home Consultations What does mastopathy mean? What is breast mastopathy in women and methods of treating the disease. Self-diagnosis at home

What does mastopathy mean? What is breast mastopathy in women and methods of treating the disease. Self-diagnosis at home

Breast mastopathy cannot be eliminated on its own and almost always requires treatment. According to various statistics in last years From 50 to 90% of women suffer from this disease, and the main danger of this breast disease lies in the ability of tumors to degenerate into a cancerous tumor. That is why any form of this pathology is considered by mammologists as a precancerous condition and requires constant monitoring and treatment. In this article we will introduce you to the principles of treatment of mammary gland mastopathy. Once you have this information, you can ask your healthcare provider any questions you may have.

The risk of tumor malignancy increases with the appearance of cystic formations. Of no small importance in the malignancy of tissues is the degree of growth (proliferation) of the mammary gland epithelium and the appearance of signs of calcification of neoplasms.

There is no single treatment regimen for mastopathy; its tactics depend on many factors:

woman's age;
form of mastopathy;
character ;
Availability concomitant diseases: gynecological, endocrine, extragenital;
the desire to preserve reproductive function or achieve a contraceptive effect.

In some cases, in women of reproductive age, according to the ANDI classification, some fibrocystic changes in the mammary glands may be considered normal. But in the presence of a significant deterioration in the quality of life, the presence of severe complaints and a high risk of malignancy (for example, a history), the approach to the observation and treatment of such patients should be more thoughtful and comprehensive.

If mastopathy is detected in women by chance, how concomitant pathology, and is not accompanied by complaints, then treatment is usually not prescribed. Such patients are recommended to undergo regular breast ultrasound or mammography (sometimes diagnostic puncture) at least once a year and follow-up with a mammologist.

If mastopathy is moderately cyclical or constant and fibrocystic changes (without obvious microcysts) in the mammary glands are diffuse, then conservative therapy may begin with a correction physiological cycles and diet prescriptions. As a rule, this approach is allowed when treating young and healthy women.

For patients with severe mastopathy, accompanied by constant or cyclical pain, the presence of palpable changes in the structure of the gland or discharge from the nipples, treatment is always prescribed. In case of a diffuse form of this disease, a woman is recommended to undergo conservative therapy. The tactics of prescribing certain drugs in such cases depends on the data of a comprehensive examination of the patient. And if fibrocystic forms of mastopathy are detected, a woman may be prescribed conservative treatment, but in some cases surgery is necessary.

Conservative therapy

Non-hormonal agents

Diet

Products containing methylxanthines contribute to swelling and tenderness of the mammary glands in women with mastopathy.

Many clinical studies on the treatment of mastopathy point to the fact that between the appearance structural changes in breast tissue and the consumption of products containing methylxanthines (theophylline, caffeine and theobromine) there is a close relationship. That is why avoiding foods with high levels of methylxanthines (coffee, cocoa, chocolate, tea, cola) can significantly reduce swelling and soreness of the mammary glands. Many experts always recommend such a diet correction when treating any form of mastopathy.

Nutrition and this disease of the mammary glands have another relationship. Eating food that contributes to the development of chronic constipation and disruption of intestinal microflora also contributes to the development of mastopathy and. It is likely that this relationship is dictated by the reabsorption in the intestine of estrogens already excreted in bile. That is why experts recommend that their patients introduce more foods containing fiber into their daily diet and drink enough water (up to 2 liters per day).

The condition of the liver is also important for the normal functioning of the mammary glands, since estrogen is utilized in this organ. That is why patients with mastopathy are advised to exclude from their diet any foods that adversely affect the functions of this organ. These include alcoholic beverages, fried and fatty foods, and hepatotoxic substances. And to improve liver function, women are recommended to additionally take B vitamins and dietary supplements based on them.

fish (preferably sea);
vegetable oils (linseed, olive, pumpkin, nut);
low-fat meats;
dairy products: sour cream, cottage cheese, milk, cheeses, goat milk;
cereals: buckwheat, wheat, oatmeal, etc.;
mushrooms;
legumes;
spinach;
bell pepper;
carrot;
cabbage;
beet;
eggplant;
zucchini;
seaweed;
nuts;
fruits and berries.

Choosing the right bra

Every representative of the fair sex should pay attention to the correct choice of bra, especially for patients with mastopathy. Wearing it is recommended for all women with this disease of the mammary glands.

Having a bra that doesn't fit correctly or is irregular shape, leads to breast deformation and compression. In addition, such a piece of clothing contributes to overload of the ligamentous apparatus. This point especially applies to women with large and drooping breasts.

the product must fully correspond to the required size;
preference should be given to natural or hygroscopic fabric;
it is better to refuse to choose models with foam rubber seal;
the fabric should not fade;
wear strapless products as rarely as possible;
choose models with wide straps (especially for large bust sizes);
after purchase, adjust the length of the straps;
do not sleep in a bra;
do not wear a bra for more than 12 hours a day.

In some cases, choosing the right bra helps reduce or completely eliminate the symptoms of mastopathy.

Lifestyle change

Women suffering from mastopathy should stop smoking.

Women suffering from mastopathy should make lifestyle changes:

quitting smoking and drinking alcohol;
balanced diet;
sufficient physical activity;
refusal to visit baths and saunas;
eliminating stress;
refusal of natural and artificial tanning.

In addition, physiotherapeutic procedures and massage are contraindicated for them.

Vitamins

Taking vitamin supplements for mastopathy:

helps normalize metabolism and hormonal levels;
has an antioxidant effect;
strengthens the immune system;
stabilizes the activity of the central nervous system;
normalizes functions thyroid gland, liver, ovaries and adrenal glands;
normalizes the reproduction and maturation of epithelial cells.

Diuretics

Reduce symptoms cyclic mastopathy, which occurs with premenstrual syndrome and is accompanied by swelling of the feet and hands a few days before menstruation, can be done with the help of mild diuretics. It is advisable to use diuretic medicinal herbs or preparations based on them for this purpose. In addition, during this period, a woman needs to limit the amount of salt consumed.

Means to improve blood circulation

Patients with mastopathy often experience local changes in blood circulation in the mammary glands. They usually occur due to impaired venous outflow. To normalize it, many experts recommend that their patients take foods containing vitamin P (black currants, citrus fruits, raspberries, cherries, rose hips, chokeberry), and drugs based on it (Ascorutin). Often, their use helps stabilize blood circulation, and repeated thermographic studies do not reveal such disorders.

Homeopathic medicines

To eliminate hyperprolactinemia, normalize the condition of the mammary gland ducts and eliminate pathological division of endometrial cells, women may be recommended to take drugs based on various medicinal plants(twig, cyclamen, tiger lily, iris and chilibuha). The most popular homeopathic remedy prescribed for mastopathy is the drug Mastodinon. In addition to this, the following remedies may be recommended:

Biocycline;
Remens;
Cyclodinone, etc.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

In some cases, to reduce cyclic mastalgia, specialists prescribe their patients to take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs a few days before menstruation. For this the following can be used:

Diclofenac;
Nurofen;
Nise et al.

However, such prescriptions cannot be long-term and permanent, and comprehensive treatment of mastopathy is recommended to eliminate unpleasant symptoms.

Means for normalizing liver function

Hepatoprotectors can be used to eliminate liver dysfunctions that affect hormonal levels and stabilize its functioning. A woman may be prescribed:

Essentiale;
Legalon;
Gepabene;
Karsil and other drugs.

Adaptogens and iodine preparations

To normalize the functioning of the intestines, liver, thyroid gland and immune system For mastopathy, various iodine-containing drugs and adaptogens may be recommended:

Klamin;
Rhodiola extract;
tincture of eleutherococcus;
Iodomarin;
Iodine-active, etc.

Sedatives

Chronic fatigue and stress at work contribute to increased chest pain with mastopathy.

In women, the condition of the mammary glands is often influenced by the psycho-emotional background. Troubles in the family and at work, frequent depression, dissatisfaction with oneself - all these factors can contribute to increased pain. To eliminate them, experts often recommend that their patients take sedatives. Typically, preference is given to prescribing mild medications based on medicinal herbs:

tincture of valerian, motherwort, peony;
Persen;
Alvogen Relax;
Novo-passit;
Sedariston;
Dormiplant;
Nervoflux et al.

Only if they are ineffective can patients be recommended stronger sedatives:

Afobazole;
Adaptol;
Tenoten et al.

dietary supplements

To stabilize the menstrual cycle and hormonal levels, normal functioning of the immune system, liver and intestines, various dietary supplements can be recommended:

Choice biologically active additives should be carried out only by a doctor who is guided by data on the patient’s health status obtained during the examination.

Hormone therapy

The processes of development of mammary gland tissue, their differentiation, maturation and growth are completely coordinated by the interaction of the following hormones:

Metabolism and the activity of the reticular formation and limbic system have a certain influence on these processes. Many facts indicate the significant influence of hormonal levels on the development of mastopathy:

the tissues of both glands undergo changes;
the severity of symptoms depends on the phase of the menstrual cycle;
pain decreases after menopause;
mastopathy is often combined with other hormone-dependent diseases (infertility);
Taking hormonal drugs affects the condition of the mammary glands.

