Have you ever felt that your breasts are lumpy, sore, or swollen? Or, your nipples are feeling sensitive or/and discharging anything? Chances are you might be suffering from fibrocystic breast changes. It is a benign or non-cancerous breast condition, says Dr. Namrata Singal Sawant, Director and Senior Consultant Breast Radiologist, Vcare Imaging & Diagnostic Centre, Mumbai. She adds that nowadays, this condition affects any woman of any age.
Fibrocystic Breast Changes Affect Anyone, Says Doctor
As per Dr. Namrata Singal Sawant, in general terms, fibrocystic breast change is also known as "hormonal imbalance." Nowadays, the condition is not restricted to a particular age group. "Be it young girls in their teens or perimenopausal ladies, everyone has been told to be having this disease," she notes.
However, the severity of the pain and tenderness can vary with the symptoms increasing "before and during the periods and may subside after the periods are over...they usually improve after menopause," says Dr. Namrata Singal Sawant.
Are Fibrocystic Breast Changes a Risk Factor For Breast Cancer?
As mentioned before, fibrocystic breast changes or fibrocystic breast disease is a benign breast condition, which means it is a non-cancerous condition, notes the doctor. However, to pinpoint the exact reason, doctors recommend an ultrasonography of the breasts, which is the most common investigation.
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"If any suspicious lump is found, other investigations like mammography, MRI or even biopsy may be suggested," adds Dr. Namrata Singal Sawant.
She points out that the link between breast cancer risk and fibrocystic breast changes depends on specific types of changes, which are elaborated below:
1. Simple Fibrocystic Changes
Most of the time, patients only have simple benign cysts which are not known to be associated with cancer. Hence, they arelabelledas benign on their ultrasound reports as well.
2. Proliferative Changes Without Atypia
Some of these cells show only excessive proliferation (rapid growth) but there is no atypia (structural cellular abnormalities). This has increased risk but patients are only suggested close follow-ups and 6-month ultrasound follow-ups.
3. Proliferative Changes With Atypia
These types are associated with cellular atypia, which has definite increased risk of cancer. Most of these types are suggested surgery like wide local excision or lumpectomy for final histopathological report. These varieties of fibrocystic disease can only be confirmed with help of a senior trained breast imaging expert using ultrasonography, mammography or MRI and SOS biopsy.
Also, we should remember that since these breasts are more lumpy, there are higher chances of missing out on cancer on clinical examinations. These breasts appear denser on mammograms and even on MRIs. As a result, it can cause a lot of background parenchymal enhancementleading to more chances of missing out early cancer at small size. Further, even though annual breast examinations and mammograms don't guarantee early diagnosis, they at least can help catch the risk factors, hence women should be on time with them.
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