Breast fibroadenoma is an atypical neoplasm of glandular and connective tissue. The nature of the disease is benign. Occurs at the peak of a hormonal surge in the female body. It affects women aged 20 to 50 years. Scientists have not determined the exact cause of the disease. Modern diagnostic methods make it possible to identify pathology at an early stage. You just need to undergo diagnostics annually. Treatment of the tumor at the initial stage is faster and allows you to avoid surgical intervention.
Characteristics of the disease
A fibroadenoma is a lump in the breast tissue. The tumor is benign. Two types of tissue are involved in the formation - connective and glandular. It can develop over several years without causing pain or discomfort. But the disease cannot be left untreated. The cells can become malignant - this already poses a great danger to the patient. At a late stage of identifying a node, a treatment method is used - surgical removal. In the early stages, the patient can be cured without surgery.
The node can be single or in the form of several small foci. According to the number of foci, two types of fibroadenoma are distinguished:
- Diffuse is defined by multiple formation of grain-like compactions. Affects the right or left breast. There are examples of two-way localization. According to medical statistics, it is considered the most common.
- The localized form is distinguished by its location in one breast. The skin above the tumor becomes lumpy and deformed. During palpation, the boundaries of the nodule can be clearly felt.
The main factors in the occurrence of pathology are considered to be hereditary predisposition, hormonal imbalance in the body, excessive obesity and childlessness.
Treatment options
The tumor in the breast area is removed surgically. But it is possible to treat breast fibroadenoma without surgery. This treatment is suitable for tumors not exceeding 5 mm in size. There are examples in medical statistics when the tumor resolved completely without surgical intervention.
For treatment use:
- Alternative medicine recipes;
- Therapy with homeopathic medicines;
- Removal of a node without cutting the tissue is a minimally invasive procedure;
- The doctor prescribes a special dietary supplement to the patient.
Surgery is considered the most effective means in the fight against fibroadenoma. But sometimes doctors prefer to use medications or traditional medicine. This is a safe method. The tumor sometimes resolves under the influence of drugs. If this does not happen, the tumor is prepared for surgery.
Etiology
When faced with a disease, first of all, you should try to discover the cause that led to such a disastrous result. Without eliminating it, any treatment will be useless. Even a radical surgical method will be powerless. After all, the operation will only relieve the consequences. If the provoking factor is not identified and excluded, reappearance of the tumor is inevitable.
Unfortunately, doctors have still not been able to clearly determine the reasons for the appearance of lumps in the chest. However, it was possible to accurately identify the factors that can lead to the onset of the disease. First of all, this concerns hormonal levels. The fact is that fibroadenoma is a hormone-dependent formation, so any hormonal fluctuations are potentially dangerous for a woman.
Thus, predisposing factors include:
- abortions;
- unstable menstrual cycle;
- improper use of hormonal drugs;
- overheating in the chest area;
- increased estrogen levels;
- physical trauma to the mammary glands;
- gynecological or endocrine diseases.
Is it possible for fibroadenoma to resolve on its own?
The disease affects tissue located in the glandular layer. The pathology can take from 3 months to several decades to form. Scientists have found that the oncological process develops slowly or may disappear completely. The disease continues to develop after menopause. A woman is often forced to take medications containing hormones. This can cause a sharp growth of fibroadenoma.
Many women are confident that the tumor can resolve on its own. But, unfortunately, this formation cannot appear and then disappear on its own. This happens when the diagnosis is incorrect. Doctors distinguish two types of disease:
- True fibroadenoma can appear in women after 20 years. The node is constantly developing - increasing in size and growing. It is not capable of disappearing on its own. A special therapeutic course is required.
- The false tumor completely resolves after some time. No treatment required.
To get rid of fibroadenoma, you should consult a doctor, undergo a full examination of the body and, after the prescribed treatment, follow all the specialist’s recommendations. This will allow you to quickly cure the disease.
Symptoms
With breast fibroadenoma, there may be no symptoms at all. The main, and often the only, sign is a moving “pea” on palpation. There may be several such formations, and they can all have different sizes (from five millimeters to five centimeters). If the tumor is large enough, it may be noticeable even during visual examination, like a small hump under the skin. Most often, fibroadenomas are localized in the upper chest, closer to the armpit. This segment is called the upper outer quadrant.
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With fibroadenoma, a woman usually does not experience pain, her body temperature does not rise, and the color and structure of the skin over the formation does not change. The tumor can change in size, sometimes increasing or decreasing, which depends on the state of the woman’s hormonal levels at a particular period.