Based on the above facts, the following hormonal agents can be used to treat mastopathy:

antiestrogens;
oral contraceptives;
androgens;
gestagens;
prolactin inhibitors;
LHRH (or gonadotropin-releasing factor analogues).

Hormonal drugs can only be prescribed by a doctor who is guided by the results of the patient’s examination.

Antiestrogens

Antiestrogens such as Tamoxifen and Fareston can be used to block estrogen receptors in breast tissue. With hyperestrogenism, these drugs do not allow estrogens to bind to receptors and reduce their effect on gland tissue.

Antiestrogens have been used to treat mastopathy since the 70s. First, Tamoxifen was used, which was effective in 65-75% of cases. 2-3 months after taking it, patients noted a decrease in mastalgia (in 97% of cases), stabilization of the menstrual cycle and a significant decrease in blood loss during menstruation.

Sometimes at the beginning of treatment, patients noted increased sensations of breast swelling and pain, but over time these adverse reactions decreased. In addition to these side effects, taking Tamoxifen can cause dizziness, nausea, increased sweating and hot flashes.

A number of publications have reported that this drug can have a carcinogenic effect on endometrial tissue and lead to the development of endometrial hyperplasia and cancer. That is why another anti-estrogen drug was created - Fareston (ORION PHARMA INTERNATIONAL, Finland). According to many experts, its active component Toremifene is more effective and has fewer adverse reactions. The first therapeutic effects from taking this drug appear within a month after the start of treatment, and side effects are observed much less frequently.

Oral contraceptives

This group of hormonal drugs is usually prescribed to women under 35 years of age. In addition to protecting against unwanted pregnancy, oral contraceptives help normalize the menstrual cycle and reduce the manifestations of mastopathy in the first 8 weeks after starting use. When properly prescribed, the drugs suppress ovulation, steroidogenesis, the synthesis of ovarian androgens and the synthesis of endometrial estrogen receptors. In some cases, when choosing an oral contraceptive incorrectly, the signs of mastopathy in women increase; in such situations, it is necessary to select another drug.

The following drugs can be used for treatment:

Femoden;
Marvelon (or Mercilon);
Silest;
Janine et al.

When choosing an oral contraceptive, preference is given to means in which the content of estrogens is the lowest and the content of gestagens is higher. The drugs are prescribed for at least 3 months. For the treatment of mastopathy, it is not recommended to prescribe mini-pill oral contraceptives, since the dose of hormones in them is extremely low to affect the woman’s disturbed hormonal levels.

Gestagens

These drugs help suppress estrogen production and slow down the gonadotropic function of the pituitary gland. According to statistics, they are effective in the treatment of mastopathy in 80% of cases. The drugs are prescribed in courses with breaks, the duration of which is determined by the doctor individually for each woman.

Previously, gestagens - testosterone derivatives - Danazol, Linestrinol and Norgestrel were used more often. However, now preference is usually given to progesterone derivatives - medroxyprogesterone acetate. In addition, a progesterone-based topical preparation such as Progestogel (gel) can be used to treat mastopathy. When using it, a woman does not have to experience the side effects that are observed when taking hormones orally.

Androgens

These drugs are estrogen antagonists and suppress their activity. Danazol is usually prescribed for the treatment of mastopathy, which reduces the synthesis of gonadotropic hormone. As a rule, the therapeutic effect is observed in 2 out of 3 women - the structure of the mammary gland becomes homogeneous, and the risk of cysts decreases.

The following side effects may occur when taking Danazol:

nervousness;
weight gain;
swelling;
sweating;
vaginitis, etc.

About them possible emergence The doctor must warn the patient. In addition, the woman should be informed that the contraceptive effect of the drug is very low and unwanted pregnancy against the background of its reception without additional methods contraception may occur.

Prolactin inhibitors

Drugs in this group can only be prescribed for laboratory-proven prolactinemia. To obtain more accurate test results, it is recommended to administer a thyroid-stimulating hormone releasing factor (TRP test) before drawing blood.

With proven prolactinemia, patients with mastopathy can be prescribed the following prolactin inhibitors:

Bromocriptine;
Parlodel.

After taking them, prolactin synthesis decreases, the balance between progesterone and estrogen is normalized, the menstrual cycle is stabilized, mastalgia and nodular formations in the glandular tissues are reduced.

Gonadotropin-releasing factor (or LHRH) analogues

Taking these drugs is usually recommended for severe mastopathy and the ineffectiveness of other hormonal drugs. These drugs help reduce estrogen and testosterone levels. However, LHRH drugs have a large number of side effects such as hot flashes, amenorrhea, dizziness and arterial hypertension. That is why their prescription should always be balanced and focused on a specific clinical situation.

Surgery

In some cases, women suffering from mastopathy cannot do without surgical intervention.

In recent years, most specialists have been wary of surgical treatments for mastopathy. Interventions do not completely eliminate the causes of the disease, and even after several operations, relapses may develop.

As a rule, surgical treatment of mastopathy may be recommended for some patients with the nodular form of this disease and a long absence of the expected effect from conservative therapy. In addition, the operation is indicated for accumulations of microcalcifications, intraductal papillomas, detection of epithelial growths during cytological analysis and the presence of large cysts with hemorrhagic contents. Treatment of such patients should be carried out in an oncology hospital.

The extent of surgical intervention may vary. Generally recommended sectoral resection glands (i.e. removal of the affected area). During the operation, an urgent histological examination of the removed tissue is performed, and if malignant cells are detected, the scope of the intervention can be expanded.

In case of multiple cysts and nodes, intraductal papillomas, extended resection of the gland is performed, and in some cases it is performed complete removal. After such interventions, the patient may be recommended rehabilitation Plastic surgery– mammoplasty.

If solitary cysts are detected, the patient undergoes sclerotherapy of the cysts.

After surgical treatment of mastopathy, all patients are recommended to undergo clinical observation and a course of conservative therapy is prescribed, since the intervention allows eliminating only the foci of tumors, but not the cause of the disease. If atypical cells are detected during histological analysis of removed tissues, the patient is recommended to undergo chemotherapy.

Is it possible to cure mastopathy on your own?

Self-medication of mastopathy is unacceptable, since it is impossible to identify the cause and form of the disease without a comprehensive examination and consultation with a mammologist. Many women try to treat this disease on their own using folk remedies, but this attitude towards their health can cause the development of breast cancer, since mastopathy is considered by all specialists as a precancerous disease.

Only long-term and comprehensive treatment aimed at eliminating the causes of the disease will help you get rid of mastopathy. In some cases it may be supplemented folk ways, but their use should always be discussed with a doctor and combined with the main therapy.

Patients with mastopathy may be recommended sedative, choleretic, diuretic and restorative herbal infusions, which in some cases can be an alternative to pharmacological agents. Before using them, you must exclude all possible contraindications to their components.

Linseed oil

Flax contains substances that help normalize hormonal levels and Omega-3, which help activate the body's anti-cancer defenses. Flax oil can be prescribed in capsule form or in its pure form.

Infusion or decoction of Rhodiola cold (or red brush)

This medicinal plant has an anticarcinogenic effect and promotes:

normalization of estrogen and progesterone levels;
restoration of the functions of the endocrine glands;
elimination of inflammatory reactions in the mammary glands;
strengthening the immune system;
removing toxic substances from the body.

One or more courses of taking an infusion or decoction of red brush helps eliminate pain and swelling of the glands, stop discharge from the nipples and reduce the size of the nodes. In addition, taking this medicinal herb recommended for concomitant diseases such as uterine fibroids, cervical erosion, inflammatory processes in the genital organs and infertility.

Infusion of horse chestnut flowers

To eliminate inflammatory processes in the mammary glands and pain due to mastopathy, it may be recommended to take an infusion of horse chestnut flowers. A teaspoon of plant material is poured into a glass of boiling water and left for half an hour. The strained infusion is taken in between meals, 1/3 cup three times a day.

Compresses with cabbage leaves

To reduce pain due to mastopathy, you can use cabbage leaves. They are applied to the chest in the evening or at night and secured with a bra. Instead of cabbage leaves, you can use burdock, and to enhance the effect, put a mixture of 3 parts grated beets and 1 part honey under the leaf.

Lotions with wormwood infusion

You can eliminate mastalgia with the help of lotions made from wormwood infusion. To do this, pour 5 tablespoons of plant material into 3 cups of boiling water and leave to steep overnight. After this, filter the infusion, add a little warm water, moisten a linen or cotton cloth in it and apply it to the chest for 15 minutes three times a day.

Compresses made from burdock leaves, honey and castor oil

Such compresses are prepared from crushed burdock leaves (100 g), two lemons, castor oil(100 g) and honey (100 g). The components are mixed, applied to a linen or cotton napkin and applied to the chest overnight.

