Fibrocystic Changes of the Breast

Fibrocystic changes are a set of breast symptoms that include pain, cysts (small, fluid-filled sacs), and general lumpiness in your breasts. Fibrocystic changes in the breast is not a single disease.

The Breasts

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• Fibrocystic changes don’t lead to breast cancer

• Symptoms can be worse in the days before your period

• Fibrocystic changes usually go away after menopause (when you stop having periods)

• Doctors may do tests to make sure your fibrocystic changes aren’t cancer

You’re more likely to have fibrocystic changes if you:

• Started menstruation (getting periods) at an early age

• Had your first baby at age 30 or older

• Never had a baby

• Lumps in your breast

• Sometimes discomfort, including heaviness, tenderness, or burning pain

Doctors may:

• Tell you to wear a soft, supportive bra, such as a sports bra

• Tell you to take pain medicine, such as acetaminophen

• Drain the fluid from a cyst

• Give you medicine, such as danazol (a type of male hormone) or tamoxifen (medicine that blocks estrogen), if your symptoms are severe

If you only have one lump or if it feels different from other lumps, doctor may:

• Take a sample of tissue from your breast lump and look at it under a microscope (biopsy) to make sure it isn’t cancer

• Do surgery to remove it