Mastopathy is a benign breast disease. An imbalance of female sex hormones in the body is usually to blame for its occurrence. During a breast self-examination, a woman can detect fairly obvious signs of pathology. It is not always possible to distinguish mastopathy from breast cancer by appearance. There are special methods that allow the doctor to find out exactly what kind of disease it is. The main thing is that the woman does not hesitate and does not listen to anyone’s advice on how to get rid of the seals on her own. The moment when the disease can be dealt with may be missed.
The development and condition of the female breast is influenced by sex hormones - estrogens and progesterone, produced in the ovaries. Excess estrogen and lack of progesterone lead to pathological changes in tissues. The cause of hormonal imbalance may be diseases of the genital organs, long-term treatment or contraception with hormonal drugs.
An imbalance occurs when the natural course of physiological processes in the body is disrupted (termination of pregnancy, irregular sex life, etc.), as well as after operations on the uterus and ovaries. The formation of mastopathy is also promoted by an excess of prolactin, a hormone that regulates milk production and the condition of glandular tissue.
Basically, all such processes occur at the age of 18-45 years. Women aged 30-40 years are at risk, as it is at this age that the first signs of weakened ovarian function appear and changes in the ratio of hormones occur.
Video: What is mastopathy, how dangerous is it
Types of disease
There are 2 forms of mastopathy: diffuse and nodular. The nodular form is more dangerous, since in an advanced stage a cancerous tumor may appear at the site of nodular neoplasms.
Diffuse mastopathy
It is considered the initial stage of the disease. The growth of connective tissue cells occurs unevenly, which leads to the appearance of small nodules, stretching of individual tissue areas, and the formation of cysts. The development of glandular tissue cells is also disrupted. As a result of these changes, a woman experiences a nagging pain in her chest, and the mammary gland becomes dense. Painful symptoms intensify before menstruation, when breast swelling occurs.
There are several types of diffuse mastopathy of the mammary gland:
- Glandular (adenosis) – with a predominant development of glandular tissue compared to connective tissue.
- Glandular-cystic. Predominantly glandular tissue develops abnormally, and multiple cysts form in it.
- Fibrocystic. There is a proliferation of connective (fibrous) tissue, in which cysts appear.
With mixed mastopathy, cysts form in both tissues. Overgrowth occurs with a predominance of fibrous tissue.
Nodular mastopathy
It usually develops against the background of diffuse mastopathy. There is an increase in nodes in any part of the mammary gland due to the presence of intraductal papilloma, the formation of a large cyst or tumor (fibroadenoma, lipoma). Abnormal changes occur predominantly in fibrous tissue.
Signs of nodular mastopathy are seals that appear on one of the areas of the gland, swelling and redness of the skin over this area, and the presence of discharge from the nipple (transparent, white, pinkish).
Depending on what neoplasm caused nodular mastopathy, it is divided into the following types:
- fibrocystic (with cysts in fibrous tissue);
- fibrous, when nodes appear in a certain area of connective tissue;
- lobular (glandular) – growth of connective tissue into the epithelium of the mammary gland lobules.
Tissue proliferation leads to the appearance of papillomas (papillae) on the epithelium of the ducts, the formation of multilayered epithelium, narrowing the lumen of the ducts, as well as the appearance of large cystic cavities.
Depending on how pronounced such changes are in the epithelium, mastopathy is divided into simple (there is an increase in the number of cells without changing their structure) and proliferating (there is a change in the structure of the cells). As a result of proliferation, so-called atypical cells appear with larger nuclei and improper division. These cells can degenerate into cancer, so proliferating nodular mastopathy of the mammary gland is considered a precancerous disease. The formation of leaf-shaped cysts (flat multilayer cavities with overgrown layers of epithelium) in the breast tissue is especially dangerous. Mastopathy of this type degenerates into sarcoma.
Video: Causes, symptoms and diagnosis of mastopathy
Symptoms and signs
The nature of the symptoms depends on the form of mastopathy, its stage and the characteristics of the patient’s body.
Chest pain before menstruation. At first, a woman may perceive it as a normal premenstrual symptom, especially since it goes away after the end of her period. But next time the nagging pain may turn into a sharp, stabbing pain that is more severe. It begins to give way in the hand, under the shoulder blade.
Breast swelling in the second half of the cycle. The growing tissue begins to compress the vessels, blood circulation is disrupted, which leads to swelling and an increase in the volume of the gland.
Nipple discharge. They appear when pressed. The color of the discharge can be almost any. Greenish discharge occurs if an inflammatory process occurs in the ducts or lobules. The most dangerous is bloody discharge, which can be a sign of a malignant tumor.
The appearance of lumps in the chest. Nodules form in one or both mammary glands, in a single quantity or several at once.
With diffuse mastopathy, fine-grained compactions are palpated due to an increase in the size of the lobules in the mammary gland. With nodular mastopathy, the seals can reach a size of 7 cm. They do not have clear boundaries. In a large cyst, on the contrary, the compaction has a well-defined contour. The neoplasm is mobile and not associated with the skin.
What is the danger of mastopathy
The disease must be eliminated. As a rule, hormone-containing drugs are used. In advanced cases, surgery is performed to remove the dangerous node. Mastopathy does not go away on its own. If the disease is not controlled, the lump can increase in size and turn into a cancerous tumor. One of the signs of breast mastopathy, indicating dangerous degeneration, is the appearance of many small calcifications in the mammary gland.
The occurrence of inflammatory processes in areas with damaged tissue structure and suppuration of fluid in cysts are also dangerous. Cysts may burst, leading to widespread inflammation of the breast.
Diagnosis of mastopathy
A mammological examination consists primarily of palpation and visual examination of the gland. Important diagnostic methods are mammography (x-ray of the mammary glands, which is performed on women over 35 years old), as well as ultrasound. This method can detect tumors 1-2 mm in size.
The nature of the compaction is clarified using a biopsy - taking a sample and examining it under a microscope to detect atypical or cancerous cells.
Video: Prevention of mastopathy
Prevention of mastopathy and its complications
The basis of prevention is regular self-examination of the mammary glands. It is performed 5-7 days after the start of menstruation, when the breasts are the softest. It is carried out in a standing and lying position.
If lumps of any size are detected, an increase in the volume of glands, discharge from the nipples, redness and swelling of the skin and other symptoms of mastopathy of the mammary gland, it is necessary to urgently undergo examination by a mammologist. An important reason for this is the appearance of characteristic chest pain.
Prevention of mastopathy also involves timely treatment of gynecological and endocrine diseases. You must be careful when using hormonal drugs. They must be prescribed individually by a doctor. New generation drugs are used that contain, in addition to estrogens, also progesterone. This reduces the risk of breast cancer.
A woman’s breasts are not only one of the main advantages and adornments of a woman, but also an indicator of her health; the mammary glands can tell a lot about the state of the body. Quite often, it is the female breast that suffers from various diseases, as it is directly susceptible to the influence of hormones. One of these ailments is mastopathy.
In this article we will talk about the symptoms and signs of breast mastopathy. You will also learn what mastopathy is and how it manifests itself, photos.
About the disease
What is mastopathy and how does it manifest? Mastopathy refers to benign formations in the breast caused by hormonal imbalances, which are accompanied by tissue growths inside the mammary gland.
Traditionally, the disease is divided into two main subtypes: nodular and diffuse mastopathy, but experts identify a much larger number of varieties:
Each type of mastopathy is accompanied by certain symptoms. Next, we will look at the signs and symptoms of mastopathy in women.