Herbal collection of wormwood, nettle, sage and plantain

To prepare the collection, take two parts of wormwood and one part each of nettle, sage and plantain. A tablespoon of the mixture is poured into 220 ml of boiling water and left for an hour. The infusion is filtered and taken ½ glass 20 minutes after meals three times a day. The course of admission is 2 months. After 14 days the course can be repeated.

Mastopathy is a precancerous disease and requires complex treatment from a specialist. The treatment plan may include non-hormonal and hormonal agents, the use of which is aimed at eliminating the causes of the disease. In some cases, a woman may be recommended surgical treatment.

Which doctor should I contact?

If signs of mastopathy appear - periodic or constant swelling of the mammary glands, pain, discharge from the nipples, lumps in the breast - you should definitely consult a mammologist. To draw up an effective treatment plan for the patient, the following diagnostic tests may be prescribed: ultrasound of the mammary glands, mammography, tests for hormone levels, biopsy with histological examination and etc.

A life full of stress, low physical activity, and poor nutrition do not contribute to maintaining health. Every year, more and more women experience breast problems. Mastopathy is the most common breast disease that any representative of the fair sex can encounter, regardless of age.

What is mastopathy?

This term hides a disease associated with pathological growth of breast tissue. It is characterized by the appearance of dense nodular formations; breast tenderness, swelling, and discharge from the nipples are often noted.

Most often, the disease is diagnosed in women of reproductive age - from 25 to 45 years old, while the detection rate in thirty-year-olds is 30-40%, and in women over forty years of age reaches 80%.

Mammologists distinguish 2 types of mastopathy: nodular and diffuse.

Nodular mastopathy

It is characterized by the appearance of small nodules, which increase in size as the disease progresses and can reach the size of a pea or even a walnut. Seals occur in one or both mammary glands and are either single or multiple. Each of the foci is located separately, without merging with others.

Depending on the changes occurring in tissues, the following are distinguished: forms of nodular mastopathy:

fibrous– neoplasms from glandular tissue predominate;
cystic– characterized by the appearance of one or more cysts;
glandular (lobular)– foci of glandular structure predominate.

Mammologists identify several clinical forms based structure of the pathological focus:

Diffuse mastopathy

Diffuse mastopathy is characterized by the absence of clearly defined boundaries and can involve the entire tissue of the gland, which leads to its enlargement. Depending on the structure of the pathological component, subtypes are distinguished:

cystic– caused by the appearance of compactions in the tissues – cysts, single or multiple, which are fluid-filled neoplasms;
fibrous– characterized by the proliferation of connective tissue, often complicated by narrowing or complete closure of the ducts;
glandular– characterized by the proliferation of glandular epithelium. Can develop in ducts;
mixed (fibrous-cystic)– there is a simultaneous proliferation of connective tissue and an increase in the number of glandular lobules.

The disease may affect one or both breasts, on this basis, unilateral or bilateral mastopathy is distinguished. According to the intensity of the processes occurring manifestations may be minor, moderate or pronounced.

Any form of this disease can contribute to the development of cancer. However, experts consider the nodular type to be the most susceptible to transformation into cancer.

Reasons for appearance

Experts say the main cause is hormonal imbalance.. At normal functioning V female body Cyclic changes occur monthly, including in the mammary glands.

Deficiency of progesterone - the hormone responsible for the menstrual cycle, favorable pregnancy and embryo development, with a simultaneous increase in the amount of estrogens - female sexual hormones are main factors in the development of mastopathy. It is also important to increase the level of prolactin, the hormone responsible for the growth and development of the mammary glands.

In addition to hormonal imbalance causes of mastopathy are:

gynecological diseases, including inflammatory ones (adnexitis, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis);
abortion;
refusal breastfeeding;
diseases of the endocrine system (diseases of the thyroid gland, pituitary gland, metabolic disorders);
heredity;
incorrect selection of hormonal drugs;
lack of iodine in the body;
chest injuries;
wearing underwear of the wrong size;

Symptoms

Ignorance of the main signs of the disease and unawareness of the degree of its seriousness often become the reason for untimely consultation with a doctor and, as a consequence, a severe course of the disease.

The main symptoms are:

the occurrence of nagging pain in the chest before menstruation. The growth of connective tissue compresses the nerve endings, which leads to unpleasant sensations. Over time, the pain does not subside, but, on the contrary, intensifies, covering the armpits and shoulder blades;
swelling and increase in the size of the glands. Due to impaired blood circulation, fluid stagnation occurs in the tissues, which leads to breast swelling. Often accompanied mastodynia– increased breast sensitivity, or mastalgia– pain in the mammary glands. These symptoms are experienced by 90% of women suffering from mastopathy;
palpation in the chest of dense areas with uneven edges, nodules or lobules. At the initial stage, these symptoms are episodic in nature - appearing and disappearing over time;
increase lymph nodes(appears in approximately 10%) and the presence of pain on palpation;
nipple retraction;
discharge from the nipples of fluid resembling colostrum. With a more severe course of the disease, the discharge becomes more abundant, the color varies from transparent to greenish or brown. The presence of bloody spots indicates a dangerous stage of the disease;
disruption or change in the usual menstrual cycle;
the occurrence of problems with ovulation and, as a consequence, the development of secondary infertility;
deterioration of hair and nails.

Often the above symptoms are accompanied by increased irritability, tearfulness, and anxiety.

The clinical picture of manifestations in postmenopausal women may differ significantly from the above. Most often they complain of rough skin around the nipples and nodular formations in the upper part of the chest.

The presence of even one of specified symptoms should alert and become a reason for an immediate visit to the doctor.

Diagnostics

The correctness and timeliness of treatment of any disease directly depends on the diagnostic studies . Currently, the following methods are used to identify mastopathy:

palpation;
mammography;

Palpation

Palpation (or palpation), despite its apparent simplicity, is an effective method for identifying breast diseases. It allows you to determine the presence of neoplasms, but cannot independently recognize their type and nature of changes.

Mastering the skills of self-examination allows a woman to monitor the condition of her breasts on a regular basis, promptly identifying changes occurring in it.

Mammography

This is an x-ray examination of the mammary glands, which makes it possible to promptly identify pathological changes in tissues. The method is highly effective, simple and safe. Currently, every woman over 35 years of age is recommended to undergo a mammological examination every two years, and after reaching the age of 50 - annually.

Ultrasonography

It is characterized by high information content and complete safety, including for pregnant and nursing mothers. Allows you to identify the nature of the changes that have occurred. However, the efficiency of diagnosing tumors smaller than 1 cm is quite low.

In some cases, a biopsy is required to make a definitive diagnosis.

Any of these types of examination should be carried out on days 6–10 of the menstrual cycle.

Self-diagnosis at home

Paying close attention to yourself and regular self-diagnosis allows you to identify breast diseases at an early stage. 80% of neoplasms in the mammary glands are benign and respond well to conservative treatment.

By spending just 5 minutes monthly on self-diagnosis, a woman can promptly notice the first signs of the disease.

Standing in front of a mirror with your hands down, you should carefully compare the appearance and size of both glands, the condition of the skin, and nipples. Then, raising your arms up, you should bend forward - back and right - left to assess the symmetry of the movements.

Moving your left hand behind your head, you must right hand feel around left breast for the presence of compactions, nodules, swelling, carefully listening to the sensations. Repeat the same with the right breast.

By squeezing the nipple with your fingers at its base, you should determine the presence of discharge from it.

Having taken a lying position, you should feel each breast in a circular motion in the direction from the edge to the nipples, trying to identify possible changes structures: compactions, swellings, nodules.

Palpation is performed with the pads of the fingers, gradually increasing the pressure force. Finally, the armpits are examined.

In addition to identifying seals of various types, the development of mastopathy may be indicated by:

change in size and shape, the appearance of pronounced asymmetry;
deterioration of the skin of the breast - the presence of wrinkled, sunken, protruding areas;
discharge from the nipples, changes in their size or shape;
palpation is accompanied by painful sensations.

Drug treatment

The main method of treating mastopathy is medication.. Specialists successfully use hormonal and non-hormonal drugs. The medication regimen in each case is compiled individually, depending on the type of disease, the presence of gynecological problems and hormonal levels.

Hormonal drugs

Experts consider the following remedies to be the most effective:

Antiestrogens– drugs that reduce the production of estrogen in the body. To achieve a lasting effect, medications must be taken over a long period of time. Highly efficient:

"Tamoxifen"- a drug specifically intended for the treatment of estrogen-sensitive tumors and malignant diseases mammary glands. Its use requires close medical supervision, since the list of possible complications is quite extensive, and their occurrence is noted in every tenth woman.
"Fareston" It is also highly effective due to its antiestrogenic and antitumor effects. When taken systematically, painful breast engorgement completely disappears and typical manifestations of mastopathy are eliminated. However, Fareston has many contraindications and side effects, so it can only be taken under the supervision of a doctor.

Androgens- drugs that reduce ovarian activity and thereby slow down the ovulation process. Systematic reception Androgen drugs can completely eliminate lumps in the breast. The most popular among specialists "Dinazol". Despite the fact that the list of contraindications is quite long, the effectiveness of this medication justifies the possible risks. 2 out of 3 women are able to recover completely.

