Can mastopathy develop into cancer: how to avoid malignancy

Mastopathy is one of the most common pathologies of the mammary gland. During this process, the normal structure of the organ tissue changes. Mastopathy can significantly change a woman’s quality of life, causing a lot of discomfort. Its main danger lies in a possible complication - fibrocystic mastopathy can develop into breast cancer.

Malignization or transition to a malignant form is one of the possible, but not obligatory, consequences of mastopathy

What is the danger?

Many women have a question: is mastopathy already cancer or not? Mastopathy is equated to benign neoplasms. However, there is a possibility of malignancy - transformation into a malignant formation. Many doctors consider mastopathy to be a precancerous stage and recommend immediately starting treatment at the slightest increase in the activity of the process.

Breast cancer, if diagnosed early, can be treated quite successfully. However, it may well be fatal.

Much more often, breast cancer develops against the background of an altered structure of the gland, characteristic of mastopathy, rather than against the background of complete health of the organ.

No doctor will give an accurate prognosis about possible complications of the disease.

It is impossible to predict whether mastopathy can develop into cancer in each individual woman. The development of this process is largely influenced by the following factors:

• age;
• family history - the presence of tumor diseases of the mammary gland in female relatives;
• the course of the pathology and the degree of its activity;
• the form of the disease, since it is diffuse mastopathy that can more often develop into cancer;
• response to drug therapy;

Treatment-resistant forms of mastopathy are more susceptible to malignancy

• degree of activity of sex hormones;
• the presence of concomitant diseases, especially from endocrine organs;
• conditions after surgery.

The last point refers to the removal of part of the mammary gland for localized mastopathy. A poor prognostic sign is the development of mastopathy in other parts of the gland after surgery.

The problem of cancer with mastopathy

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women around the world.

Malignant neoplasms of the breast can occur either independently or as a result of existing benign pathology.

The survival rate, according to various countries, varies from 40 to 80%. This means that 4 to 8 out of 10 women with breast cancer will survive if they receive prompt medical care.

The main problem is that 2 or 6 (in different countries) out of 10 women die from breast cancer, despite medical intervention. And when a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, doctors cannot say with 100% certainty which category a particular patient belongs to.

The survival rate is significantly influenced by the time of detection of the oncological process and the speed of seeking qualified medical care, as well as the degree of activity of the process, its prevalence and response to treatment.

Timely consultation with a doctor and correct diagnosis can save lives

In many countries, mastopathy is considered a precancerous condition. Indeed, with this pathology, the structure of the breast tissue also changes. However, the main difference between mastopathy and cancer is the absence of changes in cells. Changes in the mammary gland occur due to the proliferation of fibrous tissue and the formation of cysts. In this case, the cell's DNA, RNA, and protein structures do not change.

The basis of breast cancer is its initially normal cells. As a result of impaired apoptosis and various mutations, their malignant degeneration occurs. At the same time, the structure of the cell and its genetic molecules - DNA and RNA - change. Gradually, new cells are involved in the process, and the neoplasm spreads to the entire gland and adjacent tissues.

Changes in cells during cancer pathology

Diagnostics

Not in all cases mastopathy can turn into cancer. In order to avoid this unpleasant condition, you need to carefully monitor your health and consult a doctor at the slightest suspicious changes.

When wondering how to distinguish mastopathy from breast cancer, you must remember that the attending physician always has laboratory and instrumental research methods at his disposal.

They will help determine not only mastopathy and the development of the malignant process, but also show the degree of activity of the pathology.

But a woman can suspect the first signs of the disease on her own.

Regular preventive examinations will help avoid disease

Visual and palpation methods

Methods for which only the eyes and fingers are “used” and do not require the use of any tools can be practiced by a woman independently and are required at every doctor’s appointment. These include:

1. The simplest diagnostic method is self-examination.
   In this case, the woman independently palpates the mammary glands on certain days of the cycle. It should be borne in mind that self-examination will help determine changes only in the local form of mastopathy - growth and deformation of the edges of the seal. In case of diffuse damage to the mammary gland, self-examination is ineffective. To identify some forms of mastopathy, monthly self-examination will be effective.
2. Palpation of the mammary gland by a mammologist allows you to more accurately identify changes in the structure of the mammary gland. The doctor may detect enlargement of regional lymph nodes, which will indicate cancer. But this symptom does not always appear immediately, so relying only on it, you can miss the onset of the malignant process.
3. Visual inspection allows you to notice the deformation of the nipple. This symptom is characteristic exclusively of breast cancer and does not occur with mastopathy.

