Cyst of the breast - a sign of hormonal trouble

Lactocele - a fluid-filled cavity, which is formed in the mammary gland. At the touch they usually look like soft grapes or very small balloons filled with water, but sometimes cysts are solid. In most lactocele formed in women aged 30-40 years. After menopause, when a woman is not undergoing hormone replacement therapy Hormone therapy - is it possible to fool nature? Cysts disappear. Typically, the cysts do not require curing, except when they cause discomfort or pain.

Symptoms

• Soft, movable round or oval nodules in the breast
• Soreness or tenderness in the area of ​​the cyst
• Increasing the size of the nodule and unusual breast tenderness just before menstruation
• Reducing the size of the cyst after a month

When the nodules in the breast as soon as possible to see a doctor. If you have previously been diagnosed with a cyst of the breast, and you notice that it has increased or otherwise changed, you should also undergo a medical examination.

The formation of cysts of the breast

Each breast is 15-20 lobes of glandular tissue arranged like the petals of a daisy. Each of these shares is divided into smaller parts, which produce milk during and after pregnancy. From there on the thin milk flow into the tank, which is located directly behind the nipple. All this system supports a deep layer of connective tissue, or stroma.

Lactocele formed when some portions of the glandular tissue are increased so that the block ducts, because of which the latter expand and fill with liquid. The size of cysts can be divided into:

• Microcysts - they are so small that they are not felt under your fingers, but they can be seen with the help of medical imaging tests, such as mammography or ultrasound.
• Macrocysts can be felt in self-breast examination. Their size can reach 2.5-5 cm in diameter. Such cysts can put pressure on adjacent tissues, causing discomfort and pain in the chest Chest pain is one symptom - a lot of diseases .

The reason for the formation of breast cysts is unknown. It is assumed that this may be due to excessive production of estrogen Estrogen - the key to bone health   in the body.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis of breast cysts usually begins with the fact that the doctor, after listening to the patient, holding breast palpation to determine where the cyst and possibly identify other seals.

Medical checkup. First of all, the doctor must examine the chest by palpation. In addition, he will ask you when you first noticed the knots and changing whether their size depending on the phase of the menstrual cycle. Palpation, but does not help determine seal chest cysts, or not.

However, since the palpation to diagnose insufficient, then the physician directs the patient to ultrasound and / or needle aspiration.

• Fine-needle aspiration biopsy

During this diagnostic procedure revealed the tumor is injected hollow needle through which the doctor will try to make fluid intake. Frequently needle aspiration is carried out with ultrasound - to accurately insert the needle. If a node goes out from the liquid, and then the assembly disappears, the physician can almost immediately diagnose breast cysts.

If the fluid is no trace of blood after aspiration and ultrasound does not indicate a cyst, additional treatment is needed.

If the cyst contained a bloody fluid or cyst is visible after aspiration, the doctor will send the fluid sample to the laboratory for analysis. Also, the doctor may refer the patient to a radiologist or surgeon.

If the seal has not been fluid, the doctor is likely to recommend a mammogram or other additional diagnostic procedures. Sometimes as biopsy tissue to test for the presence of malignant cells (in rare cases, tumors in dense breast are cancerous).

Ultrasound examination allows us to understand the knot is tight, or it is filled with liquid. In the latter case, it is likely a cyst. Dense formation can be benign, such as fibroadenoma, or malignant. To determine the nature of the seal may need a biopsy.

Treatment

Usually the cyst is not required to treat, although women before menopause should be screened regularly, as there is a small chance that the cyst begins to grow and even become malignant.

Often used to treat needle aspiration biopsy. Sometimes fluid output falls more than once. Often in the formation of new breast cysts. If they do not disappear for two or three menstrual cycles later and increase in size, it is necessary to pass a medical examination.

Hormonal therapy may also be used for treatment, but because of the possible severe side effects, it is recommended for women only. In breast cyst which has led to the emergence of severe symptoms.

Surgical removal of the cyst is recommended only in rare cases, for example, if the cyst is very large, or contains bloody fluid, which is quite alarming sign.

Additional treatments

In order to minimize the discomfort associated with breast cysts, follow these recommendations:

• Wear a supportive bra. If the cyst is painful, a good bra can greatly alleviate them.
• Avoid caffeine. There is no scientific evidence that caffeine intake is associated with the formation of breast cysts. However, many women say that the symptoms of the cyst become less pronounced after giving up caffeine. Limit consumption of not only coffee, but also tea and dark chocolate.
• Eat less salt. Some experts consider reducing the amount of salt consumed alleviates the symptoms, because due to this body tissue less stagnant liquids.
• If necessary, take non-prescription pain relievers - acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, and others.

Capsules, evening primrose oil are considered to be an effective means to relieve the symptoms of breast cysts, although the effect of this alternative formulation is not well studied. It is believed that the oil contained in the linoleic acid reduces hormonal swings, thereby weakening the pain and discomfort in the chest.

Aspiration of the cyst of the breast

This procedure was used for both diagnosis and treatment of cysts. The cyst is introduced thin hollow needle through which pumped fluid is inside the cyst. If the fluid comprises blood, no further treatment is required. If there are traces of blood fluid and / or after a cyst aspiration persists, additional tests may be required.

Hormone therapy

Hormonal birth control pills Hormonal birth control pills - a modern method of preventing preg   It slows or stops the growth of cysts, breast cancer and prevents the formation of new cysts.