Gestagens– block the production of genadotropite, thereby preventing ovulation. This type of medication is used in cycles, the therapeutic effect reaches 80%. Successfully used to combat mastopathy “Norkolut”, “Pregnil”, “Pregnin”. Before use, it is imperative to exclude the presence of cancer in the patient.

Oral contraceptives – not only prevent ovulation, but also normalize the menstrual cycle and reduce the manifestations of mastopathy. Widely used "Marvelon" And "Mersilon","Silest" And "Femoden".

Among the external medications most often prescribed Progestogel ointment. The content of synthetic progesterone reaches 1%, which allows the ointment to effectively prevent tumor growth and tissue swelling. The substance has local action, is not absorbed into the blood and does not affect hormonal levels.

Non-hormonal drugs

Medicines in this group are often used in the initial stages of the disease. They allow you not only to get rid of pain symptoms, but also to completely recover from mastopathy.

Adaptogens– drugs that increase the body’s resistance to conditions environment. Their restorative effect has a positive effect on the body as a whole, preventing the degeneration of tumors.

Taking a dietary supplement "Klamin" eliminates typical symptoms and prevents their occurrence in the future.
"Indinol" normalizes the content of estrogen in the body, prevents the occurrence of pathological phenomena in the mammary gland and eliminates existing ones. For successful treatment, it is recommended to take 1 capsule per day for 2 weeks.

Homeopathic remedies:

"Mastodinon"- the most popular drug of modern mammologists - shows excellent results in the fight against mastopathy. A specially selected extract of medicinal herbs reduces prolactin levels, eliminating the symptoms of the disease and preventing tissue proliferation. Mastodinon also reduces swelling and pain in the chest.
Often, specialists also prescribe "Cyclodenone" And "Remens".

Besides medical supplies and dietary supplements in complex treatment, vitamins, iodine and potassium preparations, sedatives and enzymes are used. With the nodular form, surgical intervention is often required.

Folk recipes

Diffuse mastopathy, especially in the initial stages, is highly treatable traditional methods. Used in therapy herbal teas, ointments, applications, compresses.

The success of herbal treatment has been proven by many years of experience. It is effectively used in complex therapy and as an addition to medications.

Herbs can have a significant effect on human hormonal levels. Particularly popular among them are: red brush and hogweed.

Red brush decoction

Red brush– a medicinal herb that effectively eliminates hormonal imbalance, which increases immunity and improves general state body. Its regular use prevents the development of pathological phenomena in the mammary glands, copes with problems of the endocrine system and gynecological diseases.

To prepare a decoction of red brush (or, as it is also called, Siberian ginseng) you will need to pour 1 tablespoon of dry herb into a glass of water, bring to a boil and keep on fire for 10 minutes. Let it brew well, strain. Take 70–80 ml 3 times a day half an hour before meals for 30–45 days.

Alcohol tincture from boron uterus

Hog queen– a centuries-tested medicinal product that has a positive effect on hormonal levels due to the content of natural phytoestrogen and progesterone. The drug has pronounced antitumor and immunostimulating properties, so its systematic use allows you to completely get rid of the symptoms of the disease and prevents the development of malignant neoplasms.

Borovaya uterus is used in the form of decoctions and tinctures. To prepare the tincture, pour 5 tablespoons of dry crushed herbs into a bottle of vodka and leave for 3 weeks, stirring daily. Take 15–30 drops an hour before meals for a month.

Decoction of boron uterus

A decoction is prepared from 3 tablespoons of medicinal herbs and 300 ml of water. The mixture should be boiled for 5 minutes, let it brew, and strain after cooling. Take the decoction 3 times a day, 1 tablespoon 30 minutes before meals.

Celandine ointment

In complex treatment, ointment prepared from celandine shows good results. The dried herb must be crushed to a powdery state, add 2 teaspoons of olive oil, stir. Apply the ointment to a linen napkin and apply to the problem area, wrap with a towel and leave for 5 hours.

Burdock compress

The antitumor properties of burdock make it possible to effectively cope with the initial stages of the disease. A medium-sized leaf should be washed and crushed a little so that the juice begins to flow out of it. Place in a bra cup and leave overnight. The recommended course duration is 2 weeks.

Cabbage compress

Common vegetables found in every kitchen help get rid of lumps and nodules. The simplicity and effectiveness of this recipe make it one of the most common methods of treating mastopathy. You need to grate a small beet on a fine grater, add a spoonful of honey and mix. Place the resulting mixture on a cabbage leaf, which is carefully placed in the bra. It is recommended to carry out the procedure daily until the nodules completely disappear.

Sweet clover poultice

Pour a tablespoon of sweet clover with a glass of water, bring to a boil and cook for 3-4 minutes. Cool slightly and then strain through cheesecloth. Dilute 2 tablespoons of starch in a small amount of cold water, combine with the broth and boil until thickened. Allow to cool slightly, place in plastic bags and place on problem areas of the chest. Additional wrapping with a terry towel allows you to increase the useful exposure time.

Applications from medicinal herbs

It is recommended to use fresh raw materials for preparing applications. It is necessary to grind the leaves of burdock, celandine or sweet clover (your choice) through a meat grinder, apply the pulp on a linen napkin and apply directly to the seal for 5–7 minutes. The procedure can be performed several times a day for a month.

Propolis ointment

Grind butter with finely grated propolis in a ratio of 2:1 and place the mixture in a clay pot. Place a brick on a gas burner, heat it up and let the ointment simmer in a pot. The preparation process takes 3 hours, after cooling the drug is ready for use. It is recommended to lubricate the affected areas 2 times a day.

Herbal pharmacies widely offer special herbal teas , which cope well with the first manifestations and are successfully used in the complex treatment of the disease. This “Mastofit”, “Monastery collection No. 13”, “Alfit” and similar.

Dangerous consequences

For many women, especially at a young age, mastopathy does not cause any particular concern. With adequate treatment, complete recovery occurs in the vast majority. However, this disease is dangerous due to its relapses. Often this occurs due to the lack of accurate diagnosis and failure to identify the root cause of the disease. In some cases, the appearance of lumps in the breast is caused by problems with the thyroid gland. Without appropriate treatment of the underlying disease, concomitant mastopathy is highly likely to return.

Advanced forms can have irreversible consequences - the development of cancerous tumors. And although these diseases are not directly related to each other, the mechanisms of their formation are identical. The most dangerous is the nodular form, which in most cases requires urgent surgical intervention.

Therefore, regular visits to a specialist will help identify the problem in the initial stages and prevent more serious consequences.

Prevention

To reduce the likelihood of developing mastopathy, The following principles should be followed:

complete balanced diet. Regular intake of all necessary nutrients into the body nutrients allow it to function normally. Daily consumption of vegetables and fruits provides the body with the fiber necessary for the timely elimination of toxins and waste;
physical activity. Exercising reduces the production of estrogen, which has a positive effect on the condition of the mammary gland;
quitting smoking and alcohol;
comfortable psychological condition. Nervous overstrain and stress changes hormonal levels and can cause illness;
full 8-hour sleep;
balanced intake of vitamins and preparations containing iodine;
Competent selection of linen. It is necessary to choose models without metal pits and corresponding to the size. Bra cups that are too tight can cause cysts;
regular visits to the doctor. Allows you to detect the disease at an early stage and select the optimal treatment regimen.
dosed sunbathing. Direct sunlight promotes active cell division, including poor quality ones. The safe time is before 11 a.m. and after 4 p.m.

Video: what is mastopathy and how to treat it?

Attentive attitude towards oneself guarantees every person a full, rich life. Timely detection of mastopathy allows you to begin adequate treatment without delay and avoid irreversible consequences.

Of all breast diseases, fibrocystic disease, or fibrocystic mastopathy, is the most common. It occurs in almost 30% of all women, and in women under 30 years of age - in every fourth case of visiting an antenatal clinic. Among women suffering from chronic gynecological diseases, mastopathy was found in 30-70%.

What is mastopathy

The term “mastopathy” combines about 30 synonymous terms - mammary dysplasia, dyshormonal mammary hyperplasia, Schimmelbusch disease, chronic cystic mastitis, masoplasia, cystic mastopathy, mastodynia, etc.

All these and many other terms are used to designate those numerous changes of a morphological nature (proliferative, cystic, fibrous), which are often, but not necessarily, present simultaneously and are united by one common name.

In practical medicine, the term “mastopathy” is used in relation to many benign diseases of the mammary glands, differing in the variety of clinical manifestations and, most importantly, histomorphological structure, and united by the main cause of their occurrence - hormonal imbalances in the body.

Thus, mastopathy is a group of benign diseases, morphologically characterized by a wide range of both regressive and proliferative processes, in which a pathological relationship between the connective tissue and epithelial components of the mammary glands occurs with the occurrence of cystic, fibrous and proliferative changes.

