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Fibrocystic Breasts

Fibrocystic breasts is a condition in which breasts feel lumpy or their tissue becomes
modular (Heath, 2016). It is estimated that close to half of all women experience this condition
at some point in their lives from the time that they are in their 20s to the time that they are in
their 50s (Heath, 2016). The condition is very rare among women who are past menopause.
However, women beyond their 50s may still experience the condition of they are on hormone
therapies. Since the condition is common among women who are below 50, it is no longer
considered a disease but jus a normal condition.
Symptoms

Many women with the condition do not show any symptoms. For those who show
symptoms, the most common ones include lumpiness, tenderness and pain (Malherbe &
Fatima, 2019). These symptoms often increase in severity just before a woman gets her
periods. This is the case because of hormonal changes that occur at this period (Malherbe &
Fatima, 2019).

Diagnosis

The main method that doctors use to diagnose the condition is physical breast
examination (Malherbe & Fatima, 2019). However, it is by no means the only way. Doctors
can also use MRI, ultrasound, and mammogram to determine whether ones breast tissues are
normal or not.

Causes

The cause of fibrocystic breasts is not clear. However, medical experts suspect that the
female hormone, estrogen, plays a role in the development of the condition (Malherbe &
Fatima, 2019). Women with fibrocystic breasts respond more strongly to estrogen production.

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Treatment

Women with fibrocystic breasts do not need invasive treatments to manage the
condition. The condition can easily be managed through self care. The main focus in the self-
care should be to relieve the pain caused by the condition as well as the discomfort that it
creates (van Broekhoven, 2019). These goals can be achieved by taking over-the-counter pain
relievers.

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References

Heath, A. (2016). Review of Pathophysiology. In Radiation Therapy Study Guide (pp. 85-94).
Springer, New York, NY.
Malherbe, K., & Fatima, S. (2019). Fibrocystic Breast Disease. In StatPearls [Internet].
StatPearls Publishing.
van Broekhoven, F. (2019). Breast Health Handbook and Medical Thermography: Healthy
Happy Breasts. Balboa Press.