Mastopathy: symptoms
The primary stages of mastopathy can be practically asymptomatic. Sometimes mild breast tenderness appears before menstruation.
In the future, the pain may intensify, the mammary glands become rough and slightly enlarged, and when palpating them, lumps can be felt.
Symptoms and signs of breast mastopathy - photo:
And here is a diagram-photo of self-diagnosis signs of mastopathy in women:
What happens if treatment is delayed?
How does mastopathy manifest in women? It happens that women deliberately do not go to the doctor or simply try not to notice the signs and symptoms of breast mastopathy. Most often, there is simply no time or the pain is not so severe, and the woman herself does not even know that such a disease exists.
In this case, mastopathy begins to progress. One of the signs of mastopathy in women includes discharge from the breast. Also, the lymph nodes under the armpits may become enlarged, and the shape of the nipples and the bust itself may change.
You should not tighten it any further because mastopathy is considered a precancerous disease, and although it rarely reaches the stage of oncology, it is still recommended to consult a doctor at the first ailment, since some symptoms may indicate other, much more dangerous ailments.
We will find out further how manifestations can progress and what other symptoms of mastopathy appear.
Full symptoms
Speaking about the symptoms of breast mastopathy, you should turn to its varieties. Each variety has its own signs and manifestations of mastopathy.
There are other ways to use folk remedies, more details here.
Which doctor should I contact?
As soon as you feel that something is wrong in your breasts, you should immediately consult a mammologist.
To prevent the disease from progressing, it is recommended to visit a mammologist as a preventive measure, especially for those who are at risk. It is believed that women over 35 years of age can be included there.
The initial appointment consists of examining and palpating each breast. If mastopathy is suspected, an ultrasound examination and mammogram are prescribed. In particularly advanced cases, a puncture is performed.
Now you know what mastopathy of the mammary glands is, symptoms in women. Mastopathy has been known to mankind for more than 100 years; it is the most common disease of the mammary glands among women.
If treated in a timely manner, the disease is highly treatable, so at the first suspicion it is recommended to consult a mammologist for advice.
Useful video
Watch the video below about the symptoms and signs of breast mastopathy.
You can find more information on this topic in the Diagnosis and Symptoms section.
Treatment of mastopathy (breast disease): where to start and what is the prognosis
The state and behavior of the glandular tissue of the female breast changes several times in the period from ovulation to menstruation, because the ratio of hormones regulating its activity changes. In addition to the well-known estrogens, we are also talking about progesterone (it is a hormone common to both sexes), prolactin and oxytocin. So, in reality, there are more hormones than one might imagine, especially considering that the estrogen group also includes not one hormone, but three (estradiol, estrone, estriol). At different stages of the cycle, the balance of these compounds in the blood and tissues of a woman changes, one of them gives way to another.
Age also contributes to the development of hormonal mastopathy - as well as the presence/absence of healthy pregnancies, the time when the first one occurred, and weight category. And all this affects the processes taking place in the mammary glands. It is not surprising that over time it becomes increasingly difficult for the mammary glands to adequately respond to regular background changes, since with age the tissue’s ability to even undergo natural changes decreases. That is why mastopathy, although in theory it can develop at any age starting from adolescence, most often occurs in women over thirty years of age. And after menopause (47-50 years), the threat of mastopathy begins to decline again.
Causes
The main hormones responsible for the menstrual cycle are:
- estrogens - responsible for the maturation of the egg;
- progesterone – ensures the preparation of the uterus for fertilization;
- prolactin - affects the condition of the mammary glands more noticeably than estrogens, but this applies only to the last weeks of pregnancy, since it stimulates the production of breast milk during lactation.
The increase in estrogen levels that accompanies ovulation also leads to an acceleration in the division of mammary gland cells. If pregnancy does not occur, the level of progesterone, which begins to increase from the middle of ovulation, triggers the cessation of the accelerated division of cells in the ducts of the mammary glands. Therefore, most often the causes of mastopathy come down to:
- insufficient concentration of progesterone;
- excess estrogen;
- excess prolactin in the absence of lactation and pregnancy.
Immune failure and other non-hormonal factors
In addition to hormonal factors, the development of mastopathy can also be influenced by another factor – immune. The older the human body, the more often defective new cells are born in it. Sometimes they appear instead of healthy breast cells - especially when hormones stimulate them to actively divide and grow.
One of the parts of the immune defense is “tuned” to the timely detection and destruction of “wrong” cells – lymphocytes of several types, “trained” by the thymus gland. These bodies are able to distinguish defective and infected cells of the body from healthy ones and destroy them. But aging also changes the functioning of the immune system, which is why over the years the danger that lymphocytes will “miss” some abnormal cell increases. Meanwhile, it is defective cellular elements that become the basis of many benign and malignant tumors.
It is believed that the following pathologies predispose to the formation of defective breast cells in mastopathy.
- Breast injuries. Especially chronic ones, caused, for example, by wearing tight or uncomfortable underwear.
- Ovarian pathologies. Including cysts, inflammation, malignant tumors. All of them cause a malfunction in the synthesis of the main sex hormones, and cysts and ovarian cancer themselves often trigger the production of hormone-like substances to stimulate the growth of their own body (if the neoplasm has already become malignant).
- Tumors and injuries of the adrenal glands. Because they are also involved in the synthesis of some essential hormones (for example, progesterone).
- Chronic thyroiditis. Pathologies of the thyroid gland, the hormones of which regulate the rate of growth and renewal of tissues throughout the body and metabolism in it. Their connection with sexual activity is not direct, but it also exists. Therefore, a deficiency of thyroid hormones gradually leads to dysfunction of the reproductive system of both women and men.
All mastopathy is divided into two main types.
- Diffuse mastopathy. With it, the connective tissue that divides the mammary gland into lobules grows in strands with the formation of a number of small (the size of a grain of rice or millet) nodes.
- Nodular mastopathy. In her case, there is only one knot, the size of a walnut.
Diffuse varieties of mastopathy are divided into several types.
- Diffuse cystic. When overgrown cords block blood and lymph flow in one area of the mammary gland or prevent the outflow of colostrum/milk from it. As a result of such mastopathy, multiple cysts are formed. That is, cavities with a dense shell filled with liquid with a very different composition. Such mastopathy is usually dyshormonal - caused by hormonal fluctuations.
- Diffuse fibrous. In which the breast tissue is “permeated” with overgrown coarse connective tissue fibers separating the lobules of the gland. Fibrous mastopathy most often occurs due to inflammation.
- Fibrocystic. That is, mixed mastopathy. Fibrous cystic mastopathy of the mammary glands is the most difficult to treat, and most closely resembles a malignant tumor (and becomes one over time).
- Fibrous-adenomatous. Or, rather, fibrous-adenous mastopathy, which is characterized by focal proliferation of secretory cells of the gland itself.
Symptoms of mastopathy
Signs of breast mastopathy at the initial stage, which can last for several months or several years, are practically absent. Lumps inside the breast tissue can be detected only by chance, by palpation. As a rule, at this stage of mastopathy, the areas of compaction are small, but pressing on them causes aching pain and a feeling of a foreign body inside the gland. Without treatment, mastopathy always progresses. That is:
- nodules increase in size;
- dull, aching pain in the gland becomes constant;
- there is a feeling of heaviness in the mammary gland;
- the feeling of a foreign object intensifies not only when palpating, but also when wearing underwear.