Why is mastopathy dangerous? Despite the fact that this disease is benign and is not considered directly a precancer, at the same time, breast cancer develops on average 4 times more often against the background of diffuse diseases of the latter and 40 times more often against the background of cystic forms with signs of growth (proliferation) of epithelial cells. The risk of malignancy in non-proliferative forms of mastopathy is no more than 1%, with moderate proliferation of the epithelium - about 2.5%, and in the case of significant proliferation, the risk of breast cancer increases to 31.5%.

From this point of view, the prevention and treatment of mastopathy are at the same time the real prevention of malignant neoplasms. Unfortunately, 90% of pathological formations are detected by women on their own, and only in other cases are they discovered by medical workers by chance as a result of a preventive examination.

Combination of dishormonal hyperplasias with malignant neoplasms, identified in most studies, is explained by the common causes and risk factors, the identity of certain variants of mastopathy and malignant tumors, and similar hormonal and metabolic disorders in the body.

Types of mastopathy

Due to the great variety morphological forms diseases exist various classifications. In practice, depending on the predominance of certain changes identified during palpation (palpation) and/or mammography, as well as taking into account the results of histological examination, three main forms of the disease are distinguished, which some authors consider various stages development of the same pathological process:

Diffuse large- or small-focal, representing an early stage of the development of the disease. The histological picture is determined by areas of the organ with a normal structure, hyperplastic (enlarged) and atrophic lobules, dilated ducts and small cysts, coarsening and proliferation of connective tissue structures and collagen fibers.
Nodular, characterized by a predominance of cystic elements and fibrous tissue, the proliferation of gland lobules and epithelial cells that line the inner surface of cysts and milk ducts. The detection of individual atypical cells is a reason to characterize this form as a precancerous condition.
Mixed, or diffuse nodular - nodular formations of more or less pronounced size are determined against the background diffuse changes mammary glands.

In turn, diffuse and nodular forms are classified into types. The diffuse form is divided into:

adenosis, in which the glandular component predominates;
fibroadenosis - fibrous component;
fibrocystic - cystic component;
sclerosing adenosis - compact proliferation of gland lobules with preservation of the inner and outer epithelial layers and the configuration of the lobules, despite compression of the latter by fibrous tissues;
mixed form.

In the nodal form, the following types are distinguished:

adenomatous, which is excessively overgrown glandular passages with the formation of small adenomas, consisting of enlarged elements of the glandular structure located close to each other;
fibroadenomatous, including leaf-shaped - a fast-growing connective tissue formation of a layered structure containing cellular elements, cysts and glandular ducts, which are lined with growing epithelial cells;
cystic;
intraductal papilloma, Mintz disease, or bleeding mammary gland; is an easily injured overgrown epithelium in the dilated excretory duct behind the areola or close to the nipple;
lipogranuloma, or;
hemangioma (vascular tumor);
hamartoma, consisting of glandular, adipose and fibrous tissue.

Despite the fact that malignant tumors of the mammary glands are not necessarily the consequences of fibrocystic changes. However, their presence greatly increases the risk of developing cancer, which largely depends on the severity of epithelial proliferation inside the ducts and glandular lobules. In accordance with histological studies of material obtained during operations, in 46% malignant tumors are combined with diffuse tumors. This fact further supports the assumption that the prevention of mastopathy is also the prevention of breast cancer.

Causes of the disease and risk factors

The etiology and mechanisms of development of mastopathy have not been fully elucidated, but a direct connection has been established primarily between the development of this pathology and the state of hormone balance in the body. Therefore, the hormonal theory of the formation of diffuse fibrocystic disease was the basis for the name of the disease dishormonal mammary hyperplasia.

The latter are an organ that is highly sensitive to any changes in the level of hormones, especially sex hormones, and at any time in a woman’s life. The mammary glands are never in states characterized by functional rest. Their development and condition, physiological changes during menstrual cycles after puberty, activation of function during pregnancy and lactation are carried out and regulated through a whole hormonal complex.

These hormones include GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone) of the hypothalamic region of the brain, prolactin, luteinizing and follicle-stimulating hormones of the pituitary gland, thyroid-stimulating and chorionic hormones, glucocorticosteroids and insulin, and, most importantly, sex hormones (androgens, estrogens, progesterone).

Therefore, any hormonal imbalance, especially between progesterone and estrogens, among which estradiol has the maximum effect on the mammary gland, is accompanied by changes in the structure of its tissues and, as a consequence, the development of mastopathy. The differentiation (specialization) of cells, their division, development and proliferation of epithelial cells of the organ ducts depend on estradiol. This hormone also induces the development of the structural and functional unit of the gland (lobules), the development of the vascular network and the filling of connective tissue with fluid.

Progesterone prevents the division and proliferation of the epithelium of the milk ducts, reduces permeability small vessels caused by the action of estrogen. By reducing swelling of connective tissue, progesterone ensures lobular-alveolar separation and promotes the development of glandular tissues, lobules and alveoli.

The greatest importance is relative (in relation to estrogens) or absolute deficiency of progesterone. Its deficiency causes not only edema, but also an increase in the mass and volume of connective tissues inside the lobules, as well as growth of the epithelium of the ducts, leading to a decrease in their diameter, blockage and the formation of cysts. The hormone is able to reduce the degree of activity of estrogen receptors, reduce the local concentration of active estrogens, which helps limit the stimulation of proliferation of glandular tissue.

An increased concentration of the hormone prolactin in the blood also plays a certain role in the development of mastopathy, which leads to an increase in the number of receptors in the tissues of the glands that perceive estradiol. This helps to increase the sensitivity of gland cells to the latter and accelerate the growth of epithelium in it. In addition, an increase in the level of prolactin is one of the reasons for the imbalance in the ratio of estrogen and progesterone, which is accompanied by corresponding symptoms in the second phase of the menstrual cycle - swelling, engorgement and tenderness of the mammary glands.

There are quite a few causative risk factors, but the main ones are:

Mastopathy and pregnancy are to a certain extent related. If late or interrupted pregnancy, as well as infertility, are risk factors for the development of mastopathy, as mentioned above, then, accordingly, its presence, and even more so repeat pregnancies and childbirth can be considered prevention of the disease. In addition, some authors believe that during pregnancy there may be a delay in the development of mastopathy and a decrease in the degree of its manifestations. This is explained by the high content of progesterone in a woman’s body during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Symptoms of mastopathy

Diagnosis of any pathology is based on finding out the history of the disease during a conversation with the patient, his subjective feelings and external visual and palpation examinations. All this allows the clinician to choose further methods of instrumental and laboratory diagnostics in order to establish a diagnosis, provoking factors and concomitant diseases that influence the development of a specific pathology.

The main and most characteristic initial signs of mastopathy:

It should be noted that enlargement of regional lymph nodes, their soreness and temperature during mastopathy are not signs of the latter. Increasing local and/or general temperature body, enlargement of supra- and subclavian, axillary lymph nodes usually occur in the presence of inflammatory processes in the mammary gland (). In addition, when examining the mammary glands, the doctor always carefully checks the regional lymph nodes, which are the first site of metastasis of a malignant tumor.

Diagnosis of the disease

Easy accessibility of the mammary glands for visual examination and manual examination, great similarity in different periods their functioning physiological changes with many forms of pathology often lead to erroneous interpretation of the examination results and are the cause of both over- and under-diagnosis.

Therefore, clinical examination data should be supplemented by such basic research methods as x-ray mammography and ultrasound diagnostics, allowing to confirm, clarify or reject a preliminary diagnosis.

The X-ray method is the most informative, allowing timely detection of gland pathology in 85 - 95% of cases. The World Health Organization recommends every 2 years any healthy woman after 40 years, and after 50 years - annually. The study is carried out from the 5th to the 10th day of the menstrual cycle in two projections (direct and lateral). If necessary, targeted (certain limited area) radiography is performed.

For women 35-40 years of age, pregnant and nursing mothers, it is recommended to carry out an echographic examination every six months. Its advantages are safety and high resolution. Ultrasound can accurately distinguish cavitary formations from solid ones, examine glands with high density(in young women, with tissue swelling as a result of injury or acute inflammation), conduct targeted puncture biopsy. In addition, ultrasound makes it possible to visualize X-ray negative tumor formations located close to the chest wall and regional lymph nodes, and to carry out dynamic monitoring of treatment results.

Women with breast pathologies often need hormonal testing. These lab tests in some cases, they make it possible to establish the cause of the disease, risk factors, and adjust treatment in terms of the use of certain hormonal agents.

How to treat mastopathy

There are no generally accepted standard principles of therapy, despite the prevalence of the disease and the importance of its early detection and treatment for cancer prevention.

Treatment of women with nodular forms begins with a puncture (using a thin needle) aspiration biopsy. If signs of dysplasia (improper development of connective tissue structures) are detected in the node, surgical treatment is recommended - sectoral resection or complete removal of the organ (mastectomy) with mandatory emergency histological examination of the removed tissues.

