Fibrocystic breast disease: Does it lead to breast cancer?

Does having fibrocystic breast disease increase my risk of breast cancer?

- Ana / Texas

Answer

No. Fibrocystic breast disease doesn't increase your risk of breast cancer.

Fibrocystic breast disease is a very common, noncancerous (benign) breast condition. Women with fibrocystic breast disease have lumpy, painful breasts. Although once considered a disease, the condition is so common — especially in premenopausal women — that most experts now prefer the term "fibrocystic breast changes."

The cause of fibrocystic breast changes isn't completely understood. But the condition is thought to be associated with hormone fluctuations during a woman's menstrual cycle. Signs and symptoms, which typically worsen right before menstruation, include:

• Dense, lumpy breast tissue
• Feeling of fullness in the breasts
• Pain and tenderness that tends to be generalized and may radiate to the underarm
• Nipple discharge that's often greenish-brown in color
• Breast cysts that are identified on breast ultrasound

Although fibrocystic breast changes don't increase your risk of breast cancer, having lumpy and tender breasts may make it more challenging to do breast self-exams. For this reason, it is important to familiarize yourself with how your breasts feel by monitoring for any new changes.

If you choose to perform breast self-exams, schedule them for a week after your period ends — when hormonal fluctuations decrease and breast tissue feels less lumpy and tender. Also, review your technique with your doctor to ensure that you're doing the exam correctly. Dense breast tissue may make it more difficult to detect abnormal lumps.

There's no specific treatment for fibrocystic breast changes. Some simple measures, such as wearing a supportive bra with the correct fit, may provide relief from the pain and discomfort associated with fibrocystic breast changes. Reducing or limiting caffeine in your diet also may help. Signs and symptoms of fibrocystic breast changes often go away completely after menopause.

Consult your doctor if you:

• Have severe or persistent breast pain or pain that is concentrated in one area of your breast that doesn't fluctuate with your menstrual cycle
• Find a new change or lump in your breast that persists for two menstrual cycles

MORE ON THIS TOPIC

• Breast self-exams: One way to detect breast cancer
• Breast cysts: What role does caffeine play?
• Mammogram: Can it find cancer in dense breasts?
• Nipple discharge: Rarely a sign of serious disease
• Breast pain

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