Breast hyperplasia is not a disease, it will accompany you for life, don't worry

What is breast hyperplasia?

Fibrocystic breast disease is also often called breast adenosis, fibrocystic breast disease or fibrocystic breast changes. From the perspective of physiological development, there are very few mammary glands behind the areola of newborns.

During the growth and development of children, with the arrival of puberty, a breast nucleus will form behind the areola. The secretion of sex hormones and the supplementation of protein nutrition will gradually increase the size of the breast nucleus and slowly form a semicircular glandular tissue in the breast. The mature glandular tissue mainly plays the important role of maintaining the shape of the breast and secreting milk during lactation. Therefore, from the perspective of physiological development, the glandular tissue in the breast is not a disease state.

The physiological manifestations of the breast gland are mainly related to endocrine function, including imbalance of estrogen and progesterone ratio, qualitative and quantitative abnormalities of breast sex hormone receptors, elevated prolactin, and accompanying mental factors such as anxiety and depression. It is closely related to factors such as age, menstrual history, pregnancy history, and breastfeeding history.

The main symptoms of breast hyperplasia include breast pain and tingling, and some patients may experience nipple discharge. The above symptoms are more common in young adults and menopause. In older women, due to the significant decrease in hormone levels, the glandular tissue of the breast will shrink significantly, so the symptoms of pain and swelling will be significantly alleviated.

Breast hyperplasia is a lifelong disease

After a woman's physiological development reaches maturity, the appearance of her breasts and the glandular tissue inside them are basically formed. Due to differences in genes and nutritional levels, the size of the breasts and the density and distribution of the glands inside them vary.

We can figuratively compare breast tissue to a big tree. The trunk and branches are the milk duct structures in the breast, and the leaves are the glandular structures.

In a woman's life, around the age of 30, the glands are abundant like leaves. Around the age of 50, due to the decrease in ovarian hormone secretion, the glands begin to degenerate and shrink, just like leaves withering. In older women, the glands shrink significantly, and most of the glands are transformed into fat tissue. The atrophy and degeneration of the glands in the breast is very intuitive in X-ray imaging examinations.

What diseases may be associated with breast hyperplasia?

The mammary gland is like a big tree, and diseases and pests may appear on the leaves and branches of the tree.

Similarly, various diseases may occur in our healthy glandular tissues, including benign and malignant tumors. Common benign diseases include fibroids and ductal tumors. Malignant tumors include carcinoma in situ and invasive carcinoma. From the age of disease occurrence, the age group with a high incidence of breast malignant tumors is around menopause. However, breast malignant tumors are still common in elderly women.

Therefore, women should maintain good breast examination habits throughout their lives. Early detection and early treatment are the guarantee of good treatment results.

Author: Lu Yunshu (Deputy Chief Physician and Party Branch Secretary of Breast Surgery Department of Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Secretary of the Health Management Committee of the Chinese Rehabilitation Medicine Association and Deputy Leader of the Science Popularization Working Group)

Reviewer: Fei Zhewei (Chief Physician of Breast Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Chairman of the Health Management Professional Committee of the Chinese Rehabilitation Medicine Association)

Editor: Jia Jing (Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine)