What are fibrocystic changes?
Fibrocystic changes are a set of breast symptoms that include pain, cysts, and general lumpiness in your breasts. The word fibrocystic comes from the terms fibrous tissue and cyst. Fibrous tissue is tough, strong tissue that feels like it's made of a lot of fibers. A cyst is a small, fluid-filled sac that grows inside your body. Fibrocystic changes in the breast is not a single disease.
Symptoms can be worse in the days before your period
Fibrocystic changes usually go away after menopause Menopause Menopause is when women stop having periods (stop menstruating) and can no longer get pregnant. Menopause usually happens after age 40. In the United States, the average age for menopause is... read more (when you stop having periods)
Doctors may do tests to make sure your fibrocystic changes aren’t cancer
You’re more likely to have fibrocystic changes if you:
Started menstruation (getting periods) at an early age
Had your first baby at age 30 or older
Never had a baby
What are the symptoms of fibrocystic change?
Lumps in your breast
Sometimes discomfort, including heaviness, tenderness, or burning pain
How do doctors treat fibrocystic changes?
Doctors may:
Tell you to wear a soft, supportive bra, such as a sports bra
Tell you to take pain medicine, such as acetaminophen
Drain the fluid from a cyst
Give you medicine, such as danazol (a type of male hormone) or tamoxifen (medicine that blocks estrogen), if your symptoms are severe
If you only have one lump or if it feels different from other lumps, doctor may:
Take a sample of tissue from your breast lump and look at it under a microscope (biopsy) to make sure it isn’t cancer
Do surgery to remove it
