It's neither hyperplasia nor cancer, learn about breast fibroids!

Fibroids are the most common benign breast tumors and can occur at any age after puberty. They mostly occur in young women aged 20-35 years old . They usually occur singly but occasionally multiple times.

Breast fibroadenoma occurs because the level of sex hormones in the patient's body is unbalanced due to poor food intake and lifestyle. So why is it considered a benign tumor? Because it is composed of glandular epithelium and fibrous tissue, grows slowly, has a clear boundary with surrounding tissues, and tumor cells do not metastasize, so it does not pose much harm to human health.

Interestingly, in addition to the name fibroadenoma, it has two more names based on the different proportions of its components: adenofibroma and adenoma.

When the tumor is mainly composed of glandular epithelial hyperplasia and has less fibrous components, it is called fibroadenoma;

If fibrous tissue occupies the majority of the tumor and the glandular duct components are relatively small, it is called adenofibroma;

When the tumor tissue is composed of a large number of glandular duct components, it is called an adenoma;

Because there is no difference in their disease manifestations, treatment and prevention, they are collectively called fibroadenomas.

2. Is there a possibility of cancer?

Since they are both diseases of the breast, is it possible for breast fibroids to turn into the terrible breast cancer?

In fact, breast fibroids are not closely related to breast cancer. Breast fibroids may become malignant, but not cancerous . Instead, they become sarcomas. The chance of such a lesion is very small, almost less than 1%. Although it is a benign tumor and the rate of malignant transformation is not high, pregnancy can cause it to grow rapidly or even become malignant. Therefore, unmarried women should have it removed before marriage or married women should have it removed before planning a pregnancy. If there is no pregnancy, breastfeeding or other conditions that promote tumor growth, the fibroid will grow rapidly in a short period of time and should also be removed immediately.

3. Differences from breast hyperplasia and breast cancer

It feels like "extra things" have grown in the breast, and the similar symptoms make people confused. In fact, it is benign hyperplasia or tumor, but it is mistaken for cancer; in fact, it is breast cancer, but it is thought to be benign hyperplasia and not taken seriously, which leads to delayed and aggravated disease. So what is the difference between breast fibroids and breast hyperplasia and breast cancer?

Most patients with breast fibroids are under 30 years old, with the most common age being 20 to 25 years old; the onset age of breast hyperplasia is mostly in young and middle-aged people between 20 and 40 years old; the incidence of breast cancer is mountain-like, reaching a peak at 50 to 54 years old.

Most breast lumps of breast fibroids are unilateral and usually located on the upper and outer parts of the breast. The lumps are mostly round or oval in shape, and their size does not change. They feel hard to the touch, are painless , and have clear boundaries and are movable .

Breast lumps of breast hyperplasia are mostly bilateral and multiple . The lumps vary in size and are nodular, lumpy or granular. The texture is generally soft but may also be hard. The breasts will swell and hurt before menstruation and will also hurt when pressed . At the same time, the size of the lumps will change periodically with menstruation.

Breast lumps caused by breast cancer are mostly single , hard to the touch , with irregular and rough edges . In the early stages, the lumps are movable, but become less active as the disease progresses. As the disease progresses, the lumps will become larger and accompanied by changes in the appearance of the breast .

Breast fibroids develop due to an imbalance of sex hormones (estrogen);

Breast hyperplasia is also caused by endocrine and sex hormone secretion disorders;

The cause of breast cancer is still unknown. It is not only related to excessive estrogen levels in the body, but also to many factors such as genetics, high levels of radiation, and lifestyle.

4. Pay attention to physical examination and early screening

In modern society, there is a test called mammography, which uses X-rays to examine breast tissue. It usually has two viewing angles, one is to squeeze a single breast up and down to take a head-to-foot view, and the other is to squeeze the breast inside and outside to take a side view.

The pathological characteristics of different diseases can be clearly observed through breast mammography X-rays. For example, on breast mammography X-rays, breast fibroadenomas often appear as round or oval shadows with uniform density and their unique annular transparent halos , which can serve as an important basis for differential diagnosis and can also be used to distinguish it from breast cancer.