Research using various technologies

The essence of these studies is to use non-invasive techniques to identify as accurately as possible the processes occurring in the tissues of the gland.

Breast examination using various technologies allows us to suspect pathological changes at an early stage

Depending on the indications, the doctor may recommend:

• Ultrasound examination, which allows you to see structural changes in the mammary gland, but with this method you can only suspect cancer.
• X-ray examination to help detect breast cancer. However, mammography does not visualize small malignant neoplasms and the localization of the process is poorly visible.
• Magnetic resonance imaging. This study, especially with contrast, makes it possible to detect cancerous degeneration of the gland against the background of mastopathy. In this case, the doctor also has the opportunity to see the growth of the tumor into neighboring tissues and reactive lymphadenitis of the thoracic lymph nodes.

Carrying out the scintigraphy procedure

• Scintigraphy, which is considered the best test for detecting cancer cells. This diagnostic method allows you to detect even small clusters of tumor cells that are not visualized using other methods. The disadvantages of such a study are the duration of the procedure, its cost and the need for invasive administration of a contrast agent. However, this particular procedure makes it possible to identify tumor cells with almost 100% information content.

Laboratory research

In addition to standard general blood and urine tests, the doctor may prescribe additional procedures. In particular, these are laboratory tests that can detect specific proteins produced by tumor-altered breast cells.

Tumor markers that determine the presence of tumors in various organs have different alphanumeric designations

To do this, you need to donate venous blood for analysis. Do not forget about the existence of false negative and false positive results.

Externally, cancer may not have any manifestations. Often the clinical picture develops only in later stages. Therefore, consultations with a mammologist, oncologist and surgeon, as well as instrumental and laboratory tests, are mandatory.

In the early stages, cancer may not appear visually or be detected by palpation.

Treatment tactics

In case of mastopathy with a high degree of activity or suspicion of a developing cancer process, it is necessary to immediately begin treatment measures.

The main method of choice for fibrocystic mastopathy with a high risk of degeneration into a malignant process is surgical intervention.

With a localized process, not the entire mammary gland can be removed, but only part of it. However, if there are questionable laboratory results, even in the presence of a local process, a mastectomy is performed.

For some types of mastopathy or suspected malignant process, surgical treatment is recommended

A similar operation to remove the mammary gland is performed with a diffuse process that affects the entire organ. After removing the glandular tissue, the woman is offered plastic surgery to eliminate the cosmetic defect.

After surgery, it is still necessary to undergo diagnosis by an oncologist and mammologist in order to finally ensure that the process is benign.

Breast cancer is a big psychological problem for women. Even with existing mastopathy and a negative family history, the occurrence of breast cancer is always a surprise.

A psychologist can help with accepting the situation

If a malignant process is suspected, a woman should be able to find the strength to carry out all diagnostic procedures and begin treatment.

Therefore, in cases of suspected malignant degeneration, it is necessary to work with a psychologist and focus exclusively on a positive result.

From the video you will learn about the main signs of breast cancer:

Source: http://bolezni.com/stati-o-boleznyah/mastopatiya/mogut-li-simptomy-mastopatii-pererasti-v-rak.html

How mastopathy turns into cancer

100-150 years ago there was little evidence that women had problems associated with breast pathology. Currently, various types of breast diseases are diagnosed in more than 60% of patients who are concerned about the question: can mastopathy develop into cancer.

Benign seals

• The processes occurring in the mammary gland are associated with the state of the entire female body, created by nature for the reproduction of offspring.
• During the entire reproductive period, the most natural states of a woman are bearing, giving birth and feeding children.
• Deviation of functions from the norm (given by nature) causes hormonal imbalance in the female body, which becomes the cause of gynecological diseases, in particular, pathology of the mammary glands. 80% of women with this pathology:

• have not given birth at all or have only one child;
• breastfed a little;
• may have had miscarriages, one or more abortions.

The result is a hormonal imbalance and, as a consequence, mastopathy - the formation of lumps in the breasts of non-pregnant women. Upon palpation, it is determined as a tumor in the soft tissues of the chest.

Mastopathy differs from breast cancer by the benign nature of the seals:

• they grow slowly;
• have clear boundaries with other tissues;
• do not metastasize.

Conclusion: mastopathy itself is a disease that does not pose a threat to life, but its symptoms may hide breast cancer.