Additionally, already at an intermediate stage of mastopathy development, patients may experience discharge from the nipples. But by the third stage, discharge almost always occurs, and some of the most mature tumors can fester. If such foci of mastopathy are located close to the surface of the body, the fistula opens outward. If not, the entire mammary gland may swell. The pain becomes sharp, shooting, and wearing a bra becomes impossible.
Diagnostic methods and techniques
Modern medicine advises all women in the age-related risk group for mastopathy (that is, from thirty to fifty years old) to regularly self-palpate and examine both mammary glands. First in a standing position, and then in a lying position. You can start to worry if, upon examination or palpation, the following changes are detected in one or both glands.
- Dense nodules. That is, harder than the surrounding tissue, since healthy breast tissue also does not seem uniform to the touch.
- Nipple discharge. In this case, they are constant, not related to the stages of the cycle, although they can intensify before critical days. Their volume is almost always small, but noticeable. The worst sign in the case of them is the admixture of pus or coagulated blood in them.
- Swollen lymph nodes. They can be single or multiple (then they will be arranged in a chain), the size of a plum, painless and soft. They are located either in the armpit on the side of the affected gland, or lead from the chest up to the collarbone and neck. Such a “chain” sometimes occurs due to damage to the lymph nodes by the Epstein-Barr virus or for other reasons. But much more often it accompanies mastopathy and cancer of any location, not just the breast.
Otherwise, mastopathy is diagnosed using ultrasound or mammography - an X-ray of the chest in front and side projections. It is recommended that such examinations be carried out at least once every six months. When tumors are detected, a biopsy is performed - a sample is taken for histological analysis, which allows one to accurately determine their benign or malignant nature. And the only external difference between mastopathy and breast cancer can be observed only if it is bilateral, since cancer never spreads to the second breast and does not affect them at the same time.
Therapy by scientific methods
Science itself strives to treat mastopathy using conservative methods, especially if the disease occurs in a benign form - it is not prone to progression or relapse, does not cause complications, and responds well to hormonal therapy. True, surgery may be prescribed in case of cyst formation, since its potential for suppuration and malignancy in mastopathy is especially high. But otherwise, the following measures are recommended for patients with mastopathy.
- Proper nutrition. Including a diet aimed at achieving a normal weight category. Estrogens are metabolized and accumulated in fatty tissues, so we are talking not only about weight loss, but also about weight gain, which is also sometimes necessary. The diet must include foods rich in vitamins A, B, C, E and iodine, and should not include fatty, spicy, fried foods. You should reduce the meat content in your diet, balancing its amount with vegetables. It is also useful to take fruits rich in antioxidants - grapes (especially dark ones), citrus fruits, strawberries, blueberries, lingonberries, raspberries.
- Hormonal drugs. It is usually aimed at reducing the concentration of estrogen in the blood during mastopathy. One of the most universal and well-known options is taking oral contraceptives, which help cope with intense premenstrual syndrome, long/painful periods, skin rashes, mood swings and other signs of hormonal imbalance. But there are other remedies for mastopathy, including Visanne and other drugs based on dienogest. But since incorrectly selected or administered hormonal therapy can have far-reaching consequences (infertility and polycystic ovary syndrome), it should only be prescribed by a doctor.
- Local anesthesia. With mastopathy, it is often necessary, although it changes the picture of symptoms. Creams and gels based on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and anesthetic agents (diclofenac, ketoprofen) are considered the safest.
- Phytotherapy. Often it is simply aimed at relieving stress (it affects prolactin levels, if we are not talking about the period of breastfeeding). But medicinal herbs for mastopathy can also provide an anti-inflammatory or immunostimulating effect.
Folk remedies
Mastopathy is dangerous due to malignant degeneration into cancer. And if the origin of mastopathy is not traumatic, then it probably has a hormonal “underlying”. Therefore, for the purpose of treatment, you can, of course, apply a fresh cabbage leaf to the breast affected by mastopathy or use compresses made from strong natural anti-inflammatory agents: oak bark, lilac color, celandine herb.
But in fact, treating mastopathy with folk remedies is not a cure. It relieves the symptoms of inflammation, but acts on the result (mastopathy itself), and not on its origins (hormonal imbalance). And taking into account the fact that it is very easy to confuse a malignant tumor with benign lumps in the breast, independent treatment of breast mastopathy with folk remedies looks all the more reckless.
Mastopathy
Mastopathy is a benign lesion of the mammary gland and is characterized by excessive growth of connective tissue.
Causes
The main role in the occurrence of mastopathy is attributed to hormonal disorders. The development of the mammary glands, regular cyclical changes in them, as well as changes in their function during pregnancy and lactation occur under the influence of a whole complex of hormones. Any imbalance of hormones is accompanied by changes in mammary gland tissue.
In the development of mastopathy, an important role is played by the level of prolactin in the blood, which has a diverse effect on mammary gland tissue, stimulating metabolic processes in mammary gland tissue throughout a woman’s life.
The most common cause of mastopathy is diseases of special parts of the brain - the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, dysfunction of the thyroid gland, obesity, hyperprolactinemia, diabetes mellitus, impaired fat metabolism, etc.
The cause of hormonal disorders of the mammary glands can be: gynecological diseases; sexual disorders; hereditary predisposition; painful processes in the liver and bile ducts; pregnancy and childbirth; stressful situations.
Manifestations of mastopathy
The initial stage of mastopathy is characterized by pain in the mammary glands, which intensifies a few days before the onset of menstruation. Pain can vary in nature and intensity. In some cases, the pain is mild and differs little from the usual premenstrual swelling of the glands that many healthy women experience. After the end of menstruation, the pain usually goes away or decreases. Gradually the pain becomes more intense and lasting.
In some cases, the pain becomes very intense, spreading to the shoulder, axillary area, shoulder blade, and even a light touch of the mammary glands is painful. Patients lose sleep, feel fear, and think about cancer. This is a typical manifestation of the initial stage of mastopathy. This form of mastopathy occurs more often in women under the age of 35. When palpating the glands, sharp pain and slight compaction are noted. After the start of menstruation, all these phenomena disappear.
At subsequent stages of the disease, the pain subsides. When palpated, areas of compaction without clear boundaries are identified. These seals are determined in various parts of the glands. When pressing on the nipples, discharge of a different nature appears from them (such as colostrum, transparent, greenish, etc.). Painful lumps in the mammary glands and discharge from the nipples intensify in the premenstrual period and decrease with the onset of menstruation. Complete softening of the glands does not occur after the onset of menstruation.
Photo: development of mastopathy
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of mastopathy is based on examination of the mammary glands, palpation, mammography, ultrasound, puncture of nodules, suspicious areas and cytological examination of punctate.
Examination of the mammary glands must be carried out in the first phase of the menstrual cycle (2–3 days after the end of menstruation), since in the second phase, due to engorgement of the glands, there is a high probability of diagnostic errors.
When examining the mammary glands, the appearance of the glands is assessed, attention is paid to all manifestations of asymmetry (contours, skin color, position of the nipples). The inspection is repeated with arms raised. After the examination, the mammary glands are felt, first in a standing position and then lying on your back. At the same time, the axillary, subclavian and supraclavicular lymph nodes are palpated. If any changes are detected in the mammary glands, mammography and ultrasound are performed.
Ultrasound of the mammary glands is more informative than mammography when examining dense mammary glands in young women, as well as in identifying cysts, including small ones (up to 2–3 mm in diameter).
