Fibroadenoma

mudd

In 2011 I had a biopsy and it was a benign fibroadenoma, which I thought was removed, but was apprently biopsied and clipped. Today (9/25/17) at my mammography and sono the radiologist said it has been slowly growing over the past two years and suggested another biopsy since I am over 65 and he said it is unusual to keep growing.. Should I be very concerned and have a biopsy or wait and see what happens. I am very scared and very confused since I thought this was removed and a non-issue at this point. Why would it still be growing?

leaf

I'm sorry you are going through this.

Some fibroadenomas can grow. This is the largest fibroadenoma I have read about, and it happened in a 43 year old. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12751688 (If you're in the USA, 2800 grams is about 6 pounds, and you know the size of a 5 pound bag of sugar or flour.) These large fibroadenomas most commonly happen in younger women: sometimes they are called juvenile giant fibroadenomas. But obviously, they can occur in middle aged and older women too. This recent report is of an 84 year old with a breast fibroadenoma, and she did have a history of breast cancer. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27096476 But, as you were told, it is unusual for older women to get fibroadenomas.

As far as why, there are lots of things we don't know, but since fibroadenomas are pretty common in younger women, it is thought one factor may be hormonal changes. Presumably you are past menopause, so, unless you are taking estrogen or progesterone, that wouldn't be a big factor for you.

Some people just don't fit into strict categories. I have one condition (not breast related) where the doctor said it looked like the pathologist made up the diagnosis because it didn't fit cleanly into any category. There are lots of academic papers that are looking at different tissue factors that may affect breast tissue growth. There is a lot we don't know about breast cancer and why we get what we do.

Since it is causing you anxiety, you may want to get a 2nd opinion, or at least talk to the doc who ordered your mammogram and sonogram.

If you do have it removed, one down side is that removal will cause scarring, which will make future mammograms/imaging harder to interpret. But some fibroadenomas can 'hide' lesions beneath them.

Best wishes, leaf

MTwoman

mudd, I'm sorry you are here and worried about your breast health. IMO, getting the biopsy as recommended and then seeing what the pathology says before you really start to worry would be in your best interest, as anxiety really doesn't help anyone (and doesn't change anything). I know it's hard, but try to just assume it is the fibroadenoma regrown unless you get specific information to the contrary. Good luck!