A lump could just be a lump…

Since we’re focusing on breast health this month, I thought it would be a perfect time to dive into a topic that is rarely discussed - fibrocystic breast disease. It may seem obvious to many, but not all lumps in breasts are cancerous. I say that because when you find a lump, your head immediately goes to cancer. You begin planning the rest of your life, tell your loved ones how much you love them, and likely, put off making an appointment with your doctor. It’s scary stuff! This fear often leads to anxiety and, in many cases, women putting off those check-ups. Not good. 

So let’s look at this a bit differently. Yes, cancer is scary and needs to be handled appropriately, but let’s try to stop jumping to that conclusion. Today, I’m here to help to take a step back and look at things a little differently by taking a closer look at fibrocystic breast disease. This is such a common “disease” that many in the medical community - both Western and alternative medical communities (when they agree on something you know it’s worth listening to!) - are in favor of removing the label of “disease” from the diagnosis. It’s one of those things that adds so much more unnecessary stress. Let’s dive into this condition…

Fibrocystic breast disease (FBD) is a classification of palpable breast masses that fluctuate with the menstrual cycle (Banasik & Copstead, 2019).  It is suspected that most women have benign alterations in their breast tissues, such as fibrosis or overgrowth of stromal fibrous tissue, therefore this is not a distinct disease but rather a widespread condition according to most medical professionals. As we learned, no breasts are “perfect” or the same!  Reproductive hormonal imbalances are thought to cause this benign condition that is most common in women aged 30-50 (Pizzorno & Murray, 2013).  Symptoms include breast pain or tenderness with the menstrual cycle and multiple cysts of varying sizes which give breasts a nodular consistency, however, the condition can also be asymptomatic.  FBD does not increase a woman's chance of breast cancer as previously thought (Banasik & Copstead, 2019), however, lumps should be monitored for substantial changes.  Diagnostic studies may be needed for histologic analysis (Banasik & Copstead, 2019).  According to Pizzorno and Murry (2013), many women tolerate this pain with minimal intervention, however, complementary and alternative (CAM) therapies may help to alleviate pain.

The typical Western medical protocol for FBD consists of oral contraceptives or hormone replacement therapies to regulate hormone fluctuations (Pizzorno & Murray, 2013) and to manage PMS symptoms (Natural Medicines, 2019).  NSAIDs may be taken and heat may be applied for the pain (Banasik & Copstead, 2019).  But there is more that can be recommended.  We now know that taking hormone replacement therapies and oral contraceptives can increase the risk of breast cancer. They can also cause issues with the liver and other organs and hormone cycles are thrown off. These are not my favorite approaches, especially since other options with less side effect risk exist. Always partner with your healthcare practitioner regarding any lumps. He or she can help guide you in the right direction, but please know that there are other options besides typical Western approaches.

Who knew that the food you eat can affect your breasts?!

Dietary interventions may provide the greatest relief from symptoms associated with FBD.  Research has shown that methylxanthine consumption can increase cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate phosphodiesterase in breast tissue (Banasik & Copstead, 2019; Pizzorno & Murray, 2013).  One study referenced by Pizzorno and Murray (2013) found that women who completely abstained from methylxanthines (including coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, and caffeinated medications), showed a 97.5% improvement in symptoms while those who limited consumption showed only a 75% improvement.  Those who made no changes to their intake showed no improvements.  Increasing fiber in the diet also showed improvements through increasing fresh fruit and vegetable intake.  The consumption of soy protein has been shown to stimulate improvements after one year of daily consumption. To sum up, eliminate caffeine, up the fiber, and eat organic, unprocessed soy a few times a week. Easy peasy!

Next, nutritional and herbal supplements could be considered to help support those with FBD.  Evening primrose oil is effective for reducing breast cysts, while vitamin E has been shown to help alleviate PMS symptoms and other issues associated with the menstrual cycle (Pizzorno & Murray, 2013).  Less research has been conducted on vitamin A, however, one small study found vitamin A supplementation caused partial or full remission in some women.  Beta-carotene may be a better option as it has less risk for side effects (Pizzorno & Murray, 2013).  According to Lyn (2008), iodine is needed to maintain proper breast tissue and function and iodine supplementation has been demonstrated to reduce breast nodules in FBD.  The herbal supplement Vitex Agnus-Castus (chasteberry) helps reduce PMS symptoms and may be helpful to those with FBD (Natural Medicines, 2019; Pizzorno & Murray, 2013).  According to one study noted in the monograph, chasteberry was shown to have similar reductions in PMS symptoms, including breast tenderness, as oral contraceptives (Natural Medicines, 2019). Chasteberry can be an absolute game-changer for those with menstrual concerns! Always talk to a qualified healthcare practitioner before you begin taking supplements. They are not all created equal and it can be very difficult to figure out which brands are reputable or not. 

Other considerations for CAM support plans would be to examine liver and colon function.  The liver is the major organ responsible for clearing the body of excess estrogen and the organ must be working properly because FBD is associated with sensitivity to estrogen. If you have been taking hormonal birth control for more than a few years, it’s a pretty safe bet that the synthetic estrogen has done some damage. It can be reversed, but it will likely take some time. Work with a qualified practitioner to help guide you. The colon is of concern because the Standard American Diet can create havoc in the bowels due to disruptions of the intestinal flora.  FBD has been linked to poor bowel function.  Balancing the intestinal flora with probiotics, prebiotics, and increasing fiber intake may help to balance the colon (Pizzorno & Murray, 2013). 

Utilizing CAM therapies in the treatment plan for FBD can be beneficial to help manage symptoms and also to improve overall health.  Consuming a healthy diet and being active is always recommended.  Dietary intervention also suggests cutting out caffeine from the diet entirely to reduce or eliminate methylxanthine consumption, which has been shown to help reduce breast cysts.  Additionally, incorporating supplements has also been shown to be useful, such as evening primrose oil, vitamin E, and iodine.   FBD symptoms may be eliminated or at least managed with the use of some of these CAM therapies. 

If you’re ready to reduce your pain and explore options outside of the typical Advil or Tylenol route, let’s talk! I would love to get you started on a plan!

Peace, love & kale!

Lindsay

References

Banasik, J.L. & Copstead, L.C.  (2019).  Pathophysiology (6th ed.).  St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Inc.

Lyn, P.  (2008).  Iodine: Deficiency and Therapeutic Considerations.  Alternative Medicine Review. 13(2): 116-127.  Retrieved from: https://web.a.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail/detail?vid=4&sid=f0854a83-b224-4e54-ada2-6cf35579468c%40sessionmgr4007&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=33337826&db=awh

Natural Medicines.  (2019).  Vitex angus-castus [Monograph].  Retrieved from: https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/professional.aspx?productid=968

Pizzorno J. E. & Murray, M. T. (2013). Textbook of Natural Medicine (4th. ed.). St. Louis, MO: Churchill Livingstone.