Fibroadenomas

Fibroadenomas are benign breast tumors composed of fibrous and glandular tissue which occur mostly in women 30 years old or younger. According to statistic, approximately 500,000-700,000 fibroadenomas are removed each year in US alone. The benign breast tumors are also called breast mice or a breast mouse due to their high mobility in the breast. They are general painless and may become tenderness or swelling just before the menstrual cycle. women with multiple fibroadenomas may indicate a slightly increased risk of breast cancer

Symptoms
1. Moving lumps
A slow growth cells mass in the breast may be an indication of fibroadenmas, lumps can be firm, painless, slow growth
2. Smooth and well-defined borders
Any roughness and undefined border may be an indication of breast cancer
3. Grow in size
Tumors may grow in size during pregnancy as a result of hormonal change.
4. Shrinking after menopause
As a result of reduction of female hormones after menopause.
5. Etc.

Causes and risk factors
1. Age
Due to the composite of tumors tissue, women under 30 are at higher risk in developing fibroadenomas.
2. Race
Black women have a higher risk to develop fibroadenomas than other races and at an earlier age.
3. Studies
In as study of Risk Factors for Fibroadenoma in a Cohort of Female Textile Workers in Shanghai, China by Zakia Coriaty Nelson, Roberta M. Ray, Dao Li Gao and David B. Thomas, researchers found that
a. History of benign breast disease
Women who had history of benign breast disease was strongly associated with an increased risk of fibroadenoma.
b. Premenstrual mastalgia
Premenstrual mastalgia was associated with higher risk of fibroadenoma.
c. Family history of breast cancer
Vomen who have family history of breast cancer are at relative risk of fibroadenoma.
d. Early age at first breast lump
Early age at first breast lump was determined to be an independent predictor of risk.
4. Exposure to xanoestrogen
Exposure xanoestrogen exhibits the production body's bad estrogen, causing premenstrual mastalgia that may lead to fibroadenomas.
5. Etc.


Diagnosis and tests
After taking the family record and a careful physical examination, to look for any abnormal lumps in the breast, tests which your doctor may order include
1. Breast ultrasound
Ultrasound allows your doctor to visualize and assess the size of the fibroadenomas in your breasts and to check for any abnormality and surrounding area of the breasts with image taken from the test.
It may be difficult to interpret due to dense tissue. A biopsy of the breast may be necessary to rule out other disorders. Aspiration of the breast with a fine needle can often diagnose and treat Fibroadenomas.

2. Mammogram
Mammogram is a diagnostic and a screening tool with the use of low-energy-X-rays to examine the women breast tissue with the aim to detect any breast tissue abnormally and any sign of tumor. mammograms can detect between 85 to 90 percent of all abnormalities, including breast cancer, cysts, fibroadenomas, tumors, etc. even before you can feel a lump.

3. Breast biopsy
In breast biopsy, samples of affected abnormal area are taken by a thin, tube-like instrument to examine under microscopy to review the abnormalities.

4. Etc.

Prevention
A. How to avoid
1. Avoid saturated and trans fat
Saturated and trans fat enhance the production of bad estrogen, which can increase the risk of the disease.
2. Avoid exposure to xanoestrogen
Same as above, exposure to xanoestrogen can increase the production of estrogen.
3. No refined sugar and artificial ingredients
Dieth igh in artificial ingredients and refined sugar can result in high estrogen production.
4. Oral contraceptive pill
In a study of risk factors for breast fibroadenoma in young women. Sitruk-Ware R, Thalabard JC, Benotmane A, Mauvais-Jarvis P., researchers found that Also current use of standard oral contraceptives (SOC) containing 50 micrograms of ethinyl estradiol per pill appeared to be protective and the correlation with FA was negative. These findings underline: (a) the predictive value of premenstrual mastalgia for the subsequent development of breast disease; (b) only current high-dose OC use is protective.
5. Etc.

B. Diet
1. Cruciferous vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, etc. beside contain high amount of antioxidants, but also phytonutrients that have been shown to help prevent the onset and halt the progression of certain invasive tumors.

2. Wolfberry
Wolfberry beside contains a measure amount of beta-carotene which is proven in vitro to inhibit the spreading of cancer cells, it also contains high amount of phytonutrient which can occupy the estrogen receptors, leading to less estrogen produced by the body. Because of controversy of the subject, I would like to direct the question to this site, click here

3. Deep sea fish
Deep sea fish, because of living in the very cold environment and feeding onto omega 3 rich seaweed, contains high amount of Omega 3 essential fatty acid which is necessary to balance the levels of Omega 6 fatty acids to prevent the over production of prostaglandins hormone, causing premenstrual mastalgia, leading to fibroadenomas.