The disease is detected by a woman during a self-examination of the mammary glands or during a preventive examination by a gynecologist. Despite the fact that the gynecologist specializes in other organs, at each visit he palpates the patient’s mammary glands for the presence of tumors and, if necessary, sends the woman for a consultation with a mammologist - a doctor who deals directly with the breasts.
Treatment with drugs
Scientists claim that the appearance of fibroadenoma is caused by a hormonal imbalance in a woman’s body. A girl’s young age and after 45, when menopause occurs, are at risk. To cure fibroadenoma, doctors use conservative treatment. Drug treatment involves taking hormone-based medications.
In parallel with taking the pills, an additional examination is carried out - this will eliminate concomitant gynecological disorders. Nodules may appear in other parts of the body. If you are overweight, weight adjustment will be required. The patient is also prescribed vitamin E tablets.
Formations smaller than 5 mm are preferably treated with special medications. This way you can get rid of the tumor or achieve reduction. If resorption fails, this will help prepare the patient for surgery.
The following drugs are most often used to treat pathology:
- Progestogel is a gel for external use. The drug is made on the basis of micronized progesterone. The action is aimed at blocking estrogen receptors, absorbing fluid from the affected tissues, which relieves excessive pressure on the milk ducts. Compression of prolactin receptors is accompanied by a decrease in lactopoiesis. Using the gel gradually increases progesterone levels. The drug should not be used for a long time - side effects are possible. The medicine has a number of contraindications that must be taken into account when using it. Nodular fibroadenoma and mastopathy cannot be treated with Progestogel. Also, it should not be used for monotherapy of the breasts and gonads, during pregnancy in the second and third trimester.
- Mastodinon contains natural plant components - cohosh, iris, tree of Abraham, chilibuha, cyclamen and lily. Available in the form of tablets and drops. Infertility, menstrual irregularities and mastopathy can be treated. The action takes place in the area of the brain responsible for the production of prolactin. Taking pills reduces the production of prolactin, which leads to stopping the growth of fibroadenoma. The intake cycle should not exceed 6 weeks. If there is no effect from using the drug, another treatment is selected.
The drug is selected individually for each patient according to medical indications and the degree of breast damage.
Traditional medicine
Fibroadenoma can be affected by folk remedies - decoctions, tinctures, tea and infusions of medicinal preparations. For traditional medicine methods to help, it is necessary to use conservative treatment together. Folk remedies should be used with the permission of a doctor and under his supervision. It is not recommended to treat the tumor on your own; it can easily provoke a complication - rapid growth and transformation into a malignant formation.
For fibroadenoma, it is recommended to use the following herbs - licorice root, fennel, marshmallow, chamomile, oak bark and pomegranate peel. Prepared herbal infusions normalize hormonal levels and strengthen the immune system. Verbena decoction is used as an external remedy. Gauze moistened with a decoction is applied to the affected area.
You can prepare ointments that help reduce swelling:
- Mix honey (1 tbsp) with flour (1-2 tbsp) thoroughly. Lubricate the sore spot morning and evening.
- Heat vegetable oil (1 cup) on the stove, add a large piece of wax. Wait until the wax is completely dissolved. Chop the pre-cooked chicken egg and add to the finished mixture. Keep on fire for another 30 minutes. Rub the prepared ointment into the sore spot. Duration of treatment is from 2 to 3 weeks. Then take a rest for 7 days and repeat the procedure again.
Traditional recipes for the treatment of fibroadenoma
Infusion of bark (multivitamin, restorative)
For it you will need:
- pomegranate peel – 2 shares,
- oak bark – 4 shares,
- thin raspberry branches - 3 shares.
Grind all components as much as possible, immerse in boiling water, which is taken 10 times the volume of dry raw materials. With quiet gurgling, keep on the stove for about 5 minutes, then leave in a sealed container until it cools.
The infusion should be drunk three times a day, 50-70 ml, for six weeks in a row.
Chaga tincture
This tincture occupies a leading place in the encyclopedia of folk remedies for breast fibroadenoma, as it has a powerful antitumor effect.
For it you will need:
- birch chaga mushroom, crushed – 200 g;
- cognac or vodka – 200 ml;
- aloe juice – 200 ml;
- honey (natural) – 50 g;
- wormwood, yarrow, rose hips, pine buds, St. John's wort - all 50 g.