Mammography - radiography of the mammary glands without the use of contrast agents - is currently the most common method of instrumental examination of the mammary glands. Its reliability is very high. However, this method is limited in application. Thus, mammography is contraindicated for women under 35 years of age, during pregnancy and lactation. In addition, the information content of this method is insufficient when studying dense mammary glands in young women.
Read also the article about the prevention of mastopathy and methods of self-diagnosis
Treatment of mastopathy
Diet is important in the treatment and prevention of mastopathy: the nature of nutrition affects hormonal metabolism. It is recommended to include fruits, vegetables, and cereal products in the diet, especially citrus fruits and cabbage, and to minimize the consumption of canned, salted and smoked foods. Reduce the amount of meat products and fats in your diet.
In recent years, the frequency of use of herbal medicines in the treatment of mastopathy has increased. V.I. Kulakov and co-authors (2003) used Wobenzym and herbal medicine when treating patients with various forms of mastopathy. The effectiveness of treatment of mastalgia after 3 months. amounted to 65%.
Various groups of drugs are used to treat mastopathy: painkillers, bromocriptine, night primrose oil, homeopathic drugs (mastodinone), vitamins, potassium iodide, oral contraceptives, herbal remedies, danazol, tamoxifen, as well as the natural hormone progesterone for transdermal use.
Currently, tableted hormones are used to treat mastopathy. Among these drugs, duphaston and utrozhestan are the most widely used. Duphaston is an analogue of the natural hormone progesterone and is safe for long-term use. Utrozhestan is a natural micronized progesterone hormone. Micronized utrogestan is prescribed 100 mg 2 times a day, duphaston 10 mg 2 times a day. Treatment is carried out from the 14th day of the menstrual cycle for 14 days, 3–6 cycles.
Diferelin, zoladex, buserelin cause temporary reversible menopause. The first course of treatment is usually prescribed for 3 months.
In recent years, various herbal remedies that have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and immunomodulatory effects have become widespread. The fees are prescribed in the second phase of the menstrual cycle and are used for a long time.
One of the treatments for mastopathy is a combined homeopathic drug - mastodinone, which is a 15% alcohol solution with extracts of medicinal herbs cyclamen, chilibuha, iris, tiger lily. Mastodinon is prescribed 30 drops 2 times a day (morning and evening) or 1 tablet 2 times a day for 3 months.
In the treatment of diffuse forms of mastopathy, the drug Klamin has become widespread. One of the most important characteristics of Klamin is the presence of iodine in its composition (1 tablet contains 50 mcg of iodine).
In the conservative treatment of mastopathy, novocaine-oxygen therapy is used. It can have a positive effect even with gross changes. The principle of this therapy is that oxygen introduced into the mammary gland, moving through the tissues, acts on its elements as a kind of massage, and novocaine has a good effect on the vessels and milk ducts.
If there are concomitant diseases, it is necessary to treat them. When diffuse mastopathy is combined with uterine fibroids, endometrial hyperplasia, adenomyosis, it is necessary to additionally add pure gestagens (utrogestan, duphaston) to the therapy.
Signs and symptoms of mastopathy of the mammary glands - diagnosis, treatment with medications and folk remedies
A female disease called breast mastopathy - what is it? Fibrocystic pathology accompanied by unpleasant symptoms? The medical term “mastopathy” unites a group of pathological processes that are associated with changes in the mammary glands. The disease has several causes, and late diagnosis can lead to dire consequences.
What is mastopathy
Benign formations cause pain and serve as a trigger for the development of cancer. What is mastopathy of the mammary glands? A disease of the mammary glands (mastopatia) of a dyshormonal nature, characterized by the proliferation of breast connective tissue and glandular fat cells, which is accompanied by the appearance of cystic formations and fine-grained compactions. There are 2 main forms of the analyzed disease, but according to the characteristics of their manifestation they are divided as follows:
- diffuse mastopathy;
- adenomatous;
- nodal
Fibrous
The diffuse form of mastopathy affects the entire area of the mammary gland and is divided into two forms: cystic and fibrous. The appearance of a fibrous node indicates a painful condition. This disease looks like an increase in the connective tissue of the mammary glands. Young girls and women after menopause are susceptible to the fibrotic form of the disease. The cause may be an imbalance of hormones that occurs under stress or under the influence of negative factors.
Cystic
Thanks to the name, the characteristic of fibrocystic mastopathy becomes clear, which is associated with the appearance of special nodes with fluid contained inside. Cystic formations have a soft structure and clear contours. When cysts appear, the onset of menstruation is accompanied by soreness of the mammary glands. Women over 50 years of age are at risk of developing a cystic form. During this period, estrogen predominates in the body.
Fibrocystic
Excessive growth of connective tissue is observed in diffuse fibrocystic mastopathy (DFCM). The mixed form is accompanied by the appearance of small cystic tumors. Formations can be scattered in a chaotic manner. Fibrocystic mastopathy of the mammary glands appears simultaneously on two breasts, therefore it has a second name: bilateral diffuse mastopathy. Inside the tumors there is a transparent liquid, but it is not possible to take a puncture to analyze the contents due to the small size of the formation.
Why is mastopathy dangerous?
Having diagnosed mastopathy, treatment should not be left to chance. This disease cannot go away on its own. A mammologist will issue an opinion, make a diagnosis, and prescribe treatment. The most important danger of mastopathy is the ability to develop into breast cancer. Knowing the peculiarities of the pathology, doctors are wary of mastopathy, immediately defining it as a precancerous condition, although initially the formation is benign.
Causes of mastopathy
In most cases, women over 40 years of age are at risk, but the risk of developing the disease in young girls cannot be excluded. Patients who have suffered from many gynecological diseases are more susceptible to mastopathy than others. The further development of the disease is directly related to neurohumoral regulation (disruption of the body's vital processes).
Numerous hormones are responsible for the growth and development of the breast, the most significant of which are: progesterone, estrogens, growth hormone and prolactin. The condition of the mammary glands depends on the ratio of hormones in the body. Hormonal imbalance entails a chance of developing the disease. Other causes of mastopathy include:
- the onset of menopause later than normal;
- termination of pregnancy or its absence throughout life;
- earlier onset of menarche (menstruation);
- refusal to breastfeed a child;
- woman's age over 35 years;
- genetic predisposition.
Symptoms of mastopathy
A benign disease has characteristic signs of a pathological process, the appearance of which women should consult a doctor before the disease takes the form of cancer. The symptoms depend on the degree of development of mastopathy, the most common of which are: pain, engorgement of the mammary gland in the 2nd phase of menstruation, the appearance of nodules and discharge from the nipples. Echo signs of the disease are determined by ultrasound. Its characteristic symptoms depend on the form of the disease:
- Diffuse fibroadenomatosis affects young women. The “stone chest” syndrome appears, and graininess can be felt. There is pain, which can only be relieved by analgesics.
- If the previous type of disease is not cured, nodular mastopathy will begin to develop. Upon palpation, cysts, compactions, and nodules are detected. All formations do not have clear boundaries and can reach 7 cm.
First signs
The initial symptoms of the disease are unnoticed. Discomfort in the area of the mammary glands may be alarming: it occurs depending on the menstrual cycle, and the symptom is especially obvious during the period of PMS. Often women do not notice changes, and at this time the disease develops further. The following signs may include:
- minor pain;
- swelling of the mammary glands;
- compaction;
- increased sensitivity of the mammary glands;
- clear fluid from the nipple;
- enlarged axillary lymph nodes.