Clarifying the diagnosis

1. Ultrasound – ultrasound examination. Allows you to determine the location and nature of the tumor, that is, is it a cyst or the initial stage of cancer that cannot be palpated.
2. Biopsy - a puncture into the affected area to obtain tissue or fluid that makes up the lump. Cytological analysis of the cells of the affected tissue makes it possible to accurately identify malignant cells. In addition, this method diagnoses the precancerous state of the tumor, cell proliferation - their rapid division.
3. Mammography - X-ray of the breast. This procedure determines the presence of:

• calcifications - accumulations of salts, they can be the beginning of cancerous tumors;
• fibroadenomas - benign formations that can degenerate into malignant ones;
• cystic cavities, although this method cannot distinguish cysts from cancerous lumps.

Mammography more accurately determines pathology than ultrasound; it allows you to notice formations with a diameter of less than half a centimeter.

1. Ductography is the introduction of a contrast agent to examine the ducts of the mammary gland. Ducts affected by papillomas in one mammary gland can differ significantly from a healthy breast.
2. A general blood test will show the presence of special protein components characteristic of cancer cells. A special blood test determines whether there is a change in the BRCA gene. Its mutation is a sign of a genetic predisposition to malignant gynecological formations. In 80% of such patients, any pathology of the mammary gland threatens to develop into cancer.

Modern medicine has all the means to accurately determine whether a patient has mastopathy or cancer. Early diagnosis of oncology will help stop the terrible disease and avoid death.

But if you are diagnosed with mastopathy, and not breast cancer, there is no reason to calm down.

Reasons for concern

With a lack of this hormone, epithelial cells rapidly divide, swell, and nodes and voids filled with fluid form.

Forms of mastopathy

1. Diffuse - the appearance in the chest of many small granular formations of connective tissue, which, with proper treatment, can resolve.
2. Cystic - the appearance of cavities filled with fluid. They are painful and easily palpable.

3. Fibroadenoma is a benign, mobile tumor of connective tissue not associated with the skin.
4. Fibrocystic mastopathy. The most common form of breast pathology, a combination of nodular formations - fibromas with cysts - voids filled with fluid.

1. Pathology in these forms rarely turns into cancer unless proliferation is detected - the rapid division of epithelial cells in a still benign tumor.
2. The degeneration of fibromas and cysts, the tissue of which is atrophied and does not increase, into a malignant tumor is probably only 0.86%.

3. Important: if the epithelium of tumors in mastopathy grows rapidly, the risk of cancer increases 25-30 times, the third part with such a picture of the development of pathology becomes cancer patients.

Mastopathy as a precancerous condition

Diagnosed in the following forms:

• nodal;
• cystic;
• papillomas inside the milk ducts of glandular tissue. They pose a high risk of developing cancer, are determined only by instrumental diagnostics, and their degeneration leads to the need to remove the breast.

The nodular form differs from fibrocystic mastopathy in the large size of the fibroids (up to 7 cm) and the high rate of cell division inside the nodes.

They must be cut out by a surgeon, otherwise malignancy will occur: the cells will degenerate into cancer and begin to grow into nearby tissues. When the epithelium inside the cyst proliferates, it is also removed.

Cancer Prevention

• a general decrease in the body's resistance to diseases;
• gynecological diseases such as inflammation, fibroids, etc.
• problems with the thyroid gland, liver, malfunction of the adrenal glands;
• harmful living and working conditions, constant presence of carcinogenic substances;
• frequent exposure to radiation;
• nervous shock, stress;
• genetic predisposition to cancer.

  What do heavy periods with clots mean?

The development pattern of the process is approximately as follows: the diffuse form becomes fibrocystic, it, in turn, develops into the nodular form of mastopathy, malignancy occurs in the nodes - the transformation of ordinary cells into cancerous ones.

Whether mastopathy develops into oncology or not depends on early diagnosis of the pathology itself and proper therapy. It consists of two stages.

1. Treatment of gynecological diseases, infertility, restoration of hormonal balance and menstrual cycle. Everything related to a woman’s reproductive function must be restored and function normally.
2. At the second stage the following is applied:

• hormone therapy;
• treatment of stress with sedatives and tranquilizers;
• taking vitamins and microelements that restore metabolism;
• support of the thyroid gland with iodine preparations.

Pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding are very important for the health of a woman who develops mastopathy during the reproductive period. This is the best means of treating mammary glands and preventing cancer.

A breast examination of every woman, especially those who have mastopathy and are registered, can detect early symptoms of degeneration into a cancerous tumor:

• erosive ulcers near and around the nipple;
• bloody discharge from the nipple and its retraction;
• changes on the skin: it becomes rough and yellow, looks like lemon peel;
• alarming symptoms appear in one breast and do not affect the healthy one.

