Every woman takes care of her appearance, wanting to always be attractive. However, external beauty largely depends on he alth. And not the last place here is the he alth of one's own breasts, especially when the period of feeding comes after the birth of a child. The mammary gland is a special organ that every woman is proud of. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that the composition of the milk produced in each individual case is individual.
Only the state of the mammary glands to a large extent depends on the amount of hormones in the blood of the female body. There is a disease (mastopathy) that appears against the background of a decrease in the concentration of progesterone and an increase in the level of estrogen. These hormones are produced by the ovaries. Let's try to determine the causes of this pathology and find out what methods of treatment exist.
Mastopathy - what is it?
The term "mastopathy" means a pathological condition of the female glands, in which these tissues begin togrow. The result is the formation of seals in the form of single or multiple fine-grained nodules and cysts. Often these neoplasms are considered benign tumors, and can occur in only one breast, sometimes in both. Often they are localized in the upper outer chest.
There is a pathology in the female half of the reproductive age (18-45 years), and the peak of the disease occurs at 30-45 years. But recently, cases of detection of benign neoplasms have become noticeably more frequent. The disease is activated not only in women of childbearing age, but also during menopause or the menstrual cycle.
Deepening into the essence of what is happening
To understand the features of the pathological condition of the breast, let's first consider a photo of mastopathy of the mammary gland, where you can see how the breast is arranged. The structure of the gland is somewhat similar to an orange, since there are also small slices inside (from 15 to 25 pieces), which are located radially relative to the nipple. They are separated by fatty tissue. Due to it, the shape of the breast is formed.
In each such "lobule" there are mammary glands, consisting of branching tubules called lactiferous ducts. At their ends there are small alveoli (vesicles) where special cells (lactocytes) are involved in the production of milk.
Monthly, cyclical changes occur in the female body under the influence of progesterone and estrogen. Thanks to them, not only the two-phase menstrual cycle is regulated, but it also turns outsome effect on female glands.
Under normal conditions, for the period of the first phase of the cycle (before the onset of ovulation), due to estrogen in the glands, cell reproduction (proliferative process) begins. When the second phase of the cycle begins (already after ovulation, but before menstruation), progesterone is connected, which delays the reproduction of cells provoked by estrogen. At this point, the breasts begin to increase in size, however, slightly.
If the fertilization of the egg does not occur, the amount of estrogen increases, due to which the female glands undergo reverse changes and the breasts decrease in size. However, during pregnancy, there is an increase in the concentration of prolactin in the blood. Subsequently, it begins to affect the production of milk.
If you pay attention to the reviews about breast mastopathy, we can conclude that this problem worries many women of different ages.
What about deviations?
As for deviations from the above-described norm, under the influence of a number of negative factors, the hormonal balance is disturbed. This leads to the fact that the amount of estrogen is formed in excess, while progesterone in the body is clearly not enough. For this reason, too many cells are formed in the female breast, against which mastopathy occurs.
Sometimes the disease occurs against the background of an excessive amount of prolactin, which is produced by the pituitary gland. During pregnancy and lactation, this phenomenon is within the normal range, sincemilk is produced for feeding the baby. However, in the absence of pregnancy, this is considered a pathology and can also lead to the development of mastopathy.
Varieties of mastopathy
There are several varieties of this disease, but the clinical and radiological classification is the most common. According to her, mastopathy is divided into the following types:
- Cystic.
- Diffuse.
- Nodal.
Sometimes calcium deposits occur where cysts have formed. As a result, the development of the oncological process may begin.
Cystic form of pathology
Cystic mastopathy of the mammary glands is considered a benign disease that affects up to 30% of young girls. In medical language, it is referred to as fibroadenomatosis or fibrocystic disease. It is characterized by a violation of the blood supply in the female glands due to an imbalance of the sinewy components and connective tissues. Periodically, pain appears in the chest.
But if the pathology is not given importance, then a neoplasm is subsequently formed. At first it will be benign, but then it will turn into a malignant tumor.
Diffuse disease
With diffuse mastopathy, the changes that have begun affect the entire gland. In some cases, the growth of glandular tissue acquires a wider spectrum. Then the diagnosis will be made as follows - diffuse mastopathy with a predominance of the glandular component. This form of pathology is predominantlyfound only in young girls.
