2022 Paint the Paper Pink

Page 51 2022 PAINT THE PAPER PINK Lincoln Daily News Oct/Nov 2022 Not every lump is cancer Understanding changes that can occur in your body Benign (non-cancerous) breast conditions are very common, and most women have them. In fact, most breast changes are benign. Unlike breast cancers, benign breast conditions are not life-threatening. But some are linked with a higher risk of getting breast cancer later on. Some benign breast changes may cause signs or symptoms (such as breast lumps, pain, or nipple discharge), while others might be found during a mammogram. In either case, sometimes they can be hard to tell apart from breast cancer, so other exams or tests might be needed to find out for sure. Fibrocystic Changes in the Breast Many breast lumps turn out to be non- cancerous (benign) changes in fibrous tissue (fibrosis) and/or cysts, which together are known as fibrocystic changes. These changes used to be called fibrocystic disease, but they are a normal finding in many women. Fibrocystic changes are most common in women of child-bearing age, but they can affect women of any age. Fibrosis Fibrosis refers to an area of fibrous tissue, the same tissue that ligaments and scar tissue are made of. Areas of fibrosis can feel rubbery or firm to the touch. Cysts Cysts are fluid-filled, round or oval sacs within the breasts. They are often felt as a round, movable lump (or lumps), which might be tender to the touch. They are most common in women in their 30s or 40s, but they can occur in women of any age. Monthly hormone changes often cause cysts to get bigger and become painful and sometimes more noticeable just before the menstrual period. Cysts begin when fluid starts to build up inside the breast glands. They start as microcysts (very small cysts), which are too small to feel unless they are part of a cluster (group) of microcysts. If fluid continues to build up, they can develop into macrocysts (large cysts). These can often be felt easily and can be as large as 1 or 2 inches across. Diagnosis of fibrocystic changes Most often, fibrocystic changes are diagnosed based on symptoms, such as breast lumps, swelling, and/or tenderness or pain. These symptoms tend to be worse just before your menstrual period, and they may change (such as the lumps growing or shrinking) during different stages of your menstrual cycle. At times you may notice some nipple discharge. If there is a concern about a lump possibly being cancer, a breast ultrasound typically is done to see if the lump is solid or if it has fluid in it (that is, if it’s a cyst). There are different types of cysts: CONTINUED u