Eric Bakker N.D.May 28, 2022

Breast cysts are one of the most prevalent reasons a breast lump forms and can appear in one or both breasts. A breast cyst may have the texture of a grape or a water balloon, or it may be firm. They are thought to form normally as the breast changes with age due to varying hormone levels. It's not uncommon to have many cysts and treatment is rarely necessary, but if a cyst is bothersome it can be drained.

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Cyst In Breast

Cysts in the breast are a benign (not cancer) fluid-filled breast sac and are frequent in women between the ages of 35 and 50. Unless a woman is undergoing hormone therapy, they normally go away after menopause.

Breast cysts are one of the most prevalent reasons a breast lump forms and can appear in one or both breasts. A breast cyst may have the texture of a grape or a water balloon, or it may be firm. They are thought to form normally as the breast changes with age due to varying hormone levels. It’s not uncommon to have many cysts and treatment is rarely necessary, but if a cyst is bothersome it can be drained.

It is understandable that some women may panic if they discover a breast lump, and if there is any concern a visit to your doctor is certainly in order. There are different kinds of breast lumps, and most are benign, which means you have little to worry about.

Most women have a lump in their breast at some stage in their lives, particularly before the menstrual period, when normal breast tissue, under the influence of hormones, is more likely to become prominent and lumpy. As frightening as discovering a lump in your breast, it is important to bear in mind that most breast lumps are not cancer. Lumps should not be disregarded, however. Here is an article which can give you a few tips on prevention and treatment of breast lumps.

Breast lumps are grouped into two categories:

1. Cysts or lumps, generally benign in nature, the most common.

2. Malignant tumours: generally breast cancers.


Breast Cyst Symptoms

Breast cysts may be found in one or both breasts. Signs and symptoms of a breast cyst include:

  • A smooth, readily moveable round or oval lump with smooth borders — usually, but not always, indicating benign
  • Nipple discharge that might be clear, yellow, straw coloured, or dark brown
  • Breast lump discomfort or tenderness
  • Just before menstruation, you notice an increase in the size of your breast lumps and breast pain.
  • Following your period, you should notice a reduction in the size of your breast lump and the disappearance of other symptoms.

Breast cysts don’t necessarily mean an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Cysts, on the other hand, can may make it more difficult to detect and evaluate and new breast lumps or other changes that need medical attention. When you’re menstruation, your breasts may feel lumpy and uncomfortable, so be aware of how they feel during your menstrual cycle so you can spot any changes.

Breast Cyst Diagnosis

Breast cysts are perhaps one of the most common reasons for a woman to visit her GP. It has been estimated that up to 50% of all women experience breast lumps at some stage, and that in only 3 to 6 % they are cancerous.
Each woman should be familiar with her breasts, and can easily detect any changes which may occur. Changes particularly should be further investigated to rule out breast cancer, particularly with advancing age.
This is particularly so if the changes persist from period to period. Many women will palpate their breasts- before their period- precisely the time when non-cyclic changes are difficult to find.
When a woman has breast pain only, her breasts should be examined after her next period, if the problem has not been resolved.
All breast changes need a thorough evaluation – even if they follow the ‘typical hormonal’ pattern of worsening premenstrually. If you are not happy with your doctor, get a second or even third opinion. I’ve heard on more than one occasion patients tell me: “It was never picked up until I had the lump (and a suspicion) for twelve months”, or “my practitioner said that there was no need for concern”, yet the patient was worried sick for many months after her visit.
This is an area where diagnosis and early detection makes all the difference. And can literally make the difference between life and death.

 What if I find a lump or a thickened area?

