The definition of fibrocystic disease (mastopathy) was first formulated by the World Health Organization in 1984. This is a pathology, which consists in the appearance of various types of neoplasms in the tissues of the mammary glands. The ailment is often accompanied by a feeling of discomfort. The disease is associated with an imbalance in hormones.
Causes of occurrence
The most common pathology occurs in women of childbearing age, from thirty to forty-five years. Fibrocystic disease is one of the most common ailments characteristic of the fair sex.
It occurs as a result of an imbalance of hormones. A major role in the development of pathology is played by substances such as estradiol and progesterone.
Breast fibrocystic disease occurs due to the influence of the following factors:
- The early onset of critical days and puberty. Menarche under 12 years of age leads to a rapid change in the balance of hormones and affects the state of breast tissue.
- Late cessation of menstruation. If critical days are present in a woman after 55, her mammary glands are also exposed to adverse effects.
- Interruption of the pregnancy process (both natural - miscarriage, and artificial - abortion).
- Genetic predisposition (benign and malignant breast tumors in maternal blood relatives).
- Mature age (after 35 years).
- Lack of pregnancy and childbirth.
- Early completion of lactation or refusal of breastfeeding.
- Adverse environmental conditions.
- Mechanical damage to the tissues of the mammary glands, squeezing with tight, inappropriate linen.
- Psychological overstrain.
- Bad habits.
- Inflammatory processes in the tissues of the breast.
- Hormonal pathologies of the reproductive system (malfunctions of the menstrual cycle, infertility, lack of ovulation, benign tumors in the uterus, endometriosis).
- Iodine deficiency.
- Diseases of the thyroid gland and other endocrine glands.
- Obesity.
- Neoplasms in the pituitary, hypothalamus.
- Impaired liver function.
Varieties of ailment
The main form of fibrocystic mastopathy is diffuse. It is divided into the following types:
- Pathology with proliferation of glandular tissue and swelling. This variety is considered the most favorable.
- Fibrous type. It is characterized by edema, proliferation of interlobular septa from the connective tissue, a decrease in the ducts of organs and their complete blockage.
- Cystic form. It is manifested by the appearance in the mammary glands of cavities that have an elastic structure, filled with liquid. Such tumors are characterized by clear boundaries.
- Mixed type. This is the proliferation of glandular and connective tissue at the same time.
- Nodal This type of ailment is considered the least favorable. It often leads to the formation of adenomas and fibroadenomas. These are benign tumors that occur in women of any age category. However, most often they are diagnosed in patients from 20 to 40 years old. In adolescents, nodes tend to increase rapidly. In addition, these neoplasms may be the result of abnormal proliferation of glandular tissue.
Symptoms of pathology
The intensity of manifestations of fibrocystic disease is determined not only by the type of ailment, but also by the emotional mood of the woman, her general state of health. In general, the violation is characterized by the following set of signs:
- Discomfort in the chest tissue. Unpleasant sensations can be aching or sharp. In the initial stages, they occur only before critical days, and patients think that this is a manifestation of PMS. However, in the later stages of fibrocystic disease, discomfort is present in any phase of the cycle.
- Sealing in the area of breast tissue.
- Discharge from nipples that have a white, greenish or brown hue. They can be scarce, appear only when pressed, or occur independently (this is indicated by spots on the bra). This symptom indicates a violation of the ducts of the mammary glands. An adverse sign is the discharge of a brown or reddish hue. They indicate the presence of papilloma or a malignant tumor. The outflow of greenish fluid from the nipples is observed in inflammatory processes occurring in the tissues of the breast.
Adenosis
It is a type of fibrocystic disease. This ailment resembles mastopathy. Breast adenosis - what is it? Pathology is the proliferation of glandular tissue of the breast. It is characterized by discomfort, swelling and increased sensitivity of the affected organs. Unpleasant sensations in patients intensify before the onset of critical days. In addition, palpation during the examination causes pain and fluid outflow from the nipple. Upon examination, the doctor can detect dense and mobile tumors in the area of the glands that have a clear outline and are not fused to the surrounding tissues.
Possible complications and methods of treatment
It should be noted that in patients with this disease, the risk of breast cancer increases by five percent. Knowing how breast adenosis manifests itself, what it is, if you detect the symptoms of an ailment, you should contact a medical institution.
Therapy of pathology consists in taking sedative and hormonal drugs, vitamin complexes. In some cases, surgical intervention to remove the neoplasm is necessary.