These external manifestations are characteristic of the first and second stages of cancer development with tumor sizes up to 5 cm. With timely treatment, 7 out of 10 women survive at these stages.

Conclusion

Mastopathy is not a life-threatening disease. But, firstly, it can mask the silent development of oncology. And secondly, if a benign tumor is not treated, proliferation develops - rapid cell growth and malignancy - their degeneration into malignant formations.

• The best prevention of mastopathy and cancer is bearing, giving birth and breastfeeding your own children.
• How mastopathy is dangerous if left untreated, watch the video.

It is important to know! In women who have not given birth under 25-30 years of age, fibrocystic disease (mastopathy) does not cause much concern, but closer to 30, especially during pregnancy and after childbirth, 80 percent of women develop a complication of mastopathy.

Along with women who have not given birth, many mothers who devote almost all their time to their baby forget about their health or think that this problem is trivial and will go away on its own.

Expectant mothers are in an even more difficult position - during pregnancy and breastfeeding, many pharmaceutical drugs are prohibited. Did you know that mastopathy, if not treated in time by preventing the disease, can cause breast cancer.

Read about a completely natural remedy for mastopathy (fibrocystic disease) that is compatible with breastfeeding and pregnancy here.

• Author +MOM
• In Mammology

Source: http://entsefalopatiya.ru/venerologija/kak-mastopatija-perehodit-v-rak/

Can fibrocystic mastopathy develop into cancer and what else is dangerous about this pathology + methods of its treatment

• One of these pathological processes that gives a woman a lot of anxiety, worry and worry is mastopathy.
• Mastopathy, according to modern doctors, is not considered an independent disease, but, nevertheless, it gives a woman quite unpleasant discomfort.
• Small benign tumors in the form of cystic neoplasms and indurations occur in 50-70% of women aged 15 to 40 years.
• Despite the fact that mastopathy is not dangerous in itself, this condition greatly complicates the diagnosis of breast cancer.
• In this article we will tell you what fibrocystic mastopathy is and how it can be dangerous.

The essence of pathology

Mastopathy is the proliferation of breast tissue and the formation of benign cysts in the mammary glands - changes occur due to fluctuations in a woman’s hormonal levels, which occur for one reason or another.

Pathology has two types:

• nodal;
• fibrocystic.

Cysts are benign neoplasms, which are a pedunculated capsule attached to the organ cavity. Inside, the cyst capsule is filled with fluid, has fairly clear boundaries and an elastic structure.

Multiple cysts formed in the tissues of the mammary glands and causing some pain and the appearance of compactions characterize such a pathological condition of the breast as fibroadenomatosis.

Can it develop into cancer?

Fibrocystic mastopathy is not capable of degenerating into breast cancer, but this does not mean that the pathological condition should not be treated and the problem should not be forgotten.

In addition, the symptoms of the clinical course of breast oncology and mastopathy are quite similar - if a woman discovers a small lump in her breast, she may conclude that it is a manifestation of mastopathy and not consult a doctor - in the meantime, precious time may be lost. After all, diagnosing breast cancer at the initial stage of development increases the effectiveness of its treatment tens of times.

How dangerous is this disease?

Is fibrocystic mastopathy dangerous? The unequivocal answer from leading experts – mammologists – is yes.

And not only because, against the backdrop of the development of pathology, it is very difficult to diagnose the appearance and development of tumor neoplasms, both benign and cancerous, but also because fibroadenomatosis is a rather insidious condition that “hides” in other organs of the female body that are not related to to the reproductive system.

Since the condition is caused by changes in hormone levels, pathological tissue proliferation and the formation of cysts can occur in the genitourinary organs, in the liver, in the uterus, and even in the ovaries.

Mastopathy is one of the most unpleasant diseases to which a woman’s breasts are susceptible. This condition can occur at absolutely any age. With the development of the pathological process, one form of the disease passes into another, causing quite pronounced pain in the mammary glands.

The danger of the pathology is that against its background it is very difficult to distinguish the occurrence of a malignant neoplasm - a cancerous tumor of the mammary glands.

Therefore, the disease, as soon as it is discovered, must be treated so that the pathology does not develop into more severe forms that require radical therapy.

Associated symptoms

Typically, the most pronounced symptoms of the pathological condition appear before or during the next menstruation:

• a woman develops lumps and even lumps in her breasts, which are quite painful;
• Due to the swelling of the milk ducts, breast swelling begins, and discharge from the nipples is often noticeable, sometimes mixed with blood.