Unpleasant pain can be either strong or mild: its intensity and nature of manifestation depend on the stage of mastopathy. The initial stage of the disease is characterized by pain before the onset of menstruation, and is therefore perceived by patients as part of PMS. Mastopathy is characterized by stagnation of venous blood, which leads to severe pain (in which it is impossible to touch the mammary glands) and swelling. Types of pain with mastopathy are:
Discharge
The next sign of mastopathy makes you immediately run to the doctor when it appears. Discharge can be detected either by pressing on the nipple or without applying any force. The color of the liquid can be bloody, white, brown (purulent), green. If there is no discharge, the doctor speaks of its transparent color. A bloody tint with impurities of blood indicates specific processes in the mammary gland of a malignant nature. There should be no discharge in the body of a healthy woman, except during lactation or pregnancy.
Good day, dear readers!
In today's article we will look at a disease such as mastopathy of the mammary gland, and everything associated with it - symptoms, causes, types, diagnosis, treatment, medications, alternative treatment, prevention, photos and other useful information. So…
What is mastopathy of the mammary glands?
Mastopathy– fibrocystic disease of the mammary gland, characterized by pathological proliferation of its tissues.
The development of the disease is based on the formation of benign, fine-grained compactions in the breast, often pathogenic, sometimes with the release of pathological secretion.
The danger of mastopathy is the degeneration of a neoplasm from benign to malignant - into breast cancer. In this regard, many doctors regard this disease as a precancerous condition.
It is believed that breast mastopathy does not go away on its own and requires mandatory treatment.
It should also be noted that the term “mastopathy” refers to a group of mammary gland pathologies, the common denominator of which is an imbalance in the relationship between connective and epithelial tissues.
Development of mastopathy
Doctors have found that the development of mammary gland mastopathy directly depends on neurohumoral regulation.
Neurohumoral regulation is the physiological regulation of the body by the hypothalamus through the transmission of nerve impulses through blood and lymph. One of the main roles of neurohumoral regulation is to maintain a normal balance of hormones, metabolites and other neurotransmitters in the body, as well as adaptation to changing environmental conditions.
For example, the release of adrenaline into the blood during a stressful situation, due to which the body mobilizes strength and muscles in the necessary state to overcome a particular situation.
Hormones are primarily responsible for the formation, development and growth of the mammary gland; progesterone, prolactin, estrogens and growth hormone are especially important in this process. When their balance is regulated at the proper level, everything is fine with breast health, but as soon as a hormonal imbalance occurs for one reason or another, the risk of developing mastopathy appears. However, it should immediately be noted that the development of the disease does not occur at lightning speed, even with pathological factors - for its development, disorders must be systematic for several years.
The most important and common hormonal disorders underlying the development of breast mastopathy are considered to be progesterone deficiency against the background of increased estrogen levels and the development of hyperestrogenism, increased levels of prostaglandins and hyperprolactinemia. This condition usually results in the proliferation of connective tissue, alveolar and ductal epithelium.
For example, estrogen is responsible for the growth of the epithelium, which occurs due to its division in the alveoli of the glands and milk ducts, so a large amount of this female sex hormone enhances the natural development of the breast.
Another pathological factor may be increased production of prolactin, which is directly responsible for the regulation of normal growth, development and functioning of the mammary glands. Its excess increases the susceptibility of mammary gland tissue to estrogens.
Breast mastopathy is divided into 2 main types– diffuse and nodular, which can be called stages of this disease.
Thus, diffuse mastopathy is the beginning of the disease, characterized by the onset of proliferation of connective tissue with the formation of small nodules and cords.
Nodular mastopathy is a continuation, or the second stage of the disease, characterized by thickening of the nodules and their increase to 7-70 mm.
The nodules can be fibrous, cystic or mixed (fibrocystic) in nature, due to which the disease can have a diagnosis such as fibrous mastopathy, cystic mastopathy or fibrocystic mastopathy of the mammary gland.
Breast cancer can be the final stage of the disease, so it is very important to periodically visit a mammologist for examination, and if something happens, timely treatment.
Spread of mastopathy
Mastopathy has been considered the most common breast disease for more than a century.
This disease is diagnosed in 30-45% of all breast diseases, and is associated in 70-95%, so when visiting a gynecologist and detecting any disease, the patient is usually additionally referred to undergo examination by a mammologist.
It has also been noted that the number of cases of pathology detected in the female breast increases after 40 years.
Mastopathy - ICD
ICD-10: N60.1;
ICD-9: 610.1.
Mastopathy - symptoms
Symptoms of mastopathy largely depend on the form of the disease, concomitant diseases and the emotional state of the patient.
The main signs of breast mastopathy:
— Chest pain, which in the initial stages of the disease appears only before the next ones. The nature of the pain can be sharp, dull, aching or pulling, and also so strong that it hurts a woman to even touch her breasts. The pain may also radiate to the arm or shoulder blade. Pain during mastopathy is caused by stagnation of blood in the blood vessels of the breast and swelling of the surrounding tissues, which leads to an increase in breast volume. In addition, an additional factor contributing to pain may be fibrous growths that literally put pressure on the nerve fibers located in the chest. At the end of menstruation, the pain usually goes away, but as the disease develops, it haunts the woman on an ongoing basis, intensifying before the next menstruation. The severity of pain or its absence in the presence of fibrous growths also depends on the patient’s pain threshold or the individual characteristics of the branching of the nervous system in the chest.
— Breast engorgement, developing in the second phase of the menstrual cycle, during which the breasts increase in size, become hard and heavy. This condition of the chest is caused by the same stagnation of blood in the blood vessels of the chest and swelling of the connective tissue. The breasts are hypersensitive to palpation.
- The appearance of one or more nodules (lumps) in the chest.
— Nipple discharge after pressing on them, which can be of varying intensity. The discharge can also be very pronounced and appear without much physical effort. Discharge from mastopathy can be transparent, white, greenish, brown or bloody. It must be remembered that discharge is allowed only during pregnancy or lactation; in other periods, the presence of discharge most likely indicates the presence of a pathological process in the breast.
Nodular mastopathy is also accompanied by cystic seals of a round or oval shape, without clear boundaries, while the lobulation is not palpable during palpation.
Complications of mastopathy
Complications may include:
- The development of a background inflammatory process, which can be joined, after the formation of a purulent focus in the chest;
The main cause of mastopathy of the mammary glands– hormonal imbalance in a woman’s body.
The main factors that can trigger the development of mastopathy:
Types of mastopathy
The classification of mastopathy includes the following types of disease...
By form:
Diffuse mastopathy– the onset of the disease, characterized by the onset of proliferation of connective tissue with the formation of small millet-like nodules. Seals in the diffuse form can be of the following nature:
- With a predominance of the glandular component (adenosis);
- With a predominance of the fibrous component (fibroadenosis);
- With a predominance of the cystic component (fibrocystic);
- Mixed form (fibrocystic mastopathy).
- Sclerosing adenosis;
Nodular mastopathy– continuation of the development of the disease, characterized by an increase in nodules to a size of 7-70 mm and their compaction. Seals in a nodal form can be of the following nature:
- Fibroadenoma;
- Leaf-shaped fibroadenoma (phyllodes fibroadenoma);
- Angioma;
- Hamartoma;
- Cysts;
- Intraductal papilloma;
- Lipoma;
- Lipogranuloma.