Diet

Diet for mastopathy has preventive and therapeutic importance, since nutrition largely affects the metabolic processes of sex hormones, especially estrogens. It is recommended to limit the consumption of carbohydrates and fats, meat products, which helps reduce the content of estrogens in the blood and normalize the ratio of androgens and estrogens. In addition, it has been proven anti-cancer properties coarse types of fiber found in vegetables and fruits, especially some grain products.

It is important to eat food that contains large quantities of vitamins and microelements, especially iodine, zinc, selenium, magnesium, titanium, and silicon. To replenish them, it is advisable to take additional special food additives and vitamin-mineral complexes in dragees. One of these drugs is Triovit in peas, enclosed in capsules.

Taking hormonal medications

Since the main cause of mastopathy is hormonal disorders, the main goal of therapy is their correction. For this purpose, progestogens are most often used. hormonal drugs, the mechanism of effect of which is based on suppressing the activity of the pituitary-ovarian system, reducing the degree of stimulating effect of estrogens on breast tissue.

For these purposes, Utrogestan, Duphaston and especially Progestogel Gel are used. The latter contains micronized plant progesterone, identical to endogenous and acting at the cellular level. At the same time, it does not increase the hormone content in the blood serum. It is applied to the skin for 3 months from the 16th to 25th day of the menstrual cycle or daily.

Homeopathy

In recent years, homeopathy has taken a certain place in the prevention and treatment of diffuse forms of mastopathy, based on the use of small doses of active components contained in plants, minerals, substances of animal origin, etc. They do not cause negative side effects. Their action is aimed at stimulating and maintaining the protective abilities of the body itself. Homeopathic remedies include tablets for mastopathy such as:

After consultation with the doctor, treatment of mastopathy at home can be carried out using infusions prepared independently from the above or other individual medicinal plants or herbal collections that are offered by the pharmacy chain.

Patients often ask the question, is it possible to do massage for mastopathy? Physiotherapy, ointments, massage, compresses not only in the area of the mammary glands, but also soft tissues in the area thoracic of the spine lead to the expansion of small and medium-sized vessels, increasing the volume of blood flowing to the tissues of the organ. This helps to increase tissue nutrition and accelerate metabolic processes, which stimulates the growth of existing tumor formations. Therefore, mastopathy is a contraindication for the use of such treatments for the named zones and areas.

For engorgement and swelling of the mammary glands, accompanied by pain, Dimexide can be used externally, but not as compresses or ointment, but in the form of 25 or 50% gel, produced in tubes. The drug has anti-inflammatory and moderate analgesic effects when applied to the skin of the mammary glands.

Conducted studies of women in reproductive age and suffering from various gynecological pathologies, revealed a diffuse form of mastopathy in an average of 30%, mixed (diffuse-nodular) in the same number of patients; nodular forms of mastopathy were usually combined with uterine myomatosis, endometrial hyperplasia and genital endometriosis. Thus, the choice of treatment methods depends on the form of the pathology, the presence of hormonal imbalance and concomitant diseases.

Most women do not pay due attention when their breasts swell and hurt before menstrual bleeding. In the meantime, a long-term development of a rather serious disease - mastopathy - is possible.

Up to 90% of women suffer from this pathology of the mammary glands at a young or mature age. At the same time, some forms of the disease significantly increase the risk of developing breast cancer - the most common cancer pathology among women. The information provided about what breast mastopathy is, how to treat it and identify it in the early stages will help you avoid serious illnesses and maintain your own health.

What is mastopathy?

Mastopathy is a pathological condition of the mammary glands, characterized by a benign proliferation of one or another type of tissue: connective, glandular or epithelial, lining the ducts of the gland. In this case, cystic formations, cords or hard lumps form in the breast. In the early stages of mastopathy development, tumors can resolve and reappear. However, in the absence timely treatment, the seals are stable and prone to malignant degeneration.

Since the mammary glands are an integral part of a woman’s reproductive system, there is a clear dependence of the condition of the breast on the balance of sex hormones in the body. Hormonal imbalance can be caused by a lack of progesterone and hypersynthesis of estrogen in ovarian pathology, high levels of prostaglandins (increase sensitivity to estrogen) and prolactin (produced by the pituitary gland). When the hormonal balance is disturbed, the disease usually takes several years to develop, although occasionally mastopathy is diagnosed in girls.

Signs of mammary gland mastopathy may appear in the following situations:

burdened heredity - identified breast diseases, benign or malignant, in women in previous generations;
puberty before 12 years of age;
the onset of menopause after 55 years;
failure to become pregnant before age 30;
miscarriages and, especially, abortions;
gynecological pathology - fibroids and uterine polyps, endometriosis, adnexitis and infertility, accompanied by amenorrhea (absence of menstruation) and anovulation (non-ripening of the egg);
sexually transmitted infections, especially chronic ones;
iodine deficiency and thyroid disease;
tumors of the pituitary gland, hypothalamus;
liver pathology, gallbladder and adrenal gland diseases.
refusal of breastfeeding or a short period of breastfeeding.

Manifestation of mastopathy in a woman, chest pain

Activation of the process of benign proliferation of breast tissue is facilitated by:

obesity - the more adipose tissue in the body, the more estrogen is deposited in it;
bad habits, overuse coffee and mono-diets;
tanning in the sun or in a solarium;
wearing an incorrectly selected bra (everyone’s favorite push-up, options with underwires) and, conversely, complete failure from breast support;
injuries - blows to the chest, even minor compression in public transport;
permanent stay in under stress and depression;
self-administration of hormonal contraceptives;
irregular sexual contacts or complete absence of sexual activity in a woman.

These factors negatively affect hormonal background: the more there are, the higher the risk of developing mastopathy.

Important! If a woman has hypertension, obesity and diabetes, the risk of developing mastopathy increases 3 times.

Types of mastopathy and symptoms of the disease

In its development, mastopathy goes through several stages. They all differ in morphological changes and symptoms. Treatment tactics depend on the form of the disease.

Diffuse mastopathy

Diffuse proliferation of breast tissue is the initial stage of mastopathy development. In this case, connective tissue cords and small nodular seals are formed. The pathological process occurs with predominance:

glandular growth - pockets of small compactions appear directly in the breast tissue;
fibrous component - changes are dense cords (fibrous mastopathy of the mammary glands);
cystic growth - small compactions are cavities with a diameter of 1-2 mm, filled with liquid.

The mixed fibrocystic form is more often diagnosed, which is why mastopathy is often called fibrocystic disease. Formed compactions periodically disappear and may appear in another place. In this case, upon palpation of the gland, a clear division into lobules and fine granularity is determined.

Important! Even the initial form - cystic and fibrous - predisposes to the development of oncopathology.

Symptoms of diffuse mastopathy appear several days before menstruation. Gradually, the breasts increase in size and become coarser (become very dense), increasing Blunt pain pulling/aching character. Some women, immediately before menstrual bleeding, cannot touch their breasts; even walking provokes pain. With the arrival of menstruation, the pain subsides, and by the end of menstruation the breasts take their previous shape. All compactions resolve, even palpable small formations in cystic mastopathy of the mammary gland.

Nodular mastopathy

The next stage of mastopathy is the formation of persistent nodes with a diameter of 0.5-3.0 cm. In this case, spherical seals do not disappear after menstruation, they can be felt at any time. Symptoms of mastopathy also do not depend on the menstrual period. The pain is felt constantly, radiating to the arm, armpit and scapula on the affected side.

Painful sensations are sometimes quite sharp, stabbing or shooting. Often, when pressed, the nipples release liquid, colorless or whitish, similar to colostrum. Women often complain of insomnia, malaise and anxiety.

In rare cases, enlargement of the axillary lymph nodes may occur.

Differences between mastopathy and other diseases

Before treating mastopathy of the mammary glands, this disease should be distinguished from other pathologies.

Mastodynia is characterized by uniform thickening of the mammary glands and pain before menstruation. However, there are no morphological changes in the structure of the gland. Increased breast size and pain are associated with swelling. Mastodynia - breast enlargement and pain before menstrual bleeding - does not always mean the presence of mastopathy.
A breast cyst is clinically similar to a nodular form of mastopathy. With mastopathy, the boundaries of pathologically altered tissues are blurred, and the lesion cannot be separated from the surrounding tissues. The cyst has a clear round or oval shape and is not fused with surrounding tissues. The diameter of the cyst reaches 7.0 cm. From the nodular form, cystic formations are often formed, which over time become overgrown with fibrous tissue.
Mastitis most often develops after childbirth (insufficient or improper pumping) or during the period of cessation of breastfeeding. With mastitis, obvious signs of inflammation appear: redness of the skin, severe aching or throbbing (with suppuration) pain, hardening of the mammary gland lobe.
Breast cancer, as an independent disease, manifests itself symptomatically only when the malignant tumor reaches a large size. At the same time, general symptoms come to the fore - causeless fatigue, weight loss, and sometimes fever up to 37.2C. The appearance of lymph nodes in armpits(normally not palpable) means the spread of oncological pathology.

