Fibrocystic breast changes: Linked to breast cancer?

No. Fibrocystic breast changes don't increase your risk of breast cancer.

Fibrocystic breast changes are very common. Women with this noncancerous (benign) condition often experience lumpy, painful breasts. Although once called fibrocystic breast disease, the condition is so common — especially in premenopausal women — that most experts now refer to the condition as fibrocystic breast changes.

The cause of fibrocystic breast changes isn't completely understood. But the condition is likely associated with hormone fluctuations during a woman's menstrual cycle. Signs and symptoms, which typically worsen right before menstruation, include:

• Dense, lumpy breast tissue
• Feeling of fullness in the breasts
• Pain and tenderness that tends to be generalized and may radiate to the underarm
• Nipple discharge that's often greenish brown in color
• Breast cysts that are identified on breast ultrasound

Although fibrocystic breast changes don't increase your risk of breast cancer, having lumpy and tender breasts may make it more challenging to do breast self-exams. For this reason, it's important to familiarize yourself with how your breasts normally feel and monitor for any changes.

If you choose to perform breast self-exams, schedule them for a week after your period ends — when hormonal fluctuations decrease and breast tissue feels less lumpy and tender. Also, review your technique with your doctor to ensure that you're doing the exam correctly. Dense breast tissue may make it more difficult to detect abnormal lumps.

Consult your doctor if you:

• Have severe or persistent breast pain or pain that is concentrated in one area of your breast that doesn't fluctuate with your menstrual cycle
• Find a new lump or other change in your breast that persists for two menstrual cycles