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Fibrocystic breast disease is a fairly common benign breast disease, usually seen in women between the ages of 18 and 40 due to the enlargement of the lobules in the natural mammary glands. Fibroids usually do not require surgery if they are small in size.1. What is a fibroadenoma?
Fibrocystic mammary glands are common in women aged 18-40 years because the lobules in the mammary glands naturally enlarge during adulthood and puberty in girls. Most are benign tumors that do not turn into cancer.
Fibroids are derived from epithelium structures adjacent to the milk ducts outside the lobules. This tumor invades surrounding tissues, pushing these tissues aside without invading them.
The patient may have several different large and small tumors. When pressed, it feels hard, solid, tough and clearly shaped in one or sometimes both breasts. Benign fibroadenomas are usually painless and movable to the touch, vary in size and are relatively small, only about 1–2 cm. When a woman gets her period, she may feel some pain or see the lump grow slightly.
Not all lumps that appear in the breast are fibroadenomas. The difference between mammary fibromas and breast cancer is that fibromas do not enlarge and invade other organs like breast cancer, they are limited to the breast tissue.
2. Causes of benign breast fibroadenomas
Although the exact cause of fibroadenomas is not known, researchers believe that hormones play a role in the formation of fibroadenomas, as they tend to occur more frequently. in reproductive age.
Tumors may get larger during pregnancy or with hormone therapy. After menopause, along with a drop in hormone levels, tumors can shrink. In some cases, taking oral contraceptives before the age of 20 can cause fibroids to develop and grow.
3. Benign fibroadenoma needs surgery?
Women should see a doctor immediately when they discover a new lump in the breast or any change in the breast, or if a previously detected breast lump is enlarged.
Depending on the specific situation of each person, the doctor will consider the treatment direction:
If it is a benign breast fibroadenoma, if there is not much pain: Usually, it is only necessary to follow up with an ultrasound once a year. If the pain is severe and the cyst is enlarged and painful: Treatment may include fine-needle aspiration and pain medication. In the case of fibroids with a large size of 3cm or more, consider surgical removal of the tumor. Benign fibroadenomas do not increase the risk of breast cancer. However, breast cancer is currently a type of cancer with a high rate among common cancers. Therefore, when you find an abnormality in your breast, you should seek medical attention immediately.
4. How was the surgery?
After surgical removal, benign breast fibroadenomas can recur depending on the location of each person. Currently, if the fibroadenomas are less than 2cm and are painless, the doctor only needs to follow up with clinical examination, ultrasound and mammography when accurately identified by fine-needle biopsy (FNAC).Currently, there are 2 methods of treating breast fibroadenomas that do not leave bad scars like surgical removal of the tumor: method of burning with cold heat and burning with high frequency waves.
The doctor will use an ultrasound probe to pinpoint the exact location of the tumor and then apply too low or too high a temperature directly to the tumor to destroy tumor cells. For this method, only local anesthesia is sufficient. However, note that cold burning does not cause the tumor to disappear immediately, but it will shrink over time.
Thus, whether benign breast fibroids need surgery or not, which method of surgery depends on each person's condition. Women should see a specialist to be sure of their condition and get the best guidance from a doctor.
Breast cancer screening in women is also extremely necessary to ensure the best health, especially those with a family history of breast cancer.
Vinmec's breast cancer screening and early detection package helps to detect early diseases: breast cancer even when there are no symptoms.
When registering for the Breast Cancer Screening Package, customers will receive:
Examination and consultation with an oncologist. Breast cancer screening by bilateral breast ultrasound and mammogram.
Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.