Important! If lumps are detected in the mammary glands on ultrasound or mammography, a puncture biopsy is prescribed. Only a cytological examination will make it possible to differentiate the diagnosis with high accuracy and determine the form of benign growth of the mammary gland. Breast X-ray is contraindicated during pregnancy and breastfeeding; women under 35 years of age are prescribed only when indicated.

Mastopathy is a precancerous disease, so it is necessary to treat it. This disease, unlike mastodynia, does not go away on its own! Treatment tactics directly depends on the form of the pathology, let’s look at it in more detail.

Conservative therapy for diffuse form

Conservative treatment is effective only for diffuse growth. Treat fibrous and cystic mastopathy The mammary gland needs to be comprehensive:

Hormonal therapy - drugs are prescribed depending on the identified disorder: most often prescribed are Duphaston, Norkalut, Urozhestani drugs from the group of oral contraceptives (Marvelon, Femoden), after 45 years - androgens (Methyltestosterone, for endometriosis - Danazol);
Herbal preparations that affect hormonal levels - Mastodinon, Remens in courses of at least 6 months;
Symptomatic drugs - diuretics (Veroshpiron, Lasix) to reduce tissue swelling, painkillers (NSAIDs are usually used - Ketanov, Naproxen, Ketorolac, Ibuprofen, which simultaneously prevent tissue proliferation);
Treatment of inflammatory processes in the uterus and ovaries;
Vitamin therapy (vit. A, C, E, P, B12) and sedatives of plant origin (motherwort, valerian);
Immune stimulants - ginseng, tincture of Eleutherococcus, Echinacea or Schisandra chinensis (only with laboratory confirmed absence of a malignant process!);
Physiotherapy - drug electrophoresis, acupuncture, laser therapy;
Local treatment - Novocaine lotions to reduce pain, compresses with Dimexide, mastopathy cream Fitol-1, Mamma-gel, Lekar and Mastokrel (herbal), Progestogel (contains progesterone, prescribed according to indications), Mastofit (contains biologically active substances ).

Important! Excellent results in the treatment of mastopathy are given by tinctures of boron uterus and red brush, and Caucasian hellebore powder. However, herbal treatment must be approved by the treating mammologist.

At home, the following measures will help alleviate the condition:

Avoiding coffee, strong tea and soda helps reduce breast swelling during the premenstrual period;
Limited amount of salt during the premenstrual period;
Control of intestinal function - eliminating constipation, saturating the diet with fiber (vegetables, fruits);
Compliance with the drinking regime - at least 1.5-2 liters per day;
Adding active supplements containing selenium and iodine to food;
Selecting a comfortable bra, be sure to have wide straps to support large breasts.

When treating diffuse mastopathy, the following recommendations should be followed:

You cannot massage your back or mammary glands or visit baths/saunas.
Sunbathing is not recommended.
Allowed to become pregnant.
Breastfeeding is fully encouraged.

Treatment of nodular mastopathy

In the nodular form, it is useless to hope for resorption of the seals even with complex therapy. Small nodes require observation and restoration of hormonal balance. The operation is performed in the following cases:

a sharp increase in the diameter of the node by 2 times over the last 3 months;
rapid diffuse growth around dense nodes;
the formation of multiple or large cysts filled with fluid;
suspicion of cancerous degeneration of the neoplasm.

Most operations for nodular mastopathy are performed under local anesthesia. However, with an extensive fibrotic process around the nodes local anesthetics are not effective, in such cases general anesthesia is required. Options surgical removal foci of nodular mastopathy:

Puncture of the node - the liquid of their capsule is sucked out with a puncture needle with the hope of further gluing the walls. However, such tactics are only advisable for “fresh” compactions. In most cases, the cyst is filled with fluid again, then it is necessary to puncture the formation again and then peel out its walls.
Cryodestruction, radiofrequency and laser ablation of tumors are modern, highly effective techniques that are characterized by low trauma to surrounding tissues. The operation is carried out through a puncture, all actions are monitored on the monitor. However, the use of these technologies is advisable for single nodes in the chest.
Sectoral resection - excision of part of the mammary gland is advisable only in case of multiple nodes. Most traumatic surgical method, is difficult for women to tolerate. When a significant part of the mammary gland is excised, breast volume is restored using plastic surgery.

Important! To prevent the reappearance of dense nodes in the mammary gland after radical intervention, hormonal levels must be adjusted.

Forecast

In the early diagnosis of the disease, and therefore for the use of the least radical methods treatment, independent palpation of the mammary glands plays a role. The most reliable results - palpation of lumps - are determined 7-9 days from the start of menstrual bleeding. At later stages of the menstrual cycle, mastopathy can be confused with mastodynia.

The main complication of the disease is cancerous degeneration of tissues. The presence of diffuse mastopathy increases the risk of malignancy by 2-3%, the nodular form increases the likelihood of developing oncopathology by 30% or more. The risk group includes women over 30 years of age, for a long time suffering from illness.

Timely initiation of conservative therapy, in most cases, leads to the resorption of compactions and prevents the development of new lesions. However, the duration and effectiveness of treatment depends on the body’s individual response to hormonal drugs. At the same time, prolonged use of them can provoke undesirable side effects - weight gain, the appearance of facial hair when treated with drugs that contain androgens.

Mastopathy or fibroadenomatosis is a fibrocystic disease of the mammary gland, which most often occurs due to a disturbed hormonal balance. The disease is characterized by the proliferation of connective and glandular tissue, leading to the formation of seals and cysts. The disease is diagnosed in 60-80% of women aged 18-45 years. It occurs infrequently during menopause.

Reasons for development

Mastopathy is a pathological process that can develop into malignant. The main function of the mammary glands is to produce breast milk to feed the baby. Every month they undergo cyclical changes, which are regulated by sex hormones. With their pathological relationship, proliferation of the epithelium occurs, which contributes to the appearance of fibroadenomatosis. First of all, hormones act on the parenchyma. During pregnancy, it is influenced by placental estrogens, lactogen, prolactin and progesterone. The stroma is subject to hormonal influence to the least extent, but hyperplasia can also appear in it.

Common causes of the disease:

With absence normal sleep and in stressful situations, there is a lack of dopamine, which prevents the excessive production of prolactin. In other words, when dopamine levels are low, prolactin is produced in the pituitary gland.

In addition, progesterone is synthesized in the ovaries in insufficient quantities, as a result of which estrogens begin to predominate. As a result, cells in the mammary gland rapidly divide, and the number of milk ducts increases.

Diets for weight loss can provoke mastopathy. If the body lacks certain necessary substances, hormone production and metabolism are disrupted.

Inflammatory processes of the ovaries and fallopian tubes lead to their insufficiency, which contributes to a decrease in the synthesis of estrogen. At the same time, production is also weakened.

With cholecystitis and hepatitis, protein synthesis is disrupted, as a result of which estrogen becomes more active.

The disease is often caused by local inflammation or hematoma. This can happen due to wearing uncomfortable bras or injury. Thus, in a sore spot, cell proliferation processes intensify, which leads to the appearance of a compaction.

Types of disease

There are different types of mastopathy, each type is characterized by its own manifestations. There are two main forms of the disease: nodular (benign tumor or liquid formation) and diffuse (many nodules in the gland). The latter is of the following types:

Diffuse mastopathy is manifested by soreness of the mammary glands, sensitivity may increase, and sometimes swelling occurs. During palpation, a compaction is detected; there may be fine-grained foci scattered in the upper part. Often a colorless or greenish-brown fluid comes out of the nipple.

In nodular mastopathy, cysts and nodes are not fused to the skin and have clear boundaries. They may appear in one or both breasts.

Fibroadenoma most often occurs between the ages of 20 and 30 years. Glandular tissue is replaced by a connective one, which begins to compress the duct, causing its blockage. When palpated, dense nodules are detected. The breasts may be enlarged and painful sensations are often observed.

Cystic mastopathy is characterized by the appearance of cavities with fluid surrounded by a dense capsule. 50% of women suffer from this form. In addition to the listed signs, it is also worth noting the enlargement of the axillary lymph nodes and swelling of nearby tissues. The nodes have an oval or round shape.

In the fibrocystic form, dense foci are formed that can degenerate into cysts. Most often it appears after thirty years of age. The nodes are characterized by a loose consistency and are soft to the touch.

Main features

Symptoms and treatment of mastopathy are determined by the form of the disease and emotional state patients. In the first stage, a woman often feels pain in the chest before menstruation. The sensations can be so unbearable that it is even impossible to touch. Sometimes the pain radiates to the shoulder blade or arm; it appears due to stagnation of blood in the vessels and swelling, which makes the breasts enlarged in volume. Fibrous growths that put pressure on nerve fibers also cause discomfort.

When menstruation ends, the pain disappears, but as the disease develops, unpleasant sensations haunt the patient, worsening before menstruation.

In the second phase of the menstrual cycle, engorgement of the problematic breast may be observed. The breasts become harder, larger and heavier, which occurs due to stagnation of blood and swelling of the epithelium. One or more nodes are formed in it.