According to ICD-10, the disease is divided into the following types:
- Benign breast dysplasia and fibrocystic mastopathy (N60);
- Solitary cyst of the mammary gland (N60.0);
- Diffuse cystic mastopathy, with the exception of disease with epithelial proliferation (N60.1);
- Fibroadenosis of the mammary gland, with the exception of fibroadenoma of the mammary gland (N60.2);
- Fibrosclerosis of the mammary gland and cystic mastopathy with epithelial proliferation (N60.3);
- Breast duct ectasia (N60.4);
- Other benign breast dysplasia (N60.8);
- Benign breast dysplasia, unspecified (N60.9).
Diagnosis of mastopathy
Diagnosis of the disease includes the following examination methods:
- Self-examination of milk jelly using a mirror and palpation of the breast in a standing and lying position;
- Anamnesis;
- Mammography;
If there are nodules or tumor-like areas in the breast, a breast biopsy is performed, after which the taken biomaterials, together with discharge from the nipples, are subjected to cytological examination.
Treatment of mastopathy
How to treat mastopathy? The treatment tactics for mastopathy largely depend on the timeliness of its detection, its form, concomitant diseases and the age of the patient.
The main points in therapy are:
1. Drug treatment;
1.1. Hormonal therapy;
1.2. Non-hormonal therapy;
2. Surgical treatment.
1. Drug treatment of mastopathy
The conservative method of therapy (drug treatment) is used mainly for the diffuse form of the disease. Nodular mastopathy often additionally requires surgical intervention, which is especially important when malignancy of the seals is detected.
1.1. Medicines for mastopathy - hormonal therapy
Important! Before using medications, be sure to consult your doctor!
Antiestrogens– a group of hormonal drugs aimed at reducing the amount of estrogen in the female body. When using these medications, pain in the chest is relieved, the menstrual cycle is normalized, and the risk of lumps degenerating into a cancerous tumor is reduced. Side effects include hot flashes, increased sweating, vaginal discharge, depression, skin rash, erythema and others, which is associated with a decrease in estrogen levels. The course of treatment usually lasts from 3 to 6 months.
Antiestrogens include Tamoxifen and Fareston.
Gestagens– a group of hormonal drugs that have the property of suppressing the body’s production of estrogen, as well as reducing the efficiency of the pituitary gland’s gonadotropic function. In addition, the use of gestogens normalizes the balance of hormones. The effectiveness of the use of gestagens has been observed in 80% of cases of the disease. However, there are also contraindications, for example – pregnancy, presence and others.
Among the gestogens one can highlight - “Orgametril”, “Norkolut”, “Pregnil”, “Progestogel”.
Oral contraceptives– a group of hormonal contraceptive drugs, the use of which normalizes the menstrual cycle and reduces pain during menstruation, reduces the signs of fibrocystic mastopathy of the mammary glands. The purpose of oral contraceptives is to suppress the production of gonadotropins.
Among oral contraceptives one can highlight Marvelon, Mercilon, Silest, Femoden.
Prolactin secretion inhibitors– a group of hormonal drugs that normalize lactation due to increased levels of prolactin in the body. Prolactins help reduce breast cysts, reduce pain during mastopathy, normalize the balance between the female body’s production of estrogen and progesterone, and also improve reproductive function. Contraindications are the presence.
Among the prolactins we can highlight Bromocriptine and Parlodel.
Androgens– male hormones that are estrogen antagonists. Androgen-based drugs suppress excessive estrogen activity. However, taking androgens has a large number of side effects - amenorrhea, increased sweating, excessive nervousness, swelling, weight gain and other disorders of the endocrine system.
Among the androgen drugs one can highlight Danazol.
Gonadotropin releasing hormone (LHRH) analogs- a group of hormonal drugs used to treat fibrocystic mastopathy, but only in cases where other groups of drugs have not found their effectiveness.
1.2. Medicines for mastopathy - non-hormonal therapy
The following groups of medications enhance the effectiveness of hormonal drugs and also help relieve symptoms associated with mastopathy.
Vitamin complexes– help strengthen the immune system in the fight against pathology. In addition, additional intake of vitamins minimizes the side effects of hormonal medications.
The most common ones, the use of which is recommended for mastopathy, are -, and.
Hepatoprotectors– a group of drugs that support the normal functioning of the liver, and also protect it from various toxins and restore the cells of this organ (hepatocytes). The use of hepatoprotectors is due to the fact that due to hormonal imbalance, which underlies the development of mastopathy, the liver also suffers.
Among the hepatoprotectors we can highlight - “”, “Legalon”, “”, tea with milk thistle.
Enzymes– a group of drugs that help normalize the functioning of the digestive system. Enzymes normalize microflora in the gastrointestinal tract and eliminate.
Among the enzymes one can highlight - "", "Duphalac".
Sedative (calming) drugs– aimed at suppressing increased nervousness and mental disorder, which often occurs in women against the background of hormonal imbalance and pain caused by mastopathy or menstruation.
Among the sedative drugs one can highlight - “Valerian”, “Persen”, “Tenoten”, tincture.
Diuretics– a group of diuretic drugs that help relieve swelling in mastopathy. Doctors recommend taking only mild diuretics.
Light diuretics include tinctures and herbal preparations.
In addition, in the treatment of mastopathy of the mammary glands, medications such as Duphaston, Janine, Zoladex, Iodomarin, Mastiol, Utrozhestan and others are often prescribed.
Important! In case of mastopathy, drinking alcoholic beverages and smoking is strictly prohibited.
2. Surgical treatment of mastopathy
Surgical treatment of mastopathy is usually carried out in the nodular form of the disease, as well as in cases where conservative treatment has not led to the necessary results.
Sectoral resection of the mammary gland is used as a surgical treatment method.
Surgical treatment with this method is carried out under general anesthesia under ultrasound control. The chest is preserved. After preliminary marking, the fibroadenoma and part of the glandular tissue are excised. The cosmetic defect is minimal.
Important!
Before using folk remedies against mastopathy, be sure to consult your doctor!
Elder. Black elderberries also have medicinal properties. The fruits of this plant slow down the growth of tumors and help the body fight cancer cells. To treat mastopathy, you need to take 1 tbsp 2 times a day, on an empty stomach. spoon of elderberry juice. The course of treatment should be carried out daily for several months.
Linseed oil. Flax contains phytoestrogens, which have a normalizing effect on hormonal balance. To use flax as a medicine, you need to eat 1-2 tbsp. spoons of flax seeds and wash them down with plenty of water. The beneficial effect occurs 10-14 days after the start of administration. Flax seeds are also useful to add to various dishes.
Apricot. Apricot kernels contain (cyanide, vitamin B17) - a toxic substance that in small doses stops the development of tumors. Among folk healers, apricot kernels have long been used to treat cancer. For medicinal use, you need to take 5 to 10 apricot kernels daily. If there are no apricots, then you can replace them with plum, cherry, and grape seed kernels.
Celandine. To prepare the product, it is better to use dried one yourself, which is cut off in the morning, at the root, and dried in its entirety. To prepare a remedy for mastopathy, you need to chop 1 sprig of dry celandine and pour vodka into a 500 ml jar, then set the remedy in a dark place for 15 days to infuse. Next, strain the tincture through a thick cloth and take it according to the following scheme - the first three days, 1 drop diluted in half a glass of water, after three days, 2 drops, and so on up to 15 drops per day. Next, take a 2-month break and repeat the course. The product should be stored in a dark container in the refrigerator. To measure drops, you can use a bottle of any medicine.
