How to Care for Fibrocystic Breasts
Fibrocystic breasts are a painful chronic condition (also called, somewhat misleadingly, a disease) affecting up to 60 percent of American women. The condition causes the breasts to feel lumpy or ropy. It tends to worsen during a woman's menstrual cycle and can be described as a burning sensation that makes even the faintest touch hurt.
There are some measures women can take to relieve the discomfort of fibrocystic breasts, some of which are as simple as avoiding a few foods.
Instructions
-
-
1
Change your diet. Anything inflammatory or acidic, such as caffeine, teas, chocolate, tomato juice, will aggravate the cysts in the breasts and cause them to become more painful. Dr. Dixie Mills, FACS, of Women to Women recommends following a low fat, low white sugar/flour, low alcohol/caffeine, high-vegetable diet. The diet is much the same as that recommended for people with acid reflux, so if you need a simple diet plan, look for that.
-
2
Wear a sleep bra. Breasts are often very tender at night and a sleep bra will hold them close to the body and prevent pain.
-
-
3
Use hormones. Because the cysts in the breasts react strongly to hormonal fluctuations, MedicineNet.com finds that many women find relief by taking a birth control pill or using Nuva-Ring or another hormonal birth control medication.
-
4
Take acetaminophen or other pain reliever as needed and as directed by your doctor.
-
5
Have regular breast exams done by your physician and perform your own monthly exams. Fibrocystic breasts can make it hard to detect breast cancer, so it's important to know what's normal for your own breasts. According to the Mayo Clinic, the condition does not, however, increase the chances of having breast cancer, unless other abnormal cell growth is also present in the breasts.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If your breasts have hard painful cysts, see your doctor. The cysts might need to be drained.
