Fibrocystic breast condition

Anonymous

Fibrocystic breast condition

all_done84

Good evening everyone

I have posted a few times on this site, but my first in the sub forum.

I'll try to make this brief.... I've noticed breast changes for months now. I'm going to say it started May-June of this year. It began with me being “playful". My breasts were tender; but I felt as though they were growing. My husband would agree. I joked and said it was my second puberty, that it must be normal for women in their 30s to go to through this.

Jump to late August... I was no longer tender, I was sore. I also stopped joking around about my changes. I didn't panic at first, just waited for my period assuming hormonal changes. After my period my breasts became tender again. Then a week or so later, sore. Since then it's gotten worse and worse. More and more swollen. I had to buy new bras, as I was no longer fitting in my regularly ones. Husband wasn't complaining... I wasn’t either (about the growing part anyways) I'm very small chested. After nursing two babies I wished we carried A- bras in the stores. Anyhow, I'm now fitting nicely into the new B bras. The one is fitting VERY nicely and almost like it's a push up or that I need bigger bras already.

I started noticing larger lumps. Lots of them. Even more pain. I was massaging the side of my right one one night and my nipple started to drip. Dripping like you’re engorged and your baby is sleeping too long and you need to nurse them. It was clear ish. So I called the doctor. I was sent for a mammogram. It didn't show anything but a greater then 75% density. Went for an ultrasound this Wednesday, and I picked up my report today. It said I have fibrocystic breast condition with a larger number of cysts then he's used to seeing. He noted a cyst on each side of which was cause for concern and recommend another screening in 3-6 months. Also recommended I go for an MRI for better imaging.

I am in so much pain. Pain that I cannot properly describe. It's been constantly getting worse times 10 since the ultrasound. The best way I could describe it is 'having bad itchy burning mastitis, then having let down while your baby (who has five teeth) is bitting down because he's scared of the vice grip your breast are already in'

My appointment Monday should be interesting. It’s with a new doctor as my old one didn’t care one bit about any of this. It's a physical, so I'll have the lovely pap. I'm kind of mad at my lady bits right now

It's nice to meet you all. I cannot believe how strong and supportive all of you are! It's a breath of fresh air as I feel quite alone right now, I'm surprised at how 'not alone' I feel on this community board.

Cheers

NSwrites

Hi!

Fibrocystic breasts suck. I have them. And like you, mine have undergone some changes with the cysts in them, and I'm awaiting a biopsy which happens tomorrow. It's frustrating to constantly feel all the "normal" lumps and not know what changes are also normal and what is not. Constant questioning of everything I feel. And then the changes I had were not even lumps! It was discharge. But yeah, I feel your pain.

SpecialK

I dealt with fibrocystic breasts for many, many years - from my 20's to my 50's. If you are having pain I would recommend ultrasound-guided aspiration. This deflates the fluid from the cyst and relieves the pain. Sometimes they refill, and of course, you will probably get new ones, but I found that doing this bought me about a year of relatively pain-free time, and I had multiple aspirations over that time span. US guidance is important because the more fluid they can aspirate the better. The goal is to get the cyst like a water balloon that the water has been removed from - the walls of the balloon stick together. This makes it harder for the cyst to generate new fluid. At the time of BMX I had multiple cysts in each breast, I certainly sympathize and agree, it is very uncomfortable and makes self-exam pretty problematic. I had very dense breast tissue as well so mammography was not particularly useful, I would also recommend if you are young and more likely to have density issues and self exam is difficult, MRI and ultrasound are better tools for imaging. Good luck!

all_done84

First off, thank you for the responses. It really means a lot to me. And to know I'm not alone.

NSwrites, good luck with your biopsy. Are you getting it done on one of your cysts or for another reason? It's so hard. I've felt lumps in my breast for as long as I can remember but one doctor told me during an appt for mastitis (while nursing my first born) that it's all hormonal and they will “over react" with hormon changes including your period. But mine don’t just hurt during my cycle. They hurt all the time. Sometimes the pain goes up and under my right armpit even. I guess i have about a 5-7 day window were it doesn’t hurt as bad. What brought me to the doctor now was the pain became unbearable and while trying to massage them one night I had discharge. Apparently also normal when the cysts get larger. Pain and discharge does not sound normal at all to me.

