Taking care of the breast is crucial for women from adolescence. During self-examination, it is possible to feel a lump; however, not all lumps are malignant tumors. Fibroadenoma, a benign and generally harmless formation, is often the cause of the lump. It rarely turns into malignancy, but monitoring it is essential.
Fibroadenoma is most common in girls and women aged between 15-30 or those on hormone therapy. Menopausal women are less likely to experience it. Fibroadenoma occurs due to an abnormal response to estrogen, the female sex hormone that decreases as menopause approaches.
While the presence of fibroadenoma does not increase the risk of breast cancer, it’s essential to monitor it for changes in shape, size, and consistency. In the case of complex fibroadenoma, which manifests itself with more than one lump and may involve both breasts, monitoring is even more critical as there is a slight risk of it converting to malignancy.
Consult a specialist if you feel a mass in the breast that is smooth, round, has a hard or rubbery texture, regular and sharp contours, or moves with finger pressure. Fibroadenoma usually does not exceed 3 cm in diameter; however, it can reach up to 5-6 cm or even 10-15 cm in cases of giant fibroadenoma, which is typical in adolescence. It should be considered that the volume may increase or decrease until it disappears spontaneously.
After a specialist examination, it may be necessary to perform diagnostic and in-depth examinations such as mammography, breast ultrasound, MRI, or biopsy to investigate the lump’s malignant or benign nature. Conservative treatment, which involves monitoring the size and consistency of the lump, is usually preferred. Surgical removal is recommended if the lump causes cosmetic or psychological discomfort, is rapidly growing, exceeds 3 cm in size, causes pain, or if the patient is older than 35 years.
