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Most women experience breast changes at some time. Your age, hormone levels, and medicines you take may cause lumps, bumps, and discharges (fluids that are not breast milk).

If you have a breast lump, pain, discharge or skin irritation, see your health care provider. Minor and serious breast problems have similar symptoms. Although many women fear cancer, most breast problems are not cancer.

Some common breast changes are

  • Fibrocystic breast changes - lumpiness, thickening and swelling, often just before a woman's period
  • Cysts - fluid-filled lumps
  • Fibroadenomas - solid, round, rubbery lumps that move easily when pushed, occurring most in younger women
  • Intraductal papillomas - growths similar to warts near the nipple
  • Blocked milk ducts
  • Milk production when a woman is not breastfeeding

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Symptoms of Breast Diseases

The following features are indicative of Breast Diseases:
  • pain or discomfort in both breasts
  • pain that commonly comes and goes with periods, but may last through the whole month
  • breasts that feel full, swollen, or heavy
  • pain or discomfort under the arms
  • thick or lumpy breasts
It is possible that Breast Diseases shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.

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Common Causes of Breast Diseases

The following are the most common causes of Breast Diseases:
  • genetic mutations in the breast cancer 1 and 2 (BRCA1 and BRCA2) genes
  • family history
  • older age
  • late or no pregnancy
  • obesity
  • prior radiation therapy to the chest or breasts

Risk Factors for Breast Diseases

The following factors may increase the likelihood of Breast Diseases:
  • genetic defect
  • early menstrual period
  • late or no pregnancy
  • menopause after age 55
  • people taking oral contraceptives

Prevention of Breast Diseases

Yes, it may be possible to prevent Breast Diseases. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
  • keep a healthy bodyweight
  • exercise regularly
  • don't drink alcohol
  • avoid exposure to chemicals that can cause cancer and chemicals
  • limit exposure to radiation from medical imaging tests like X-rays, CT scan and PET scan
  • breastfeed child if possible

Occurrence of Breast Diseases

Number of Cases

The following are the number of Breast Diseases cases seen each year worldwide:
  • Not common between 50K - 500K cases

Common Age Group

Breast Diseases most commonly occurs in the following age group:
  • Aged between 20-50 years

Common Gender

Breast Diseases most commonly occurs in the following gender:
  • Female

Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Breast Diseases

The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Breast Diseases:
  • Clinical Breast Exam: To find the presence of breast disease related symptoms

Doctor for Diagnosis of Breast Diseases

Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Breast Diseases:
  • Medical Oncologist
  • Radiation Oncologist
  • Surgical Oncologist

Complications of Breast Diseases if untreated

Yes, Breast Diseases causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Breast Diseases is left untreated:
  • oral or pharyngeal mucositis
  • pain
  • xerostomia
  • dental caries
  • increased risk for opportunistic bacterial, fungal and viral infections

Procedures for Treatment of Breast Diseases

The following procedures are used to treat Breast Diseases:
  • Fine needle aspiration: Removes fluid from the cyst inside the breast relieving pain and discomfort

Medicines for Breast Diseases

Below is the list of medicines used for Breast Diseases:

Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Breast Diseases

The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Breast Diseases:
  • Apply evening primrose oil: Changes the balance of fatty acids in cells which reduces breast pain
  • Use vitamin E supplement: Relieves the breast pain associated with the menstrual cycle

Patient Support for Treatment of Breast Diseases

The following actions may help Breast Diseases patients:
  • Social Support: Women suffering from breast diseases are always benefitted by social support provided by her life partner
  • Learn skills: To address concerns following breast cancer treatment
  • Gain Knowledge: Acquire knowledge about common survivorship topics from educators

Time for Treatment of Breast Diseases

While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Breast Diseases to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision:
  • Disease cannot be treated but only maintained or effects reduced

Related Topics

Last updated date

This page was last updated on 2/04/2019.
This page provides information for Breast Diseases.

Related Topics

Breast Cancer
Mammography

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