The discovery of a dominant lump suggests the need to have it checked out carefully by your GP or Specialist. You may have one of the following:
  • A well defined breast lump which may be a fibroadenoma, a cyst or a lipoma (fatty cyst)
  • A less well defined area of thickness or lumpiness
  • An immobile, hard, non-discrete area – may be a cancer
When you are ready, call your doctor, and ask yourself these questions, because your doctor may want to know the answer to some or all. What was the date of your last period? When did you discover the lump?  Has it grown larger or smaller since you first discovered it? Have you had lumps like this before? Have you had any previous biopsy or surgery to the breast? Is there any family history of breast problems? What does the lump feel like, hard, soft, grainy, and attached or loose? Are you taking any medications/including the pill? Do you have any discharge from the nipple?
On average, about one in every five to six lumps is malignant, and the incidence increases with age. You will have noticed this on the chart above, the higher the age, the increasing chance of breast cancer.

Breast Lump Tests

  • Ultrasound
  • Thermography
  • Mammogram and/or ultrasound
  • Needle aspiration and histology
  • Lumpectomy and biopsy

Thermography

Thermography does not involve radiation. Instead, it uses an ultra-sensitive camera to produce high-resolution, infrared photographs, or heat images, of the breast. This technology appeared initially in the 1960s, but lacked the sensitivity and accuracy to gain any scientific acceptance as a diagnostic screen for breast cancer. Research conducted in 2018 however has revealed that thermography technology has improved significantly since then, and that it will likely only improve further. It is non-invasive and involved no radiation, it is an entirely safe way of breast lump diagnosis. 

Many smart women today opt for both a thermograph and a mammogram.
My recommendation is to have a thermograph alongside your regular breast exams or tests. It is low-cost, non-invasive and can pick up tiny problems in the breast tissue before mammography will. Thermography has improved significantly and it is not recommended to be used alongside standard diagnostic tests.
Here is a graph illustrating the different types of breast lumps, and their percentages of occurrence with age:
Breast_Lumps

Fibroadenomas

The most common benign tumours found in a young woman’s breast tissue. They are generally painless, and peak in women aged in their early 20’s and are common in women of darker races. They represent a simple overgrowth of the lobules of the breast tissue. These lumps move freely within the breast and can be diagnosed by way of examination, ultrasound or aspiration.

Fibroadenomas generally don’t need removal, as they get smaller over the years or disappear altogether. These benign tumours usually appear in young women, often in teenagers, and, may be easily mistaken for cancer. However, they tend to be more circumscribed and mobile and may feel like a small, slippery marble under the examining fingers.

Fibroadenomas can be removed under local anaesthesia, but frequently recur. Often, after several such tumours have been established as benign, the patient feels comfortable in leaving a fibroadenoma intact rather than having it excised.

How Breast Lobules Undergo Development like the 4 seasons

  • During the springtime – the breast develops – overgrowth of lobules (or ‘leaves’)   – fibroadenomas occur.
  • During the summertime –the breast lives through regular m/cycles – pain and lumpiness before the period.
  • During the autumn – the lobules (or ‘leaves’) of the breast can become yellow & fall, some may become abnormal or even enlarge to become cysts.
  • During the winter – the leaves (the lobules) have all but gone; some breast tissue can even turn to cancer.

Fibrocystic Breast Disease

Up to 30% of all women will be diagnosed with fibrocystic breast disease (a benign breast mass) at some stage. Also known as: benign breast disease; breast engorgement; breast tenderness; chronic mastitis; cystic hyperplasia; cystic hyperplasia of the breast, cystic mastitis, and many other names!
  • Peaking during the child bearing years, and includes the presence of round lumps in the breast tissue, that move freely and can feel either soft or firm. You may feel a sensation of ‘lumpiness’ or tenderness, which can range from mild to even extreme tenderness.
  • Argued by some not to be a ‘disease’, but a commonly experienced premenstrual complaint experienced by many women. Typically, lumps increase in size and tenderness just prior to the menstrual period. Occasionally, some women have a discharge from the nipple as well.
  • Some researchers claim that cysts in the breast can lead to breast cancer, although a recent studies has shown this not to be the case.