SpecialK, I've read a bit about aspiration and it sounds like it would be nice. Wether it helped for a month or up to a year. The new doctor that I met with didn't bring it up and I hadn't heard of it till after the appointment while I was researching how to help manage the pain on my own. The radiologist who came back with the tech to get extra pictures during the ultrasound told me I have many cysts in each breast, more then the average dealing with this condition. That many are small but I have a few on each side that are larger and he'd like to keep an eye on them.

I am pretty young, 33, but the doctor I met on Monday seemed satisfied with the ultrasound report and didn’t even bring up an MRI. I don't think I am satisfied though. I feel, what I'm assumin are the cysts, but I also feel lumps that move different. Most of them will roll under my finger while I am touching but I have one small one, about the size of a pea, that almost feels like an ingrown pimple. It feels attached but really deep, so not just under the skin like a regular pimple. She told me that if it was a cause of concern they would have put it in the report. She also said that self examination is basically pointless for me know. Everywhere I touch on my breasts has a lump in it, so I'll just be freaking myself out. But I feel I have to check, I have BC in my family, so I don't want to miss something. My maternal grandmother had breast cancer and ovarian cancer. She was adopted so we don't have any medical information before her. And I have a few aunts in both sides that have had it too. But I was told this doesn’t count as high risk since it is more then one generation away from me.

What I learnt at my appointment was I need a proper (professionally) fitted bra. She suggests a compressing (but individual compression to each breast) sports bra. Continue not having caffeine. And change my diet a bit. But other then that there's nothing more I can do. She said wewill start regular screening at the regular age for most women. But that’s seven years away. I just want them gone. I hate my breasts. I can't hug my children with big bear hugs anymore. I have to be extra careful during sex. Going bra less makes me lose my mind because when the fabric rubs on my nipples hurt and feel like they are on fire

NSwrites

Hi all_done84 - I feel your pain about not being able to be physically careless anymore! It is indeed frustrating to skip those giant bear hugs from your kids or fun moments in bed with your partner. Lumps suck.

The good news is, mobile lumps are less indicative of a problem than immobile lumps, from my understanding.

The cysts in my breast were diagnosed as "apocrine metaplasia" which basically means sweat gland like cysts that are harmless. I am being tested now because my breast has dark, dark discharge coming out of one nipple duct. It was quite disturbing to discover! It does seem to originate from the area near the cysts but could be entirely unrelated. I am doing a moderate job of not panicking haha

NSwrites

Oh and I'm just shy of 32. Yay for catching things hopefully early right?

SpecialK

I also had discharge pretty constantly while I had cysts, and the aspirated material that came from the cysts during the US-guided procedure looked like swampwater - same as the discharge. I would press for aspiration of larger cysts because it really does ease the discomfort.

Concernedone95

I was reading your post and it was like a duplicate of my situation. The only difference is I have a grey discharge out of my LB now. My lt breast is very painful. I can hardly wear a bra anymore. It swells on and off and is very bothersome. I had found a lump 3 yrs ago. Had mammogram was told very dense breast. Push 3 yrs later found cyst in lt breast. Had sonagram and MRI. MRI found something on RT side now. Had another sonagram. Now have cyst in rt breast as well. Have clear discharge from the rt breast and greyish green from left.

When all started 3yrs ago, seen oncologist and surgeon. Surgeon wouldn't do anything cuz she couldn't feel lump. Oncologist felt lump and had me do yearly mammograms. Even with the issues I was having that was all that was done. I had sonagram and MRI for 3yrs and couldn't find anything, other then very dense.