Later, thickening of the muscle tissue of the mammary gland appears in places where lumps and cysts form.

Fibrocystic mastopathy is manifested by severe painful sensations, which intensify even more during a certain period of the menstrual cycle.

The appearance of the mammary glands also changes - at the site of pathology, the skin of the breast becomes more drawn inward or wrinkled. The same changes occur in the nipples, sometimes the development of pathology is accompanied by discharge.

Causes

1. To date, the pathogenesis of the disease has not been thoroughly studied - doctors know only a few factors, the presence of which provokes the formation of an abnormal process.

2. Cysts often form in a woman’s breasts during menopause, when her hormonal levels change significantly.
3. Also, the cause of pathology is often a weakened immune system (a woman’s mammary glands are especially susceptible to a decrease in the body’s defenses).

4. And, of course, one of the first places on the list of possible causes of the development of the disease is stress.

Effect on pregnancy

The presence and signs of mastopathy often worry pregnant women.

The pathological condition can occur in the expectant mother long before the conception of the child, due to the presence of predisposing factors. Since this condition is still benign, often during pregnancy, after childbirth or while breastfeeding, cystic formations go away on their own (up to 50% of all cases).

Fibrocystic mastopathy and pregnancy have practically no connection with each other - the pathology does not harm the fetus, although the combination of the disease and the natural state of the woman’s body is a fairly common phenomenon, despite all the achievements of modern medicine.

On the contrary, the expectant mother should not worry too much - the pregnancy period naturally helps to eradicate mastopathy - regardless of its shape, appearance and location.

Possible consequences

Unfortunately, in most cases, women with this pathology do not take its clinical course seriously enough, and this is very dangerous, since there are still some reasons for concern.

After all, all patients with such a diagnosis, one way or another, belong to the “risk group” for the occurrence and development of breast cancer. Therefore, neglected and untreated mastopathy can provoke an oncological process.

In addition, mastopathy is a fairly rapidly progressing and practically non-self-healing disease.

Treatment methods

• Before starting treatment, a woman must undergo an examination, in particular an ultrasound or mammography, as well as oncology tests to exclude the development of oncological processes.
• All treatment methods for fibrocystic mastopathy are aimed at relieving the symptoms of the pathology and eliminating the causes of its development.
• The therapy prescribed to patients is always complex, based on a combination of necessary medications:

• means for regulating the thyroid gland;
• oral contraceptives;
• vitamins and drugs that strengthen the immune system;
• synthetic analogues of hormones;
• sedatives and painkillers.

Some homeopathic remedies are considered very effective.

diet should be rich in fiber and vitamins, for which it is necessary to consume fruits and vegetables containing these substances. In addition, plant fiber can be consumed in the form of special dietary supplements.

Surgical intervention for mastopathy is performed if oncology is suspected, which is often simulated by a similar pathology. In all other cases, this form of treatment is questionable.

Mastopathy can only be cured with surgery using a radical method - if the mammary glands are completely removed. However, such treatment is considered unacceptable.

Some women try to “get rid” of pathology with the help of traditional medicine recipes, using compresses from herbal decoctions that have an anti-inflammatory effect, and ingesting various tinctures that have a sedative and immunity-boosting effect.

Once again, it is worth noting that it is important to approach the treatment of mastopathy comprehensively and follow all clinical recommendations.

Preventive measures

To prevent the development of pathology, every woman must adhere to several rules and tips:

• the first birth should be no later than 24-25 years old, it is advisable to give birth to 2-3 babies (that is, repeated births);
• breastfeed your baby for at least six months;
• regular sex life with a regular partner;
• proper nutrition, healthy lifestyle, correction of optimal weight (fighting obesity);
• a calm lifestyle with the least amount of stressful situations.

Conclusion and conclusions

The disease often “lurks” in women aged 25 to 40 years - the easiest way to defeat the disease is the prevention of mastopathy and its timely diagnosis and treatment.

Not a single medicine can completely cure mastopathy, but here nature itself comes to the aid of a woman - just after giving birth to a baby, a happy young mother recovers, practically without making any effort!

Source: https://zhenskoe-zdorovye.com/mammologija/mastopatiya/vidy-mas/fibrozno-kistoznaya-chem-opasna.html

Nodular mastopathy of the mammary gland: is oncology possible?

Many modern women of childbearing age can be diagnosed with mastopathy. Its forms and manifestations are different. And many people have a question: does nodular mastopathy belong to oncology or not? Typically, this is a benign lump that can be removed.