Breast Cysts

Simple cysts are fluid filled sacs that occur in both breasts, they can be single or multiple and can vary in size. They are smooth, mobile lumps which you can feel, and they may be big enough to be seen from outside the breast as well. The are most common with women aged between 40 – 50yrs, and less common with younger and older women.  Cysts can even help to produce more cysts.
Fat necrosis is another benign, solid breast mass, which can be diagnosed only by biopsy. This condition occurs occasionally when there is trauma, or a sudden injury, to the breast. Most women find it harder to remember the accident or sudden injury. Fat lumps can form which are hard, round, firm and not painful which develop after a sudden blow to the breast, a fall from a horse, an auto accident, or another form of trauma, are all examples of how a fat necrosis of the breast may develop in time.

Gynecomastia

Men can develop a condition called gynecomastia. This is an enlargement and benign condition where there is a lump which develops under the nipple, which can be tender. In most cases, no specific treatment is needed, since gynecomastia will spontaneously remit or disappear after treatment of the underlying cause. This can be due to a pharmaceutical drug treatment, but also may be due to high alcohol consumption, there are various causes of this condition which need investigation.

Breast Cysts and Caffeine

There are many well documented studies supporting the relationship between caffeine, methylxanthines and fibrocystic breast. Chocolate in particular, appears to be a problem food for many women with this condition. I recommend any patient who comes to see me regarding fibrocystic breast to avoid caffeine and methylxanthines entirely for 3 months. I have seen several patients diagnosed with lipomas, (benign fatty tissue deposits) removed from various parts of the body, to be quite regular chocolate consumers.

Treat Hypothyroidism

It is quite common for a woman to have an under-active thyroid. A 2019 study revealed that 5% of the population have low thyroid function, with 5% remaining undiagnosed. This accounts for 10% of the population, which comes as no surprise to those who complain of tiredness The nutrients most commonly deficient with fibrocystic breast are iodine, magnesium, copper, manganese, essential fatty acids as well. I would recommend a good thyroid formula from your natural health practitioner. You are best to take a good multi vitamin in general to correct any deficiencies of the trace elements which are invaluable in terms of correct hormonal balance. Remember also, higher protein intakes are also required to supply a steady amount of amino acids such as tyrosine and methionine, critical to good metabolic function. So eat fish, chicken regularly and some red meat occasionally.

Cystic Mastitis

Is another name for fibrocystic breast, is often associated with PMT as well as ovarian cysts. It is common to have high oestrogen levels with this condition. Leading Nutritionist Henry Osiecki mentions that hypothyroidism and low iodine, selenium and several other trace elements may well be important causational factors in oestrogen dependent masses, lumps and tumours of the breast, uterus and ovary. Many women today are diagnosed with hormone and immune related disorders, so many in fact that there is strong evidence supporting nutritional supplementation, for at least a three-month period to exclude any nutritional deficiencies.

Breast Cyst Treatment

Plan 1 – For 12 weeks

Avoid all caffeinated beverages entirely. This includes coffee, tea, caffeine drinks, and chocolates as well. They all contain a substance known as “methylxanthines” Women afflicted with fluid retention and/or breast tenderness during PMS, would do well to reduce their consumption of methylxanthines, which are implicated in this form of PMS particularly. Although research has shown conflicting results, in my clinical experience it is more common to find women who enjoy and drink coffee as well as chocolate to experience more breast and menstrual problems than those who abstain from coffee and chocolate.

Plan 2 – For 12 weeks

Increase your intake of iodine rich foods. Fibrocystic breast disease may occur as a result of iodine deficiency and supplemental Iodine may even reverse this condition, where the underlying cause is iodine deficiency. Oestrogen hastens the development of the breast dysplasia (abnormal tissue), particularly when deficiencies such as iodine are lacking in the diet.