Now went for yearly mammogram and found cyst in same place where lump was. As well as cyst in rt breast. ( Never had any problems with that one)

Going to a new surgeon on the 3rd. Scared they won't do anything again. The discharge scares me. My oncologist wanted me to be seen earlier then the 3rd. Should I be worried?

Have aunt's who had breast cancer. Mother and her father both died of cancer. Each a different one.

Jellybean38

hi there if u dont mind me asking what was your ourcome really worried about myself at min they told me i had fibrocystic breasts to with too many cysts to count the pain goes right through my shoulder and its constant not just during period ??

Giselle20

I don't know if you still check up on this forum but I'll comment anyways.

Have you considered a mastectomy?

I have done some research on mastectomies for preventative reasons. And although usually reserved for women who have gene mutations or pre-cancer or cancer, they will sometime do one for fibro cystic breast. Given you have had extreme pain you could argue it is diminishing quality of life.

And there are different types of mastectomies like a nipple saving one is you would want to look more normal, and a few others.

But like all things it can have risks and side effects, and it does not remove breast tissue 100% so even though it would be extremely low you could still possibly develop something.

But that would be a personal choice especially since you are young, and may want more kids, or simply don't feel that is a choice for you, maybe you would consider it when you turn 40 or 50.

But I would suggest you at least look into it. Google guidelines for you insurance company. And look into guidelines of governing organizations for your county. For example in the U.S. there is the American Cancer Society. I think one of the "easier" guidelines to fit under is having at least one family member diagnosed at a young age (that usually means under 50 but varies depending where you look) or multiple family member with or without genetic mutation.

I hope the pain gets better if not already gone.

Desireeb

Hi I had my total duct excision last year and it was all benign fibrocystic breast result. But just recently my left breast started aching again and filling full so I tried to check my nipple and a brown discharge came out then after that a white slimy discharge. Going back to my Specialist next week I hope they find out what's going on again. Has anybody experienced this ?

A-cupAngel

look into an enzyme called "serrapeptase". It breaks down fibrin in the body and is supposed to be good for uterine fibroids, fibrocystic breasts and a variety of other things. I went through something similar, my a cup boobs went to a full b and were so heavy and sore. I liked the size but they were so sensitive. I started on the serrapeptase and now they don't even swell during my period. I'm back to an a cup but at least I'm no longer in pain.

all_done84

Hi ladies,

I am sorry I haven’t posted anything in so long. I have been going through a roller coaster of health issues and have just been avoiding everything. That’s my new normal o guess.

I still have the same symptoms and I still get told not to worry because it’s just fibrocystic and very dense breasts. It sucks it hurts and it has really changed a lot about my life.

I still have pain all the time, it comes and goes with getting worse. I do have discharge if too much pressure is applied. But I just am told to stick with yearly mammograms now.

On top of all of this my cycle has gone heywire and is all over the map. So now we are looking into that. One doctor after another. I almost hate being 33 as they act like I’m too younge for anything so it must be nothing

MustLoveDalmatians

Hi! I'm almost 21 years old and haven't been officially diagnosed with Fibrocystic breasts, but I have been trying for a little over an year to get to the bottom of my persistent issues with no luck. Been to 4 different doctors but they seem to not take me seriously because of my age. Ugh. lol I was wondering if any of you ladies have had non cyclic breast pain and an area of hardness on the outer edge of the breast near the sternum? Mine feels like a hard bone.

MelissaDallas

MustLoveDalmations, what have those four doctors told you?

MustLoveDalmatians

Hi MelissaDallas, I made my main topic over on the "Not Diganosed but worried" fourm.

These doctors have told me that it is fibrosis breast tissue and fibrodronemas. I've never gotten any further testing done to rule out cancer or to even find out if I have fibrocystic breast tissue. They won't do further testing on me because of my age, despite the fact that my symptoms have persisted for over a year. I've been to two different gynecologists and two different PCP's. I'm not going to freak out of course, I just wish they could get to the bottom of this. lol I kinda wish my persistent symptoms would vanish.

MelissaDallas

Ask for an ultrasound if there is a specific lump