In addition, the disease is characterized by the formation of various neoplasms (strands, millet nodules). The diffuse form of pathology, in turn, is also divided into several types:
- adenosis;
- adenosis sclerosing;
- fibroadenosis;
- fibrocystosis.
There is also a mixed form of diffuse breast mastopathy, and, unfortunately, in our time, this phenomenon is very common. Affected glands swell, cysts and seals form. The disease should not be ignored, otherwise it will begin to worsen, manifesting itself in the form of discharge from the nipples of a greenish tint.
Nodular mastopathy
In this case, the changes are benign and are characterized by the formation of cysts and nodules. From the point of view of most mammologists, this form of the disease is considered a precancerous stage, after which a cancerous neoplasm forms if treatment is not carried out in a timely manner.
Knots can be single or multiple, appear on one breast or both at once. Tellingly, such mastopathy also has its own classification:
- Fibronodular.
- Diffuse-nodular.
- Cystic nodular.
The fibronodular appearance is characterized by a benign course. A dense nodular structure is formed due to the growth of connective tissue, while the glands become asymmetric. Pain can appear both constantly andperiodically.
When diffuse-nodular mastopathy, cysts form in the chest, inside of which there is liquid. Their sizes are different, but often oblong or rounded shape prevails. Pain in this case is given to the shoulder, arm or armpit.
Cystic-nodular mastopathy is characterized by the presence of nodes of different sizes with clear boundaries. Gradually, seals increase and affect nearby tissues. They are easy to notice with the approach of the menstrual cycle. Due to the growth of cysts, the ducts of the glands are compressed, which leads to venous congestion and edema. The sensitivity of the breast increases, and the pain becomes more intense.
Symptoms of breast mastopathy in women
Usually, the signs that indicate the beginning of the development of mastopathy cannot be detected and the pathology can be determined by chance. But the further, the clearer the clinical picture becomes. The connective tissue grows, small seals form.
But the disease will not be able to hide for a long time, and over time, pain in the chest appears, which is the first sign of an upcoming pathological change. With the onset of the premenstrual period, the pain intensifies. In addition, women can feel the heaviness of the mammary glands, and when they are probed, a seal can be detected.
In addition, gray-white discharge of a liquid or mucous consistency can serve as another sign. If blood is present, then this is an alarming sign, since with benign neoplasmsit doesn't happen.
In the framework of this article, we will consider not only the symptoms of breast mastopathy (photos of the disease are presented in the article), but also various methods of treating pathology.
Diagnosis of pathology
Mastopathy can be detected in several ways:
- Palpation.
- Ultrasound.
- Mammography.
- Puncture.
Mastopathy is one of those diseases that are difficult to diagnose, for this reason the importance of professional research should not be underestimated.
Palpation of glands
This procedure is preferably carried out standing or lying down. To begin with, the surface of the chest is probed with fingertips in a clockwise direction. Then you need to press on the nipples to check for any discharge. At the same time, you should check the lymph nodes that are located in the armpit.
According to experts, such diagnostics should be carried out regularly in the period from the 5th to the 10th day of the menstrual cycle. While probing the chest, you should try to remember the tactile sensations, and then compare them during the next procedure.
If you know the symptoms and signs of breast mastopathy, the treatment will be most successful. And self-diagnosis is the first step in making a diagnosis. What should you pay attention to? Should alert the presence of seals, pain when probing, a feeling of tuberosity. These signs may indicate a diffuse form of the disease. Moreover, the seals are sometimes not located throughoutchest, but only in its upper part.
If cystic mastopathy develops, then nodes of different sizes can be found. In the second period of menstruation, neoplasms become more pronounced.
Ultrasound
During the ultrasound, you can get an image of the structure of the female glands. That is, the doctor can identify the heterogeneity of the structure of the glands, the presence of neoplasms in the form of cysts or nodes. This procedure has significant advantages:
- Absolutely safe procedure.
- High degree of informativeness.
- You can assess the condition of blood vessels and tissues, which allows you to see the full clinical picture.
In addition, this study is able to determine not only the size of breast tumors, but also their location. And before the procedure, there is no need for special preparation. It is best to conduct an ultrasound during the first days of the menstrual cycle.
Mammography
In this study, an X-ray of the glands is taken, as a result of which even small seals that cannot be detected by palpation can be detected. For all women who have passed the age of 40, this procedure is mandatory for the annual passage.
