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Fibrocystic Changes of the Breast

By

The Manual's Editorial Staff

Reviewed/Revised Aug 2021 | Modified Sep 2022
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What are fibrocystic changes?

Fibrocystic changes are a set of breast symptoms that include pain, cysts, and general lumpiness in your breasts. The word fibrocystic comes from the terms fibrous tissue and cyst. Fibrous tissue is tough, strong tissue that feels like it's made of a lot of fibers. A cyst is a small, fluid-filled sac that grows inside your body. Fibrocystic changes in the breast is not a single disease.

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You’re more likely to have fibrocystic changes if you:

  • Started menstruation (getting periods) at an early age

  • Had your first baby at age 30 or older

  • Never had a baby

What are the symptoms of fibrocystic change?

  • Lumps in your breast

  • Sometimes discomfort, including heaviness, tenderness, or burning pain

How do doctors treat fibrocystic changes?

Doctors may:

  • Tell you to wear a soft, supportive bra, such as a sports bra

  • Tell you to take pain medicine, such as acetaminophen

  • Drain the fluid from a cyst

  • Give you medicine, such as danazol (a type of male hormone) or tamoxifen (medicine that blocks estrogen), if your symptoms are severe

If you only have one lump or if it feels different from other lumps, doctor may:

  • Take a sample of tissue from your breast lump and look at it under a microscope (biopsy) to make sure it isn’t cancer

  • Do surgery to remove it

Drugs Mentioned In This Article

Generic Name Select Brand Names
7T Gummy ES, Acephen, Aceta, Actamin, Adult Pain Relief, Anacin Aspirin Free, Apra, Children's Acetaminophen, Children's Pain & Fever , Comtrex Sore Throat Relief, ED-APAP, ElixSure Fever/Pain, Feverall, Genapap, Genebs, Goody's Back & Body Pain, Infantaire, Infants' Acetaminophen, LIQUID PAIN RELIEF, Little Fevers, Little Remedies Infant Fever + Pain Reliever, Mapap, Mapap Arthritis Pain, Mapap Infants, Mapap Junior, M-PAP, Nortemp, Ofirmev, Pain & Fever , Pain and Fever , PAIN RELIEF , PAIN RELIEF Extra Strength, Panadol, PediaCare Children's Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever, PediaCare Children's Smooth Metls Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever, PediaCare Infant's Fever Reducer/Pain Reliever, Pediaphen, PHARBETOL, Plus PHARMA, Q-Pap, Q-Pap Extra Strength, Silapap, Triaminic Fever Reducer and Pain Reliever, Triaminic Infant Fever Reducer and Pain Reliever, Tylenol, Tylenol 8 Hour, Tylenol 8 Hour Arthritis Pain, Tylenol 8 Hour Muscle Aches & Pain, Tylenol Arthritis Pain, Tylenol Children's, Tylenol Children's Pain+Fever, Tylenol CrushableTablet, Tylenol Extra Strength, Tylenol Infants', Tylenol Infants Pain + Fever, Tylenol Junior Strength, Tylenol Pain + Fever, Tylenol Regular Strength, Tylenol Sore Throat, XS No Aspirin, XS Pain Reliever
Danocrine
Nolvadex, Soltamox
NOTE: This is the Consumer Version. DOCTORS: VIEW PROFESSIONAL VERSION
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