Benign Breast Disease: Part 1

Hello, Warriors! Welcome to The Breast Place blog and thank you for taking time out of your active schedule to visit! We appreciate our readers to the utmost degree, as we do our patients. If this is your first visit to The Breast Place blog, we welcome you. We cover a range of topics here. From breast cancer management to anti-aging skin treatments to helpful tips for maximizing your overall health and wellness—The Breast Place is committed to sharing the best health practices and treatment options with you! Our offices are open and our staff is prepared to answer any questions you may have about your health, your breast cancer risk, and how to reach your aesthetic goals. 

At The Breast Place, we offer several oncoplastic surgical procedures, such as natural reconstruction, nipple-sparing mastectomy, Hidden Scar™, implant reconstruction, and breast lift with or without reduction. Oncoplastic surgery is distinct from both breast cancer surgery and plastic surgery–though you initially assume oncoplastic surgery to be a mixture of both. Rather, the aim of oncoplastic breast surgery is “to achieve good aesthetic outcomes for women with breast cancers who would have unacceptable outcomes with other BCS techniques, and in addition, enable breast-conserving surgery for larger breast cancers.” While breast cancer surgery prioritizes the eradication of cancerous tissue and plastic surgery prioritizes the cosmetic appearance of the breasts, oncoplastic surgery takes both of these aspects into account when planning for the final outcome. You can find out more information about what to look for in an Oncoplastic surgeon here. 

In our last blog, we discussed face rollers and their benefits. These handheld beauty tools have been popularized recently on social media, but they’ve been around for thousands of years. They can be made out of different stones, such as quartz, amethyst, or jade. Using a face roller to gently massage your face can have benefits such as stress relief, lymphatic drainage, and more. If you are interested in learning more about face rollers, check out our last post!

Before we continue with today’s topic, we’d like to make you aware of what we have to offer at The Breast Place this month. Can you believe September is almost over?! Summer will be coming to a close shortly, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop looking or feeling your best! This month, we are offering 40% off ALL in-stock products! We offer a variety of fantastic products including EltaMD skin care, iS Clinical, and Environ. Be sure to stop by our office to see what we have available or give us a call– We can even ship products to your door!

Today, we’ll begin an in-depth discussion about benign breast disease. This is generally defined as the development of benign breast lumps. Benign refers to a condition, tumor, or growth that is not cancerous and does not spread to other parts of the body or invade nearby tissue. There are many different types of benign breast disease, and they can affect both women and men. It’s important to be aware of potential breast conditions so that you can make informed decisions about your health and are able to identify changes in your breasts. If you are interested in learning more about benign breast disease, you’re in the right place. Let’s get started!

When you come across a lump in your breast, it can be unsettling. Many times, the first thought that comes to mind is breast cancer. However, the majority of breast lumps end up being benign, and benign breast lumps in women are extremely common. In fact, up to half of all women will experience breast lumps. This is usually caused by fibrocystic changes, which mainly affect premenopausal women. These changes can present a variety of symptoms, including discomfort, tenderness, and the sudden appearance of benign masses in the breast. These masses appear as “lumpy” growths in the breast tissue, and can be constant or cyclical. Fluctuating hormone levels are often to blame for fibrocystic changes. Fibrocystic breast changes are most common in women between the ages of 20 and 50. In fact, it affects approximately 50% of women in this age range. You are more likely to notice lumpy, dense, or tender breasts around your time of menstruation, while hormones are fluctuating. 

While benign breast disease can affect all genders, it is most common in women. Your risk of developing benign breast disease increases if you have a family history of breast cancer or benign breast disease, if you use hormonal replacement therapy, or if you have a hormonal imbalance. Fibrocystic breast changes are just one type of benign breast disease. Let’s take a look at some of the other types.

Breast Cysts

Breast cysts are fluid-filled sacs that are usually non-cancerous. They often occur when fluid fills an empty milk gland. You may have one or more cysts at a time, and some are so small that you may not even feel or notice them. However, some cysts can grow up to several inches and cause discomfort. These cysts may feel like a grape or a small, water-filled balloon. Sometimes, they feel firm. A breast cyst may present as a lump that is easily movable under the skin, and they may be painful, especially around the time of your menstrual cycle. Clusters of cysts may develop in one breast or both. They can be found in women of any age, but are most common in women before menopause– Typically under age 50, or between 35 and 50 years old. They can also occur in postmenopausal women that are undergoing hormone therapy. Breast cysts typically do not require treatment unless they are large, painful, or causing you discomfort. They are often diagnosed via a mammogram, but you may discover a breast cyst on your own during a breast self-exam. 

It is rare for breast cysts to be cancerous, but they are still something you should get checked. There are three types of breast cysts: Simple, complicated, and complex. Simple breast cysts are filled entirely with fluid and are always benign. Complicated breast cysts have some solid fragments in the fluid, and complex breast cysts appear to have some solid tissue. This makes complex breast cysts the most concerning type, as the tissue may be cancerous. Breast cysts do not increase your risk of breast cancer, but you should always have a new lump looked at by a healthcare provider.

Fibroadenomas

A fibroadenoma is a solid, benign breast lump. They occur most often between the ages of 15 and 35, but can be found in a woman of any age who has periods. Fibroadenomas are smooth and round and consist of fibrous tissue and glandular tissue. They often grow slowly and can feel tender or sore before your period. Although they can grow over time, they also shrink over time. Most fibroadenomas found in adolescents shrink and go away over a period of months or a few years. Like other breast lumps, fibroadenomas are common. In fact, fibroadenomas are the most common type of benign breast lump. Simple fibroadenomas do not tend to increase breast cancer risk, and often do not need treatment. Complex fibroadenomas need to be surgically removed. The cause of fibroadenomas is unknown, but younger women are more likely to have them. They can also grow with pregnancy or lactation and then shrink afterward.

Hyperplasia

Hyperplasia is an overgrowth of cells that line mammary ducts or glands inside the breast. This condition can be described as usual or atypical, based on the way the cells appear under a microscope. Usual hyperplasia consists of an overgrowth of cells that look very close to normal, while atypical hyperplasia consists of an overgrowth of cells that look distorted or abnormal. The abnormal cells are typically benign, but can increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. Your healthcare provider may recommend getting these cells removed. Usual hyperplasia, however, does not need to be treated. 

These are just a few of the types of benign breast disease. Be sure to check back on our blog for part two, where we will continue our discussion! We hope you found this article informative and we encourage you to regularly perform breast self-exams. Here at The Breast Place, we are dedicated to helping you feel more confident in your skin. We offer injectable treatments such as Botox, Juvéderm, and Dysport, as well as other facial rejuvenation services such as laser treatment and more! Additionally, we offer breast imaging services and provide consultations, clinical breast exams, and dedicated treatment plans. We strongly encourage you to reach out to us for a consultation if you have any questions or concerns pertaining to our service areas– We are committed to empowering women, and we are proud to offer treatments and products to help you look and feel your best. Thank you for taking the time to read today’s article and we hope you’ll check back in for future posts about treatments, wellness, and more!