In a narrow sense, dishormonal mastopathy is a hormonal imbalance in a woman’s body. The main reason is said to be improper functioning of the ovaries. Girls during their childbearing years are susceptible to this disease. They say that breast diseases cannot occur during menopause, but this happens in life.

Onset of the disease

The early form of such a disease should proceed under the supervision of a mammologist. And, as a rule, it is not life-threatening. However, if you do not undergo treatment, this can lead to the appearance of nodes in the gland, and then to a malignant tumor.

Many factors influence malignancy. And existing pathologies, and the environment, the characteristics of the girl’s body itself. However, that's not all. Unfortunately, medical staff often ignore the development of mastopathy and miss the moment of malignancy of the lumps.

The risk of developing a malignant tumor with nodular mastopathy is high, and tissue degeneration with cystic compactions is possible. Cancer develops in the cyst. To avoid this, you need to use a method to determine the lining of the cyst capsule.

Fibroadenoma

With a benign compaction - fibroadenoma, reaching a size of up to 1 centimeter, the occurrence of oncology is reduced to zero.

And having an intraductal papilloma (develops in the duct of the mammary glands), this risk increases. Such formations are quite small and painless, so they cannot be palpated.

They are expressed only by white or bloody discharge from the nipple. To detect it, you need to undergo a mammogram.

Nodular mastopathy does not affect breast cancer in any way, but in the presence of this pathology it is quite problematic to identify it if it appears.

To get rid of doubts whether these tumors are cancerous or not, it is necessary to resort to a biopsy. This is the process of removing a portion of the tissue from this seal for later study in the laboratory.

Nodal form

Since nodular mastopathy is similar to cancerous lumps, careful diagnosis is required. The following studies can be carried out:

• Examination by a mammologist;
• Mammography examination;
• Ultrasound diagnostics. With this method, the structure and size of the seal can be carefully examined;
• Puncture. It is carried out using a needle inserted into the tumor itself, under ultrasound control;
• Biopsy.

But in most cases, all these tests and studies do not confirm cancer.

Diagnosis

But if the diagnosis of oncology is confirmed, there is no need to despair. It is necessary to find the right method of treatment. This may be surgery or radiation therapy. It depends on the extent of the disease.

But the very last way. You can resort to hormone therapy. It is worth remembering that not types of disease are sensitive to this method. The most common method is chemotherapy.

It has the least effect on the cells of the body.

Conclusion

• However, it has been proven that mastopathy is a disease with benign lumps that can be cured if the right treatment is chosen.
• Source: https://ogrudy.ru/

Source: https://www.oncc.ru/uzelkovaya-mastopatiya-molochnoj-zhelezy-vozmozhna-li-onkologiya/

When does mastopathy turn into cancer?

Oncologists say that women should pay special attention to any discomfort in the breast area. Diagnosis of the disease in the early stages allows the patient to be cured without the use of radical methods.

The most common pathology of the mammary glands is mastopathy . According to statistics, more than 60% of the female population faces this problem. It is noteworthy that this situation has developed over the last 100 years.

Before this, women very rarely complained of discomfort and lumps in the mammary gland.

What is mastopathy?

In gynecology, the term “mastopathy” combines hormone-dependent lesions of the mammary glands that occur in non-pregnant women. This pathology is characterized by the formation of a benign lump in the soft tissues of the breast.

Reasons for appearance

The basis of the disease is a hormonal imbalance, which is provoked by dysfunction of the ovaries. Thus, the functioning of the female reproductive system is closely related to the functioning of the mammary gland. A change in the concentration of estrogens, progesterones and androgens can stimulate the processes of atypical division of glandular tissues, which translates into the development of lumps in the breast.

The hormonal status of a woman is also influenced by the pathology of the liver and adrenal glands, which take part in the utilization and synthesis of hormones.

The development of this disease is influenced by the following factors:

• irregular sexual relations;
• late birth;
• early cessation of breastfeeding.

How dangerous is it to life?

The disease does not pose a direct threat to the patient’s life. This pathology has the potential for cancerous degeneration. The benign process turns into cancer in approximately 10% of clinical cases. That is why, the detection of mastopathy is a reason to classify the patient as an oncological risk group.

How to recognize?

Early signs of the disease include two main symptoms, the presence of which is a direct reason for an oncological examination.

• Thickening of the soft tissues of the breast:

May be single or multiple. You can detect such changes yourself during finger palpation.

The pain syndrome can vary in intensity from minor discomfort to periodic attacks.

