Breast Cysts / Fibrocystic Disease of the Breasts

Fibrocystic breast disease and breast cysts are very common benign condition of the breast. It commonly affects women after 30 years of age and continues through perimenopause and menopause stage. Symptoms may reduce in late menopause.

Imbalance to the female hormone oestrogen and progesterone during the menstrual cycle is the contributing factor to develop fibrocystic breast condition.

Symptoms of breast cysts and fibrocystic breast conditions are:

Breast tenderness and breast pain
Breast lumpiness which may mimic breast cancer
Breast Lumps
Nipple Discharge

Breast Cyst is a fluid-filled sac within the breast tissue and will present as a breast lump. Both breast cyst and fibrocystic breast disease are benign lesion and do not progress to breast cancer and do not increase risk of cancer.

A complex breast cyst which contains a mixture of solid tissue in the breast cysts may have risk of malignant change, therefore would need to be investigated and monitored.

A complex breast cyst

Investigation

Regular breast screening with MMG and Breast ultrasound to rule out suspicious cancer lumps

Treatment

There are no treatment for the condition.

Recommended symptomatic treatments are:

OTC (over the counter) analgesia eg paracetamol, NSAIDS
Supplements to manage hormonal imbalance eg Vitamins and EPO
Reduce Caffeine intake, Early Sleep

Surgery

Aspiration of large breast cysts using Fine needle
Excision biopsy of complex cyst or recurrent breast cyst

Links

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