Mammograms take x-rays of the breasts in two planes: (straight and lateral), which makes it easy to detect lumps and the extent of their spread, if any.
By combining radiography with ultrasound, it is more likelydefine pathology. Just remember that this type of study is not conducted for women who are not yet 30 years old. In addition, the procedure is done no more than once a year.
Puncture biopsy
In some cases, before prescribing treatment for fibrous mastopathy of the breast, the doctor conducts a special diagnosis. Its essence lies in the removal of a small amount of tissue in order to determine the nature of the neoplasm.
If signs of the presence of neoplasms dangerous to he alth are found, a woman is advised to consult an oncologist. Such diagnostics are also highly accurate.
Features of treatment
Treatment of mastopathy is based on restoring the hormonal background or eliminating the imbalance of sex hormones in the blood. It is carried out only under the strict supervision of a specialist, and always on an outpatient basis.
The diffuse form of the disease is easily treated with conservative treatment. The necessary drugs are taken only after visiting a mammologist.
In the case of nodular or fibrocystic mastopathy of the mammary glands, treatment is also carried out conservatively, but radical measures (surgery) may be necessary.
Conservative treatment, in addition to medication, includes the following:
- Dieting. To do this, include foods rich in fiber in the diet and consume at least 2 liters of water per day. In food, preference should be given to seafish, vegetable oils, dairy products, cereals, vegetables, fruits, lean meats, mushrooms, nuts.
- Choosing comfortable underwear. With the right choice of bra, pain can be reduced and, in addition, this leads to a speedy recovery. The fabric should be natural, it is advisable to select models without foam rubber, with wide and comfortable shoulder straps. It is also worth sleeping without a bra and not wearing it for more than 12 hours.
- The right way of life. If there are bad habits, it is necessary to abandon them. As far as smoking is concerned, it is the main reason for most women's problems.
Hormone Therapy
And how is the treatment of cystic mastopathy of the mammary glands? In this case, different groups of drugs are used.
- Antiestrogen. Lower the concentration of estrogen in the blood and reduce chest pain. In addition, the menstrual cycle is normalized, the risk of turning seals into a malignant tumor is significantly reduced. But when taking these drugs, there can be side effects: nausea, undulating attacks of fever, sweating, depression, skin rashes, which are a consequence of a decrease in estrogen. The treatment course lasts 3-6 months and is often prescribed "Fareston", "Tamoxifen".
- Gestagens. This group not only suppresses the production of estrogen, but also delays the gonadotropic function of the pituitary gland. As a result, hormonal balance is restored. The effectiveness of this treatment is 80%. Only here there are a number of contraindications: pregnancy, oncological diseases and others. The main drugs of this group are Orgametril, Norkolut, Progestogel, Pregnil.
- Androgens. These drugs also help suppress estrogen production. Only they have a wider range of side effects. This group is represented by Danazol.
- Prolactin inhibitors. Due to this hormone, cysts decrease, pains become less intense, the balance between estrogen and progesterone is restored. However, in the presence of malignant tumors, the use of such drugs is contraindicated. They can be Parlodel, Bromocriptine.
However, in some cases, conservative treatment of fibrous mastopathy of the breast and taking hormonal drugs may not be enough. And then it remains to resort to a radical method of treatment.
Radical measures
The radical method of treatment is a surgical intervention that does not eliminate the cause of the development of mastopathy, therefore, the risk of remission after a seemingly successful treatment remains. This type of treatment is usually carried out when diagnosing a nodular form of the disease, or when a conservative technique has not given the desired result.
Mastopathy is eliminated by sectoral resection of the gland. To begin with, the planned dimensions are marked, after which they proceed to the operation under general anesthesia and using ultrasound. The cosmetic defect is minimal.
Reviews
Women,who are faced with mastopathy, share their experience on the Web, and from their feedback it can be understood that it is almost impossible to quickly cure this ailment. On average, the course of treatment takes from 3 months or more. Moreover, in many reviews you can read that the disease can return a few years after a seemingly successful course of therapy. The most effective and common remedy for mastopathy, according to the beautiful half of humanity, is Mastodinon.
Conclusion
Every woman should remember that you should not self-medicate mastopathy. Otherwise, it threatens with irreversible consequences that can lead to the development of a malignant neoplasm.
How to treat mastopathy of the mammary glands, only a doctor will tell. You can also use traditional medicine, but only after consulting a specialist, as there are also some peculiarities here.