Fibroadenosis
This pathology is associated with the pathological growth of two types of breast tissue - epithelial and connective. The following types of ailment exist:
- Lobular.
- Duct.
- Proliferative form of fibrocystic disease.
- Cystic.
- Focal type.
The symptomatology of breast fibroadenosis is in many ways similar to the signs of other breast pathologies. Therefore, before drawing conclusions about the patient's condition and proceeding with treatment, a thorough examination is necessary. Only a detailed diagnosis will help to make the correct diagnosis and prescribe adequate therapy.
In the initial stages, the disease does not bother the woman too much. Patients notice only slight discomfort in the area of the affected organ when pressing on the tissue. However, with a thorough examination, a small seal in the upper part of the gland can be found. It has a round shape and does not cause discomfort during palpation. The pain can intensify during menstruation, because the ailment is associated with hormonal imbalance. Discomfort has a pulling, aching or stitching character. In addition, patients notice breast swelling during critical days. In advanced cases, there is a change in the shape of the gland, the outflow of a reddish or white fluid from the nipple.
Methods of treating pathology
Breast fibroadenosis is usually amenable to conservative therapy.
To combat this disease, hormonal medications are used ("Janine", "Dufaston", "Danazole"). In the presence of large neoplasms or a high risk of developing cancer pathology, surgery is performed.
Diagnostic measures
How to determine fibrocystic mastopathy? For this, the following research methods are used:
- Examination and palpation of breast tissue and lymph nodes in the armpits, neck, clavicle.
- Mammography. This diagnostic measure should be regularly taken by all women after 40 years.
- Laboratory blood tests (biochemical, general, tumor markers and hormonal status).
- Ultrasound ultrasound of the mammary glands.
- In the presence of cysts, nodes - puncture and examination of their contents.
Therapies
The tactics of treatment are selected individually. Experts take into account the state of the body of a particular patient, the results of diagnostic measures (ultrasound, biopsy, laboratory blood tests), as well as associated pathologies. Some women require additional consultations from doctors (therapist, gynecologist, neurologist, endocrinologist). If there is evidence, an operation to remove the neoplasm is prescribed. Then the tumor is sent for histology.
However, in many cases, surgical intervention can be dispensed with. How to treat conservative fibrocystic breast mastopathy? For this, several types of drugs are used:
- Sedatives.
- Nonsteroidal medicines with anti-inflammatory effect.
- Hormones.
- Immunomodulating agents.
- Enzymes.
- Bioadditives, vitamin complexes.
Treatment with hormonal drugs takes a lot of time. Its minimum duration is three months. However, gestagenic drugs help to avoid surgical intervention in 70% of patients. Therapy helps to stabilize the hormonal background of a woman. Such treatment is carried out under the dynamic control of ultrasound.
It must be remembered that any medication should be used only as directed by the doctor. Self-selection of therapy only worsens the situation.
Traditional methods of fighting the disease
In combination with medications, the following herbal products give a good effect:
- Grass red brush (normalizes the activity of the thyroid gland).
- Burdock roots boiled in boiling water. They are used inside. This tool helps prevent tumors.
- Collection prepared from a succession of yarrow and motherwort. Two tablespoons of raw brew 1 liter of boiling water. You should drink one glass of infusion before eating.
- Freshly squeezed juice of radish, beets, carrots and lemon, mixed with cahors and honey. All components are taken in equal proportions. The tool is taken in the amount of 2 large tablespoons before meals.
- Lotions of cabbage leaves, which are attached to the chest area at night. It is advisable to use this method of therapy in the summer.
- Compresses made from honey, juice squeezed from 2 lemons, chopped burdock root and castor oil.
- Lotions of cabbage leaves and yogurt pounded in a meat grinder.
Preventative measures
Fibrocystic disease is a pathology that is diagnosed in many women today. Its wide distribution is largely due to the poor environmental situation, poor nutrition, psychological overload. A major role in the appearance of the disease is played by a change in the lifestyle of modern women (abandonment of lactation, late pregnancy, the availability of abortion). Disease prevention consists of the following measures:
- The optimal implementation of the genital function (from twenty to thirty-five years).
- Refusal of artificial termination of pregnancy and uncontrolled use of medicines that contain hormones.
- A regular visit to a gynecologist, the implementation of all the doctor's prescriptions.
- The optimal period of breastfeeding. Lactation can not be stopped until the baby reaches the age of 1 year.
- Timely therapy of hormonal disorders.
- To give up smoking.
- Proper nutrition.