Important to know: Symptoms and photos of breast cancer

Exact symptoms depending on the type of mastopathy

1. Diffuse option (small nodes and lumps in the mammary gland) - minor discomfort and swelling of the glandular tissue, depending on the menstrual cycle.
2. The nodular variant (formation of a neoplasm 15 mm - 1 cm) is a benign tumor, stably palpable, regardless of the period of menstruation.

   Enlarged regional lymph nodes.

3. Fibrocystic variant (presence of nodular elements and large cystic cavities with liquid content) – intense chest pain, which intensifies with movements of the upper limbs. Discharge of clear or bloody secretion from the excretory ducts of the mammary gland.

Important to know: Cancer prevention rules for every day

What tests and examinations are included in the diagnosis?

1. Palpation of the breast in standing and lying positions. Already at this stage, the doctor determines a preliminary diagnosis.
2. Mammography. Chest X-ray allows you to identify the size and location of a benign neoplasm.
3. Ultrasonography. This diagnosis is considered the safest method for accurately identifying this disease.
4. Biopsy. Puncture of a small amount of pathological fluid and subsequent cytological analysis establishes the final diagnosis.
5. General and detailed blood test.

Can it turn into cancer?

The disease can develop into oncology under the following conditions:

• Systemic decrease in immunity.
• Chronic exposure to carcinogens.
• Unfavorable working and living conditions.
• Frequent exposure to x-rays.
• Constant stress.

How to prevent cancer transformation?

Prevention of this disease begins with medical literacy of the population. Thus, every woman should be informed about the first symptoms of the disease and self-diagnosis methods.

Mastopathy, in most cases, is quite easy to diagnose. Timely correction of hormonal balance leads to a woman’s complete recovery. At the same time, throughout the treatment, the patient undergoes a preventive oncological examination at least once every six months.

Source: https://orake.info/kogda-mastopatiya-perexodit-v-rak/

Benign breast pathology: how important is treatment?

There is a group of benign breast diseases, which in most cases are a trigger for the onset of an oncological process. Breast cancer itself in women of childbearing age is one of the three most dangerous cancers.

Risk of developing cancer

In Ukraine there is a National Cancer Registry; according to its independent data, the incidence of breast cancer is 70 cases per 100,000 population. In the Russian Federation, the picture is not much different from Ukraine in a positive direction, and in a number of prosperous countries of the European Union these figures reach 110-115 diseases per 100,000 population.

According to WHO, the average life expectancy of a woman with breast cancer is 5-7 years, and without appropriate surgery, radiation and chemotherapy it will not exceed 22-32 months.

The risk of malignancy depends on many factors. This includes a certain type of mammary gland pathology, environmental influences, and peculiarities of the woman’s body condition.

Unfortunately, we also have to note the lack of alertness to the possible development of a malignant breast tumor on the part of medical workers, their poor oncological training and sketchiness in diagnosing and treating benign processes in the mammary gland.

The concept that mastopathy can turn into breast cancer in 60%-75% of cases is not brought to the subconscious level of many graduates of medical universities.

Causes of mastopathy

In the ongoing clinical practice of oncologists, surgeons and gynecologists, three main forms of predisposition to the cancer process are most often encountered: benign breast tumors, cysts and fibrocystic mastopathy of two types - diffuse and nodular.

As defined by the WHO, mastopathy is understood as a fibrocystic disease characterized by a violation of the ratio of epithelium and connective tissue in the structure of the affected mammary gland.

There are several factors leading to the development of mastopathy in women of childbearing age. These may include the following problems:

• Severe sexual dysfunction;
• Menstrual problems;
• Onset of monthly bleeding before the age of 10 years, or later manifestation of secondary sexual characteristics;
• Menopausal disorders that arose before the age of 40, or manifested themselves after 55 years;
• Early disturbances in menstrual or sexual life.

Many authors associate the development of mastopathy with infertility, frequent early pregnancy failures, a large number of abortions in women, the birth of the first child after 33 years, and severe problems with lactation.

Heredity remains an important factor. According to the Russian Academy of Sciences, predisposition to cancer in 75% of cases is genetically determined. If a woman in previous generations had pathology of the mammary glands, then the probability of this process occurring fluctuates at 70%.

Diseases of the female genital organs often lead to mastopathy. Uterine fibroids, endometriosis and various ovarian cysts are often triggers in the occurrence of breast disease.

Diseases of a woman’s entire body, and not just her genitourinary system, can also become a direct cause of problems with the mammary glands.

The female body is weak and various diseases such as diabetes, obesity, neurasthenia of various origins can also contribute to the rapid development of mastopathy. And of course, breast injuries.