Chaga needs to be ground to a powder: the mushroom or its pieces should be wrapped in several layers of gauze and carefully tapped with a hammer. Next, all the plant components are mixed with three liters of boiled water and placed on very low heat. After 2 hours of simmering, cover the container with the broth with a blanket and leave. After 24 hours, the infusion is filtered and mixed with liquid ingredients.
The resulting elixir is drunk before each meal, first a teaspoon, and a week later - a tablespoon. The course is from one month to six months.
Chamomile infusions (anti-inflammatory, soothing, hormone stabilizing)
Chamomile is used for breast fibroadenoma and treatment with folk remedies, either alone or in a mixture with other herbs.
For water infusions, the proportions are the same: for 1 large spoon of dry raw materials, 200 ml of water. As complementary herbs to chamomile, sweet clover, echinacea, elecampane, wormwood, calendula, immortelle, wheatgrass roots, licorice, and marshmallow are added.
Preparation: pour boiling water over chopped herbs and flowers, keep on water heating for 10 minutes, cool, filter.
Drink half a glass after meals for several months.
Alocasia tincture (anti-fibrotic)
Alocasia is the same as the trefoil - a common indoor flower.
For medicinal tincture, fading (from old age) leaves of the plant are used. One such leaf is finely cut and filled with a 100 ml pharmacy bottle of alcohol. Keep in a dark place for 10 days, filter and begin taking according to the following scheme: add one drop of tincture to a tablespoon of water every day. When the number of drops reaches 52, which is equal to 1 teaspoon, there is no need to increase any more. This volume should be consumed three times every day until the tincture runs out.
For greater effectiveness, follow up with another course.
Honey and viburnum juice (increases immunity, eliminates inflammation)
To obtain the product, both components, taken equally, are mixed and stored in the refrigerator.
The drink is taken in a course: a couple of times a day, 1 small spoon, for three weeks, take a break for the same amount of time and repeat the treatment.
Walnut peel medicine
This is an effective remedy for breast fibroids - in the treatment of folk remedies it is included in the remedies for mastopathy.
Includes:
- partitions from 30 pcs. nuts,
- 70% alcohol – 100 mg.
The preparation recipe is very simple: the partitions filled with alcohol are placed in a dark place and kept for a week. Dosage: one third of a teaspoon of the prepared tincture, mixed in a quarter glass of water, is taken four times a day, an hour before meals.
The course of use is 2 months followed by a week break.
Herbal infusion with boron uterus (normalizes hormonal levels)
The infusion is prepared from three herbs: boron uterus, sage and mint. All herbs are taken equally.
Two tbsp. spoons of the mixture are infused in one glass of water brought to a boil.
After cooling, the drink is filtered and divided into two doses, which must be drunk during the day.
Homeopathic medicines and dietary supplements
A healthy lifestyle and balanced diet will help prevent the development of the disease. Fibroadenomatosis is caused by the influence of hormones produced in large quantities by the pancreas. The tumor is benign, but it still needs to be treated. Fibroadenoma cells can at some point transform into malignant ones, which is extremely dangerous for a woman!
Homeopathic remedies can be used for treatment. The effect of such drugs occurs more slowly than that of other synthetic drugs. The drugs mentioned include Mastodinon, Mamoclam - they contain brown algae, chlorophyll and fatty acids. They can only be used as an additional treatment to the traditional one. It is impossible to base therapy only on homeopathy!
Dietary supplements are preparations containing vitamins. They cannot act directly on the node, but saturating the body with vitamins is accompanied by the active production of antibodies. These antibodies are capable of destroying fibroadenoma cells. Indinol is used more often. Its components block tumor growth.
Correctly selected treatment - medications, homeopathy, dietary supplements can help a woman get rid of pathology. It is possible to cure the disease without using surgery. You just need to follow all the doctor’s recommendations.
Signs and symptoms of breast fibroadenoma
Only a specialist can differentiate a benign neoplasm from a malignant one. But there are signs by which fibroadenoma can be distinguished from cancer. The main criteria are presented in the table.
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Table - Signs that can be used to distinguish fibroadenoma from cancer
| Criterion | Fibroadenoma | Cancer |
| Tumor growth | Slow | Fast |
| Circuit | Smooth | Hilly |
| Consistency | Dense | Dense |
| Relation to surrounding tissues | Separated | Soldered with them |
| Mobility | Easy to move | Limited |
| Pain when pressing | No | Yes or no |
| Axillary lymph nodes | Not enlarged | Can be increased |