Rhodiola colda (red brush). Salidroside, which is part of the red brush, has anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anticarcinogenic (antitumor) properties. Thanks to salidroside, as well as many other beneficial substances (cobalt, manganese, silver, chromium, nickel) contained in this plant, the use of Rhodiola cold helps normalize estrogen metabolism, the production of progesterone, prolactin and maintain the balance of other hormones. The red brush should be used in the form of decoctions or tinctures. To prepare the product, you need to pour 1 teaspoon of the dried plant with a glass of boiling water, let it brew for 45 minutes, strain and take 2 times during the day.
Sage. You can take this remedy only from 6 to 15 days before ovulation. To prepare the product, you need to pour 1 teaspoon of dry crushed powder into a thermos and pour a glass of boiling water over it, let the product brew for 30 minutes, strain and drink 3 times during the day, 15 minutes before meals.
Prevention of mastopathy includes:
- Avoiding the consumption of alcoholic beverages;
- Avoidance of stress, especially systematic stress;
- To give up smoking;
- Leading an active lifestyle – you need to move more, play sports;
- Swimming is useful;
- Maintain a work/rest/sleep schedule, sleep at least 8 hours a day;
- Eating mainly foods enriched with vitamins;
- Visit a mammologist regularly for examination, especially for women over 45 years of age;
- Be examined by a mammologist for gynecological diseases.
Mastopathy – doctor
- Mammologist;
Mastopathy - video
Causes of mastopathy
Women of reproductive age from 18 to 45 years are susceptible to mastopathy; the peak incidence of mastopathy occurs at the age of 30-45 years. From the point of view of female physiology, the occurrence of mastopathy is easily explained. Every month, the body of a healthy woman of reproductive age undergoes cyclic changes under the influence of hormones - estrogen and progesterone. These two hormones not only regulate the two-phase menstrual cycle, but also have a direct effect on breast tissue.
Normally, under the influence of estrogens, which are formed in the first phase of the menstrual cycle, proliferative processes occur in the mammary glands, i.e. cell proliferation. Progesterone, which is formed in the second phase of the menstrual cycle, limits the effect of estrogens, inhibiting proliferation processes.
Under the influence of unfavorable factors, a hormone imbalance is formed - a lack of progesterone and an excess of estrogen, which leads to excessive proliferation of breast tissue and mastopathy occurs.
Sometimes mastopathy develops due to excessive production of the hormone prolactin by the pituitary gland. Normally, prolactin is produced in large quantities during pregnancy and lactation to form mother's milk. But it happens that prolactin is excessively secreted outside of pregnancy, which is a pathology and contributes to the appearance of mastopathy.
In addition to hormonal disorders, possible causes that provoke the development of mastopathy include:
Tumors and inflammation of the ovaries;
- diseases of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands;
- liver diseases;
- psychological problems - stress, depression, neuroses;
- irregular sex life, absence of pregnancies and childbirth before age 30;
- frequent abortions;
- hereditary predisposition;
- injuries to the mammary glands, including wearing a tight bra with metal underwires, which leads to microtrauma of the breast;
- bad habits - smoking and alcohol;
- iodine deficiency in the body.
There are two types of mastopathy:
1. Nodular (or nodular) mastopathy with a single compaction - a node in the gland. Nodular (or nodular) mastopathy is of 2 types - in the form of fibroadenoma (benign tumor) or cyst (fluid formation); For this form of mastopathy, treatment is surgical.
2. Diffuse mastopathy with multiple nodes in the mammary gland. Depending on the structure of the nodes, diffuse mastopathy can be:
- mastopathy with a predominance of the fibrous component;
- mastopathy with a predominance of the glandular component;
- mastopathy with a predominance of the cystic component (when many cysts are found in the gland);
- mastopathy of mixed form.
Symptoms of mastopathy:
The severity of mastopathy symptoms depends on the type of mastopathy, on the psychological characteristics of the woman and on the diseases associated with mastopathy. Most often, mastopathy is expressed in the form of dull aching pain in the mammary gland on the eve of menstruation (“mastalgia” or “mastodynia”). Characterized by engorgement and increase in breast volume, which is associated with swelling of the connective tissue of the mammary gland. These symptoms most often bother patients with mastopathy (about 90%), especially with the diffuse form of mastopathy, when chest pain can be unbearable.
Less commonly, with mastopathy there may be discharge from the nipples. The discharge may be white, transparent or greenish in color. In exceptional cases, bleeding may occur, which is an alarming signal.
Self-examination at home with a diffuse form of mastopathy can reveal small nodular lumps in the breast; in the nodular form, a single formation in the chest is determined. In 10% of cases with mastopathy, the lymph nodes in the axillary region become enlarged, which can also be felt during self-examination.
Breast self-examination
Many women confuse mastopathy with signs of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) and often perceive such symptoms as a given from nature. However, this is not the case. If you have the above-described symptoms of mastopathy or if any formation is detected in the mammary gland, an in-person consultation with a mammologist is urgently needed!
Diagnosis of mastopathy
Diagnosis of mastopathy includes:
- detailed survey and examination by a mammologist. The doctor performs superficial and deep palpation (palpation) of the mammary glands both in standing and lying positions, since some formations in the breast may shift when changing position. Examines the nipples, checks for any pathological discharge from the nipples. In addition to examining the breast, the mammologist palpates the lymph nodes in the axillary region, in the sub- and supraclavicular areas. The thyroid gland is also palpated to exclude its pathology;
- mammography- X-ray of the mammary glands - performed on days 7-10 of the menstrual cycle. The picture is taken in 2 projections - direct and oblique. Mammography allows you to determine the type of mastopathy and the severity of changes in the gland;
- Ultrasound of the mammary glands- a safer and simpler diagnostic method than mammography. Ultrasound of the breast allows you to clearly determine the structure of the formation in the breast (cyst, fibroadenoma, etc.). If mastopathy is suspected, ultrasound is performed on days 5-10 of the menstrual cycle for greater information;
- if cancer is suspected, indicated biopsy(using a thin needle, a piece of tissue is taken from a suspicious area for histological examination);
- hormonal studies- check the level of estrogen and progesterone, if necessary, examine the hormones of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands;
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs. When identifying ovarian pathology, it is indicated consultation with a gynecologist;
- when fibroadenoma is detected - indicated consultation with oncologist-mammologist.
- Preferably liver examination and excluding its pathology.
Treatment of mastopathy
Treatment of mastopathy is selected individually, depending on the type and cause of mastopathy. Treatment of mastopathy can be conservative or surgical, but you should start with changing your lifestyle and diet.
Drug treatment of mastopathy
Conservative treatment is indicated for diffuse forms of mastopathy and involves the use of hormonal and non-hormonal drugs. Treatment begins only after consultation with an oncologist in order to eliminate the need for urgent surgery.
Non-hormonal treatment of mastopathy
Treatment of mastopathy with non-hormonal drugs is prescribed in combination with hormone therapy or separately. The drugs help to quickly relieve the symptoms of mastopathy in mild manifestations of the disease, and if you follow a healthy lifestyle, you can achieve a complete cure.
For non-hormonal treatment of mastopathy use:
- Vitamin therapy is prescribed for a long term. All patients with mastopathy are shown vitamins A, B, C and E.
- Iodine preparations (Iodomarin, Iodine-active, clamine) help reduce the proliferative activity of tissues and regulate the function of the thyroid gland. But before prescribing them, it is necessary to consult an endocrinologist to identify contraindications, such as hyperthyroidism, autoimmune thyroiditis.
- For mastopathy caused by psychological problems, sedatives (tinctures of motherwort, valerian, etc.) and psychotherapy are prescribed.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as Diclofenac) for quick relief of pain symptoms if present.