Even after a long period of time, they can become an aid in the start of the development of a benign tumor.

We recommend reading the article about drug treatment of mastopathy. What drugs and vitamins does modern mammology use to treat mastopathy, what treatment a doctor can prescribe, based on the form and causes of mastopathy, you can read more in this article.

Forms and types of mastopathy

Since the disease mastopathy differs not only in the method of occurrence, but also in the pattern of changes in the tissues of the mammary gland, doctors specializing in these problems prefer the following classification of the disease:

• Fibrous or the presence of connective tissue in the mammary gland with the formation of cords, but without the presence of nodes;
• The fibrocystic form is characterized by the presence of cysts and granular structures;
• With the simultaneous presence of tubercles and cords in the tissues of the mammary gland, they speak of a fibrous-alenomatous course of the disease;
• Mastalgia is a homogeneous tense tissue with severe pain;
• When palpating nodes and nodules of various sizes in the lumen of the mammary gland, we can speak of a nodular form of mastopathy;
• The mixed form is diagnosed clinically only in 15% of cases and is characterized by blurred visual symptoms.

It should be noted that breast fibroids, which some authors refer to as mastopathy, differ from the latter in clinical signs and are classified as a separate nosological unit. The course of the disease is considered by experts to be the most benign and the degeneration of this type of mastopathy into a malignant process is no more than 7%.

Clinical manifestations of mastopathy are sufficiently described in modern medical literature. Their main symptoms include swelling and severe tenderness of the mammary gland, the presence of lumps and neoplasms in its tissues, and pathological discharge from the nipples.

To confirm the diagnosis in modern practical oncology and gynecology, mammography, ductography, breast sonography, and diagnostic biopsy are used.

Recently, taking into account the evidence of hormonal dependence of the development of the process, a study of the patient’s hormonal mirror is indicated.

Mastopathy and gynecological problems of women

Modern medicine considers the mammary gland as an organ that is quite dependent on the hormonal background of the female body.

The development, tissue structure and functioning of this female organ directly depends on the activity of the ovaries, hypothalamus and pituitary gland, and their interaction.

The state of a woman’s reproductive function: menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth and the lactation period have a direct hormonal effect on the functioning of our patient’s mammary gland.

Research by modern specialists, in particular Smetnik V.P., Burdina L.M. and others confirmed that various pathologies of the mammary glands occur in women with gynecological problems 2-4 times more often than in the rest of the female population of our country.

The incidence of gynecological diseases is also directly related to the pathology of the mammary glands, and vice versa. Various menstrual irregularities, uterine fibroids, pelvic inflammatory diseases, infertility - all this can become a harbinger or concomitant pathology of breast problems in our women.

It is also very important to note the statistically confirmed weak medical education of patients with mastopathy.

According to WHO, these patients use modern hormonal contraception 2.5-3 times less often than other women.

In this regard, the ratio of births to terminated pregnancies in women suffering from mastopathy is 1:3, and in the healthy population the number of births exceeds the number of pregnancies terminated for various reasons.

Treatment of mastopathy as a method of combating possible malignancy

If problems with the functioning of the mammary glands are identified, it is recommended to carry out two-stage conservative therapy. An appropriate therapeutic plan is developed for each patient,

At the first stage, this includes treatment of the underlying gynecological disease, restoration of a regular menstrual cycle, and individual selection of hormonal contraceptive methods. Drug and instrumental therapy for infertility, assistance with ovulation, stabilization of a woman’s hormonal levels should also not be left without the attention of a gynecologist.

With proper and timely implementation of a set of therapeutic measures, regression of the pathological process in the mammary glands is achieved in 45%-50% of cases, and complete recovery in 20%.

The second stage of treatment is more specific and includes hormonal therapy with the drug “Progestogel”, sedatives, vitamin therapy, and iodine preparations. Recently, various phytotherapeutic preparations have been widely used.

For women who do not plan pregnancy and childbirth in the near future, it is recommended to carefully consider the prescription of hormonal contraceptives.

Modern drugs such as Femoden, Novinette, Logest will not only help protect the female body from unwanted pregnancy, but will also have a therapeutic effect in the complex treatment of mastopathy and the threat of a malignant process in the affected mammary glands.

It must be recalled that any self-medication is dangerous, especially when it comes to the possible development of an oncological process. It is recommended that if you have the slightest suspicion of problems with the mammary glands, immediately contact a specialist.

Source: http://GrudInfo.ru/chem-opasna-mastopatiya/