4. Green tea
In some clinical studies researchers suggested that the polyphenols in green tea, may play an important role in the prevention of cancer by killing cancerous cells and stopping their progression. It should helpful to prevent breast cancer due to fibroadenomas.

5. Fruits and vegatable
In a study of Fruit and vegetable intakes are associated with lower risk of breast fibroadenomas in Chinese women. Nelson ZC, Ray RM, Wu C, Stalsberg H, Porter P, Lampe JW, Shannon J, Horner N, Li W, Wang W, Hu Y, Gao D, Thomas DB, researchers found that In conclusion, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and the use of oral contraceptives may reduce risk of fibroadenoma.


6. Etc.

C. Nutritional supplements
1. Vitamin B6 and gamma linolenic acid GLA
If no cancer is present then with an analgesic such as aspirin or ibuprofen for periods of intense pain is usually all the treatment necessary. If this is not sufficient, cyclical breast pain (cyclical mastalgia) can be treated with vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) and gamma linolenic acid according the article of Breast lumps and breast pain from health 24 dated , January 24, 2011.

2. Phytochemicals
Phytochemicals are under active research for possible benefits immune system, and as anti-cancer agents. Flavonoids found abundant in berry, inhibit caner cell in vitro study. it should also be helpful in treating benign tumors.

3. Omega 3 fatty acids
Omega 3 essential fatty acids are necessary to balance the levels of Omega 6 fatty acids to prevent the over production of prostaglandins hormones, causing premenstrual mastalgia, leading to fibroadenomas.

4. Antioxidants
Antioxidant
Antioxidants such as free radical scavengers vitamin A, C, E enhance the immune system against the forming of free radicals and prevent the alternation of cell DNA cause of abnormal cell growth. For more information of how antioxidants help to treat tumors, click here
5. Etc.


Treatments
A. In conventional medicine
1. Wait and see
If the benign tumor does not cause any symptom and seem to growing, your doctor may take wait and see attitude. Since there is no symptoms to be treated, using medication or surgery may produce certain unnecessary risk. If the benign tumor it changes, grows, or doesn't go away it may need to be removed at a later time. Most women under the age of 20 with high percentage have seen their tumors disappeared.

2. Surgery
Most of the time, fibroadenomas are removed by needle biopsy or surgical excision under local or general anesthesia, depending to the diagnosis and tests.


3. Cryoablation
Cryoablation is the use of the extreme cold to destroy fibroadenomas tissue under guidance of the ultrasound imaging with conditions recommended by The American Society of Breast Surgeons
a, The lesion must be sonographically visible.
b. The diagnosis of fibroadenoma must be confirmed histologically.
c. Lesions should be less than 4 cm in diameter.
In a syudy of Cryosurgery for Breast Fibroadenomas by Lizhi Niu,KeCheng Xu, researchers concluded that approximately 10% of women will experience a fibroadenoma in their lifetime. Several studies have demonstrated that the percutaneous cryoablation under ultrasound guidance is a safe and effective modality, and should be used as a primary alternative to surgical excision for breast fibroadenoma.
4. Etc.

B. Herbs
1. Fennel
Fennel is a source of is a source of phytoestrogens, some studies have reported no link and others have reported a decrease in the risk of breast cancer among women eating soy compared to women who did not eat soy.

2. Chastery tree berry
Chastery tree is considered as a queen herb in herbal medicine, it helps to balance the levels of estrogen and progesterone, thus reducing the risk of Premenstrual mastalgia.

3. Black Cohosh
Black Cohosh is a phytoestrogenic herb. In a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives, researchers found that phytoestrogens have been shown to have antioxidant activity and can influence intracellular enzymes, protein synthesis, growth factor action, and cell proliferation in a way that makes them "strong candidates for a role as natural cancer-protective compounds.

4. Red clover
Red clover modulate estrogen levels by stimulating estrogenic activity when the body's hormone levels are low, and by competing for its binding sites when levels are high.

5. Etc.

C. Traditional Chinese medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine views fibroadenomas as the result of stagnation of liver-Qi complication with coagulation of phlegm, including liver qi stagnation, liver qi stagnation give rise to fire, liver qi stagnation with yin deficiency and liver qi stagnation with disharmony of Chong Mai and Ren mai channels. Because of the complexity in differentiation of the subject, I will leave it to another article.

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