Thyroid formulation –  Dosage: 3 – 4 caps or tablets twice per day. Taper and maintain at a lower dose, as needed, after improvement is seen (typically, after 3-5 months). Watch for changes in thyroid function, you probably would want to work with us at this stage. Uncontrolled and double-blind clinical trials have shown clinically significant improvement in many of cases of fibrocystic breast disease and iodine, which is in a good thyroid formula. Research over the years has established a clear link between iodine deficiency and breast as well as ovarian cysts. Alternatively, try some iodine in your diet, like Kelp tablets, but look also at including some sea products into your diet. Try wakame, hijiki, kombu, nori, etc. See your local health food shop for more information about these seaweeds. Great for weight loss too.

Plan 3 – For 12 weeks

Increase bowel function.  Research has shown that women, who have fewer than three bowel movements per week, have a 4.5 greater risk of developing breast lumps. There is even an association between epithelial dysplasia in fluid drawn from the nipple of breast fluid and the frequency of bowel movements.

A 3 month fresh food diet can make a big difference in terms of breast and menstrual health rejuvenation, I therefore generally recommend the avoidance of alcohol, red meats/fats, fried foods, salt, sugar, and take-away in general. In particular, you will take a load off the liver, thereby enabling it to do its job of effectively metabolising your hormones, detoxifying wastes and chemicals of all sorts.

Eat one more kiwifruit each day, and have two or three glasses of water. Have a salad each day, and try to include vegetables a few times daily. Look at eating less cooked and processed foods generally.

Plan 4 – For 12wks

Vitamin E. Take from 600 – 800mg each day. Although research has produced conflicting results, in one major study, Vitamin E (600 IU per day) may alleviate fibrocystic breast in approximately 70% of patients. There are newer forms of Vitamin E available. See your practitioner or health food shop, you need to take caution with Vitamin E, particularly if you take heart medication or blood thinning drug like warfarin. The optimal dose for Vitamin E is generally 400iu per day, but you need a little more here. I would not recommend taking high dosages of any vitamins sustained, without supervision of a qualified Naturopath.

Plan 5 – For 12 weeks

Evening Primrose Oil (3,000 mg per day for three to six months) may alleviate 45% of) cases of fibrocystic breast. Results of randomised trials and open studies in 291 patients with severe persistent breast pain (in whom breast cancer had been excluded) showed that EPO therapy produced an excellent, good or useful result in up to 77% of women with cyclical mastalgia and 44% of those with non-cyclical mastalgia. I’d recommend that you also supplement with a high-quality Omega 3, it pays to offset the high levels of linoleic acid & GLA with the super saturated fatty acids, EPA and DHA which are found in Omega 3 (fish oil). One to two capsules per day is sufficient.

References:

  • Pashby, N. L., et al. A clinical trial of evening primrose oil in mastalgia. British Journal of Surgery. 68:801-24, 1981.
  • Pye, J. K., et al. Clinical experience of drug treatments for mastalgia. Lancet. 2(8451):373-377, 1985.
  • Abrams, A. A. Use of vitamin E in chronic cystic mastitis. New Engl J Med. 272:1080-1081, 1965.
  • Ernster, V. L., et al. Vitamin E and benign breast ‘disease’: A double-blind randomised clinical trial. Surgery. 97(4):490, 1985.
  • Boyle, C. A., et al. Caffeine consumption and fibrocystic breast disease: a case-control epidemiologic study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 72(5):1015-1019, 1984.
  • Bullough, B., et al. Methyxanthines and fibrocystic breast disease: a study of correlations. Nurse Pract. 15:36-8,43-44, 1990.
  • Ernster, V. L., et al. Effects of caffeine-free diet on benign breast disease: a randomized trial. Surgery. 91(3):263-267, 1982.
  • Russell, L. C. Caffeine restriction as initial treatment for breast pain. Nurse Practitioner. 14:36-37, 1989.
  • Osciecki, Henry   The Physician’s Handbook of Clinical Nutrition. Bioconcepts Publishing 2001. pg. 77.

Last Article Update 14 April 2011

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