breast Disease?

If your breast exams and mammograms are normal, you do not need to worry about your symptoms. Fibrocystic breast changes do not generally increase your risk for breast cancer. However, if you have a family history of breast cancer and fibrocystic changes, there is a small increase in the risk. Symptoms usually improve after menopause.

When should I contact a medical professional for Fibrocystic Breast Disease?

Contact your provider if:

  • You find new or different lumps during your breast self-exam.
  • You have new discharge from the nipple or any discharge that is bloody or clear.
  • You have redness or puckering of the skin, or flattening or indentation of the nipple.
What are the latest Fibrocystic Breast Disease Clinical Trials?
Targeted Prevention of Postpartum-Related Breast Cancer

Summary: This phase II trial tests whether low-dose aspirin can affect markers of inflammation in postpartum (after childbirth) patients with benign breast disease planning to have a breast biopsy. Chronic inflammation may increase the risk of postpartum related breast cancer. Low-dose aspirin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. Giving low-dose aspirin may affect markers of inflammation in blood and...

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Window Trial of Abemaciclib for Surgically Resectable, Chemotherapy-Resistant, Triple Negative Breast Cancer (a BEAUTY Study*)

Summary: This phase II trial studies how well abemaciclib works in treating patients with triple negative breast cancer that can be removed by surgery (resectable) and does not respond to treatment with chemotherapy alone, or in combination with pembrolizumab. Abemaciclib may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth.

Who are the sources who wrote this article ?

Published Date: October 10, 2022
Published By: Jonas DeMuro, MD, Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery with added Qualifications in Surgical Critical Care, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. Editorial update 05/22/2024.

What are the references for this article ?

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists website. Benign breast conditions. www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/benign-breast-problems-and-conditions. Updated May 2023. Accessed May 22, 2024.

Cox DM, Lippe C, Geletzke AK, et al. Etiologoy and management of benign breast disease. In: Klimberg VS, Gradishar WJ, Bland KI, Korourian S, White J, Copeland EM, eds. Bland and Copeland's The Breast: Comprehensive Management of Benign and Malignant Diseases. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 14.

Klimberg VS, Hunt KK. Diseases of the breast. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 35.

Sandadi S, Rock DT, Orr JW, Valea FA. Breast diseases: detection, management, and surveillance of breast disease. In: Gershenson DM, Lentz GM, Valea FA, Lobo RA, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 15.

US Preventive Services Task Force; Nicholson WK, Silverstein M, Wong JB, Barry MJ, Chelmow D, Coker TR, Davis EM, Jaén CR, Krousel-Wood M, Lee S, Li L, Mangione CM, Rao G, Ruiz JM, Stevermer JJ, Tsevat J, Underwood SM, Wiehe S. Screening for Breast Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2024 Apr 30. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38687503. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38687503/.