Is breast fibroids serious?

Breast fibroma is a relatively common breast disease and is also a disease that may worsen. Therefore, if you are diagnosed with breast fibroma, you must seek timely treatment to prevent the disease from worsening. There are two specific treatment methods, one is surgical treatment and the other is traditional Chinese medicine treatment. Below, we will introduce in detail the symptoms and signs of breast fibroids and their treatment methods.

1. Symptoms and Signs

Patients often accidentally discover painless lumps in the breast, which are usually solitary but can also be multiple or occur simultaneously in both breasts. They are more common in the upper outer quadrant of the breast. Sometimes the breast is filled with tumors of varying sizes, which is called breast fibroadenoma. The tumor generally grows slowly, but grows faster during pregnancy and lactation. The diameter of the tumor ranges from 1 to 3 cm, but some may exceed 10 cm. It is usually round or oval in shape, with a firm texture, clear edges, a smooth surface, good mobility, and a sliding sensation upon palpation. There was no tenderness to touch and no nipple discharge.

2. Surgical treatment

If breast fibroadenoma has been clearly diagnosed, the principle of treatment is surgical treatment.

(1) Timing of surgery: ① For unmarried women with a clear diagnosis, elective surgery can be considered, preferably before marriage; ② For patients who are unable to conceive after marriage, surgical resection should be performed before planning pregnancy. Because both pregnancy and breastfeeding can accelerate tumor growth; ③ If the tumor is discovered after pregnancy, it is advisable to undergo surgical removal between the 3rd and 6th months of pregnancy; ④ For those over 35 years old, surgical treatment should be performed in time; ⑤ In the absence of pregnancy, breastfeeding, trauma, etc. that promote tumor growth, if the tumor suddenly grows faster in a short period of time, surgery should be performed immediately.

(2) Notes on surgical treatment: Surgical specimens should be routinely sent for pathological biopsy for final diagnosis. The design of surgical incision should take into account both aesthetic and functional needs. If breastfeeding is required, a radial incision centered on the nipple should be made. If the patient does not need to breastfeed in the future, a circular incision can be made along the edge of the areola. If the tumor is multiple, breast incision can be performed.

3. Treatment with Traditional Chinese Medicine

For pre-married female patients, if the tumor grows slowly and is small in size, Chinese medicine treatment can be tried. Or for multiple breast fibroadenomas, after removing the large tumors, Chinese medicine treatment can be tried for the small ones. The principle of TCM treatment is to relieve liver depression, resolve phlegm and disperse nodules. Commonly used prescriptions are:

Bupleurum 6g, Angelica 9g, Red Peony Root 12g, Curcuma Radix 9g, Whole Trichosanthes (pestle) 30g, Processed Pinellia 9g, Curcuma 30g, Fritillaria 12g, Lithospermum officinale 30g, Ice Ball Seed 9g, Panicum 9g.

For patients with irregular menstruation, add 30g of Epimedium and 12g of Curculigo; for patients with multiple fibroadenomas, add 30g of Raw Astragalus and 30g of Codonopsis pilosula appropriately; if the effect is not obvious after 1 to 3 months of Chinese medicine treatment and the tumor increases, surgical treatment can be performed.