- Homeopathic medicines (Remens, Mastodinon, Cyclodinone). Their therapeutic effect is based on reducing the level of prolactin in the blood, which leads to the elimination of pathological processes in the mammary gland with hyperprolactinemia. These drugs are prescribed for a long term.
- Herbal medicine (used only as an adjunct to the main treatment)
- Enzyme preparations with anti-edematous, anti-inflammatory, secondary analgesic and immunomodulatory effects.
A positive effect on mastopathy of drugs containing indole carbinol was noted.
Hormonal treatment of mastopathy
Hormonal treatment is prescribed to regulate cyclic changes in the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian system. This normalizes hormonal levels, effectively affecting the tissue elements of the mammary gland. For this purpose, the following drugs can be used:
- gestagens (Duphaston, Utrozhestan, Norethisterone... are prescribed in the second phase of the menstrual cycle, Progestogel externally for rubbing the chest);
- prolactin secretion inhibitors (Parlodel) are taken for detected hyperprolactinemia from the 10th to the 25th day of the menstrual cycle;
- estrogen-gestagen oral contraceptives (Zhanin, Marvelon) are prescribed to women under 35 years of age according to the contraceptive regimen in the absence of ovulation and luteal phase disturbance;
Much less often with mastopathy there is a need to use drugs:
- antiestrogens (Tamoxifen, Fareston) are taken continuously for 3 months;
- androgens (Methyltestosterone). Mammologists prescribe this group of hormones extremely rarely and only to women over 45 years of age due to unpleasant side effects.
At any age, hormonal treatment of any disease should be carried out only after a preliminary study of the hormonal status. After 40 years, due to the presence of concomitant diseases, many women have contraindications to hormone therapy.
Surgical treatment of mastopathy
Surgical treatment is used for nodular forms of mastopathy, mainly for fibroadenomas, and extremely rarely in the presence of a cyst. For small fibroadenoma sizes (up to 2 cm), you can also refrain from surgical treatment - dynamic observation by a mammologist is indicated.
There are 2 types of surgical intervention for mastopathy - sectoral resection (together with a sector of the mammary gland, the tumor is removed) and enucleation (husking) of a tumor or cyst (only the tumor/cyst is removed).
Surgical treatment of mastopathy is used according to strict indications:
If breast cancer is suspected based on biopsy data (only in this case a sectoral resection is performed);
- with rapid growth of fibroadenoma (tumor increase by 2 times within 3 months);
- if the cyst is single, removal of the fluid by puncture (puncture of the formation) is indicated, but if the nodular cyst recurs, its desquamation is indicated.
The operation for nodular mastopathy is performed under general or local anesthesia and lasts on average 30-40 minutes. The patient is discharged home the next day or on the day of surgery. Postoperative sutures are removed 7-10 days after surgery.
Treatment of mastopathy with folk remedies
Treatment of mastopathy is carried out with means that regulate the menstrual cycle and, if necessary, the activity of the thyroid gland - hormonal agents, vitamins and homeopathic medicines.
For a quick recovery, lifestyle during treatment is of fundamental importance.
- It is advisable to limit the consumption of coffee, tea, cocoa and chocolate. The fact is that these products contain methylxaptins, which can provoke the progression of diffuse mastopathy and increase pain.
- You should give up bad habits (smoking, alcohol) and lead a healthy lifestyle - move more, avoid stress, sleep at least eight hours a day; include fish, boiled meat and plant products in your diet.
- The bra should be worn in the correct size and shape - otherwise it can lead to chronic breast deformation or, conversely, overload of the ligamentous apparatus.
- For any form of mastopathy, thermal procedures are absolutely contraindicated - saunas, steam baths, prolonged exposure to the sun, solarium.
Patients are recommended to increase their consumption of plant foods. Enriching the diet with vegetables, fruits, and seafood while avoiding large quantities of tea, coffee, cocoa and chocolate can help with mastopathy and prevent relapses.
For diffuse mastopathy, traditional medicine is widely used in the form of various compresses to relieve pain symptoms. For this purpose, grated red beets, fresh pumpkin or warm rye bread are applied to the chest in the form of compresses.
However, it must be remembered that these remedies do not treat mastopathy in any way; the pain relief effect from them is only temporary and is often based on self-hypnosis.
Possible complications of mastopathy:
Recurrence of mastopathy after treatment. As a rule, this is due to undiagnosed hormonal imbalances;
- mammary cancer. The risk of degeneration into cancer is higher in patients with fibroadenomas. With diffuse mastopathy, such a dangerous complication is unlikely.
Prevention of mastopathy:
Breast self-examination is the main method of preventing mastopathy and breast cancer, aimed at early detection of changes in the breast, which means you can consult a doctor in a timely manner and not start the disease. After menstruation, approximately on the 5-7th day of the cycle, a woman is recommended to palpate both mammary glands in a lying and standing position. Palpation begins from the axillary region towards the nipple. Next, the chest is examined vertically, from top to bottom, with soft movements. If suspicious formations are detected, consult a doctor immediately. The sooner treatment is started, the easier it will be to prevent the development of mastopathy and oncology;
- pregnancy and lactation, refusal of abortion;
- regular sex life;
- taking iodine supplements in autumn and spring, consuming iodized salt (in the absence of contraindications from the thyroid gland);
- healthy lifestyle.
Questions and answers from an obstetrician-gynecologist on the topic of mastopathy:
1.I have chest pains. What is better to do an ultrasound or a mammogram?
Up to 35-40 years old, ultrasound of the mammary glands is preferable; if you are already over 40, it is better to do a mammogram.
2. I take birth control pills. I constantly feel pain in my right mammary gland. Could this be due to the pills?
Yes, perhaps contraceptives are not suitable for you, but lumps in the mammary gland cannot be ruled out. Contact a specialist.
3. I was diagnosed with fibroadenoma during pregnancy. What to do, get treatment now or wait until childbirth?
It is necessary to carry out dynamic observation (ultrasound of the mammary glands). If the fibroadenoma grows quickly, it should be removed before childbirth.
4. I have large breasts, I don’t wear a bra at home - I only put it on when I go out. Can this cause mastopathy?
Yes maybe. A large load is created on the ligamentous apparatus.
5. Do your breasts hurt as they grow?
No, most likely it is mastopathy.
6. Is it necessary to treat fibroadenoma if nothing bothers you?
Necessarily.
7. I'm pregnant and I have mastopathy. Will it be possible to breastfeed the baby?
Can.
8. Can fibroadenoma occur again after removal?
Yes, but this happens rarely.
9. Is it possible to treat nodular mastopathy with tablets so as not to have to undergo surgery?
No, it's ineffective. Only if the cyst is small, then you can try homeopathic remedies.
10. I have had fibrocystic mastopathy for a long time; with treatment, the cysts disappear, then they appear again. I am planning a pregnancy, will mastopathy complicate it?
Pregnancy and subsequent breastfeeding have a beneficial effect on the condition of the mammary glands and the course of mastopathy. Another thing is that the causes of mastopathy, such as hormonal imbalance, do not prevent you from getting pregnant.
11. Does mastopathy affect conception?
Mastopathy itself does not directly affect conception, but it can be caused by the same reasons that contribute to infertility - lack of progesterone, excess prolactin, and, as a result, lack of ovulation or miscarriage. These factors need to be identified and treated. Mastopathy is just a beacon.
Obstetrician-gynecologist, Ph.D. Christina Frambos
