How far is it from cystic breast hyperplasia to breast cancer?

Cystic breast hyperplasia is a disease characterized by cysts formed by highly dilated mammary lobule ductules and terminal ducts, accompanied by malformed mammary structures. Compared with simple mammary hyperplasia, this disease coexists with atypical hyperplasia and is at risk of malignant transformation. Sun, female, 38 years old, was diagnosed with lobular breast hyperplasia in another hospital 8 years ago. No special treatment was given. A lump in the right breast with nipple discharge was found. She was admitted to the hospital in January. Breast color ultrasound and molybdenum target showed a space-occupying mass in the lower inner quadrant of the right breast. Considering the possibility of breast cancer, the doctor recommended surgical treatment. Rapid pathological examination during the operation confirmed breast cancer, and radical mastectomy was performed.

How far is it from cystic breast hyperplasia to breast cancer?

Women with cystic breast hyperplasia have a 2-4 times higher risk of developing breast cancer than the general population. The incidence of breast cancer in a 10-year follow-up is about 5%, and the average interval from biopsy pathological confirmation to the discovery of breast cancer is 10 years. Clinically, it has also been found that the peak age of cystic hyperplasia is about 10 years earlier than that of breast cancer.

Comprehensive results of a large number of prospective studies support the view that "cystic breast hyperplasia usually occurs around the age of 30, may show tumor tendencies around the age of 40, and may progress to cancer around the age of 50."

Although cystic breast hyperplasia may develop into breast cancer, don't worry too much, because studies have found that the onset of breast cancer is actually the result of the combined effect of multiple factors, such as family inheritance, early menarche (<12 years old), late menopause (>55 years old); being unmarried, childless, late childbearing, not breastfeeding; high doses of radiation exposure to the chest; long-term use of exogenous estrogen; postmenopausal obesity; long-term excessive smoking, alcoholism, and prosthesis implants, etc., are all closely related to breast cancer.

How to prevent cystic breast hyperplasia from turning into breast cancer?

(1) Women with cystic breast hyperplasia should keep their weight within the standard range. The scientific way to control weight is to exercise and have a reasonable diet. Exercise 3-5 days a week, 20-30 minutes a day, mainly low-intensity aerobic exercise, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, avoid moldy food, pickled, smoked, or grilled products, and eat a low-fat diet.

(2) Palpation is very important. When checking, put your fingers together and press various parts with your fingertips. Do not pinch the breast. Breast hyperplasia and benign tumors are generally active, tough or hard, and round or oval. Malignant tumors are often irregular and have unclear boundaries. Because they are easily adhered to surrounding tissues, they have poor mobility or are fixed and immobile, with uneven texture. They are usually soft or tough around the periphery and hard and protruding in the center.

(3) Maintain an optimistic mental state and avoid negative emotions such as long-term fatigue, mental stress, excessive sadness, etc., so as not to cause endocrine dysfunction and abnormal estrogen secretion; encourage breastfeeding and try not to use oral contraceptives and hormonal drugs.

(4) Women who are diagnosed with cystic breast hyperplasia should avoid breast augmentation. It is recommended that they have a breast ultrasound examination every six months or a mammography examination every two years. For women with a higher risk of malignant transformation, surgical resection can be performed.