Fixing Fibroadenoma

You feel a solid mass under your left breast. You recently had a mammogram where everything was normal. You could have a fibroadenoma.

A fibroadenoma is a benign (non-cancerous) tumor. It is very common among young women. A fibroadenoma is the most common type of benign breast lump.

Fibroadenoma are along a spectrum of changes in the breast supporting tissue.

·       Simple fibroadenomas are the most common. These lumps don’t tend to increase breast cancer risk.

·       Complex fibroadenomas, fibroepithelial lesions, benign phyllodes tumors are also on the spectrum of breast changes. These types of lumps need to be excised.

Fibroadenomas are discrete lumps that are composed of glandular and fibrous connective tissue. These lumps are more common in teenagers and young adults between the ages of 15 and 30. They are firm, movable and vary considerably in size. Although they are benign, they can become very large and may have to be removed.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, fibroadenomas are often smooth, slippery oval mobile masses that grow to 2 to 3 cm in the breast tissue and then can either go away on their own, stay the same or enlarge. If they enlarge, become painful, or change and become worrisome in appearance, they are surgically removed.

You should consult your health provider anytime you notice a breast lump or breast changes. Some fibroadenomas are too small to notice. If you or your provider finds a lump, your provider may perform certain tests to confirm a fibroadenoma such as imaging scans, including a mammogram and/or an ultrasound and image-guided core needle breast biopsy.

You can get fibroadenomas more than once. Women who are prone to forming fibroadenomas will often form more than one.

You can’t do anything to prevent fibroadenomas. But you can take steps to reduce your breast cancer risk and catch the disease early when it’s most treatable. Lifestyle choices such as abstaining from alcohol or drinking in moderation, getting to know your breasts through self-examinations, going in for mammogram screenings and making smart food choices, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight can really make a difference.

Most people with fibroadenomas don’t develop breast cancer. Still, you should follow the recommended screening schedule set forth by your provider and report any changes in your breasts.

When deciding about surgery to remove the fibroadenoma, keep in mind that fibroadenomas shrink or go away on their own or do not change at all. If you do decide to have surgery, you can cut it out or freeze it. After, you will be monitored to see if other fibroadenomas form in your breast.

For pregnant and breastfeeding women or women older than 40, doctors usually have a watch and wait approach with regular ultrasounds. Younger women may also monitor smaller tumors if they aren’t causing discomfort or emotional distress.

In certain cases, removal is a precaution because in very rare cases a fibroadenoma can turn into phyllodes tumor—a malignant and noninvasive tumor.

But it is important to remember that most lumps in the breast are non-cancerous. So although it can be scary to find a lump in your breast, the lump will disappear on its own. Be diligent and have your doctor check it out before making any assumptions.