After pressing on the nipples, fluid of varying intensity may be released from them. Such discharge may be bloody, white, transparent, greenish, or brown. Sometimes a purulent secretion is produced. If fluid is released in the absence of pregnancy, there is a high probability that the pathological process has already developed.

Diagnosis of the disease

To put accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment for mastopathy, it is necessary to undergo an examination. The disease is diagnosed by three medical specialists: a mammologist, a gynecologist and a gynecologist-endocrinologist. Ideally, all doctors should be involved in the patient's treatment.

First, the doctor asks several standard questions about the first menstruation, regularity of sexual activity, etc. Next, you need to feel the mammary glands, axillary and cervical nodes, thyroid gland. Then the doctor sends you for an ultrasound or mammogram. After receiving all the results, treatment is prescribed.

It is recommended to carry out the examination from the fifth to the seventh day of the menstrual cycle. During menopause, you can be examined at any time. Even in the absence of symptoms, women over 35 years of age are recommended to have their mammary glands examined every 1-2 years.

Surgery and rehabilitation

Surgical intervention is performed for nodular mastopathy of the mammary gland. Treatment is carried out under general or local anesthesia. Indications for surgery are:

Surgery It is not carried out during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as well as if a woman suffers from an allergy to painkillers. Before surgery you must do:

Breast ultrasound and mammography;
urine and blood analysis;
chest fluorography;
heart electrocardiogram;
Ultrasound of internal organs.

It is also necessary to obtain the result of a biopsy and consult with a physician to detect concomitant diseases. The doctor issues a conclusion indicating that the operation is possible. Surgical treatment is carried out in the following ways:

Cysts are removed using a thin needle, internal fluid is sucked off. Next, their walls are glued together, for this purpose certain drugs are introduced into the cavity.
The nodes are cut out, and severe cases The mammary gland is partially removed (in case of numerous or too large tumors).

The removed tissues are necessarily sent for histological examination.

A couple of hours after surgery, a woman may experience pain and discomfort in the chest. Usually the pain is mild, so painkillers are not used. If necessary, such drugs are prescribed by a doctor. As a rule, the woman is discharged on the same day, the stitches are removed after a week. The cosmetic defect is minimal.

It should be understood that removing the tumor does not eliminate the cause of breast mastopathy. Symptoms often do not go away with treatment. In any case, after having surgery, it is important to continue taking the medications prescribed by your doctor. Usually these are iodine-containing and hormonal agents, vitamins. The underlying disease (for example, hepatitis) should also be treated.

Drug treatment

Before you start taking any medications, you should definitely consult a medical specialist.

Antiestrogens are hormonal agents that reduce the amount of estrogens in the body. They relieve pain, normalize the menstrual cycle, and reduce the likelihood of degeneration benign education to malignant. The drugs have some side effects associated with a decrease in estrogen levels. These are increased sweating, skin rash, depression, vaginal discharge, erythema. As a rule, doctors prescribe a course of treatment of 3-6 months. Among the popular remedies are Fareston and Tamoxifen.

Gestagens suppress estrogen synthesis and reduce the effectiveness of the pituitary gland's gonadotropic function. The use of these drugs normalizes hormonal balance; in 80% of cases of the disease they demonstrate high effectiveness. Such products should not be used during pregnancy or cancer. “Pregnil” and “Norkolut” are among the most popular gestagens.

Oral contraceptives also help to cope with the problem. Hormonal contraception allow you to normalize the menstrual cycle, reduce pain during menstruation. Oral contraceptives interfere with the production of gonadotropins; among the most popular of them are Femoden, Silest, and Marvelon.

When treating mastopathy, the symptoms and signs of which can be quite different, secretion inhibitors are often prescribed. Such drugs normalize lactation, which is caused by high levels of prolactin. “Parlodel” and “Bromocriptine” help reduce compactions, reduce pain, and improve reproductive function. Prolactin should not be taken if there are cancerous tumors.

Androgens are called estrogen antagonists, which they make less active. However, taking such drugs involves numerous side effects, including increased sweating, weight gain, amenorrhea, depression, swelling and other disorders of the endocrine system. Among the androgens, Danazol is the most widely used.

Non-hormonal therapy

Vitamin complexes enhance the functioning of the immune system, which is important for the successful fight against pathology. In addition, additional use of such drugs reduces the side effects of products containing hormones. It is recommended to take vitamin A, B, E.

For severe pain, Nise, Nimesil, Ibuprofen and other painkillers are prescribed.

With mastopathy, hormonal imbalance often occurs, as a result of which the liver suffers. Hepatoprotectors help protect the organ from various toxins and restore its cells; among the popular drugs of this type, it is worth highlighting “Essentiale”, “Legalon”, “Karsil”. They normalize liver function and help achieve hormonal balance.

Enzymes improve the microflora of the stomach and intestines and relieve constipation. These drugs include Duphalac and Wobenzym.

Sedatives help get rid of increased nervousness, which often occurs against the background of hormonal imbalance and pain that accompanies mastopathy and menstruation. Drugs sedative effect suppress depression, among them are motherwort tincture, Valerian, and Persen.

The next group of drugs is diuretics. Diuretics help relieve swelling. Medical experts advise drinking rosehip tincture or herbal infusions.

While taking certain medications, you should never drink alcohol or smoke.

After removal of a cyst or node, you must adhere to a special diet. Need to give up fatty foods, increase the amount of fiber (found in whole grains, fruits and vegetables). This will minimize the negative effects of estrogen. It is recommended to reduce the consumption of flour and sweet products, because they contribute to an increase in the subcutaneous fat layer, where estrogens are synthesized.

You can replenish the lack of iodine in the body through iodized salt and seafood. Many essential vitamins are found in egg yolk, cheese, cottage cheese, milk.

It is advisable to limit the consumption of chocolate, cocoa, tea and coffee: they contain methylxaptins, which contribute to the development of the disease and increase pain.

Folk recipes

Before using any folk remedy, you should consult a doctor.

Elderberry berries slow down the growth of nodes and help the body in the fight against cancer. You should take 1 tablespoon of juice on an empty stomach twice a day. The treatment course lasts several months.

Flax contains phytoestrogens that eliminate hormonal imbalances. For two weeks, you need to take two tablespoons of seeds with plenty of water. You can also add seeds to all kinds of dishes.

The kernels of apricot kernels contain amygdalin, this substance slows down the development of tumors. Every day you need to take 5-10 cores. Apricot can be replaced with cherries, plums, and grapes.

You can also prepare medicine from celandine. It is preferable to use self-dried plants; they are cut at the root in the morning and dried in their entirety. For getting medicine You will need one sprig of celandine, it must be chopped and poured with 0.5 liters of vodka. Next, the container is left in a dark place for two weeks, the grass should infuse. After this, the tincture is filtered through a thick cloth.

For the first three days, take 1 drop dissolved in 100 ml of liquid. For the next three days, 2 drops are diluted. So, gradually they reach 15 drops per day. Then you should stop taking the drug for a couple of months. The prepared tincture is stored in a cool, dark place. It is convenient to measure drops using a bottle of a particular medicine.

You can be treated for mastopathy with the help of sage, but it is important to know that it is taken only from the 6th to the 15th day of the menstrual cycle. A teaspoon of dried crushed plant is poured into a thermos and poured with a glass of boiling water. You need to let the sage brew for half an hour and strain it. The medicine is taken three times a day, 15 minutes before meals.

Rhodiola contains salidroside, which has an anti-inflammatory effect. Thanks to this and other substances contained in the plant, the decoction normalizes estrogen metabolism, the synthesis of prolactin and progesterone. Rhodiola is also called red brush. To prepare medicine from it, you will need to pour a glass of boiling water over a teaspoon of the dry plant and leave for 45 minutes, be sure to strain. The tincture is taken twice a day.

Preventive measures

Often girls and women are interested in what kind of lifestyle they should lead in order to avoid an unpleasant disease. Prevention of mastopathy involves the following measures:

Stress is a trigger for the development of mastopathy. At the same time, healthy eating, sexual satisfaction and positive emotions provoke the synthesis of dopamine, which blocks increased production prolactin.

Every month from the 5th to the 12th day of the cycle, a menstruating woman can spend self-examination. The mammary gland relaxes most on days 5-7; this time is ideal for examination.

If you want to prevent mastopathy, you need to be careful when choosing a bra: it should not press, rub or be too hard, otherwise it can damage the breasts.

Breastfeeding improves the functioning of the mammary glands. But it is only useful if it lasts at least six months.

It is recommended to avoid prolonged exposure to open sunlight from 11.00 to 16.00, because at this time the sun poses the greatest danger and the risk of developing mastopathy is extremely high. It is also necessary to avoid contact with chemicals that may be in food. The fact is that they provoke the synthesis of aromatase, which makes the mammary gland receptors more sensitive to estrogen.

Thus, mastopathy does not go away on its own; in almost every case, this disease requires treatment. The main danger of the disease is the risk of degeneration of formations into malignant tumor. Therefore, mammologists consider any degree of development of this disease as a precancerous condition that requires observation and treatment.