Recently, in mammology, the number of cases of breast fibrosis has increased significantly. The disease is a lesion of breast tissues of a benign nature - stroma. As a result, seals appear in the mammary gland, which most often a woman discovers by chance when examined by a treating specialist. And although fibrosis of the breast stroma is not a very dangerous disease, it is important to treat it immediately after it appears, as any type of neoplasm in the mammary glands as a result can provoke a malignant tumor, as well as worsen the appearance of the breast, affect a woman's self-esteem.
Description of defeat
Fibrosis of the breast spreads to its connective tissues, grows and thickens the proteins synthesized by fibroblasts - collagen, elastin, glycoprotein cells that form the tissues themselves. Such processes provoke the formation of cicatricial neoplasia and problems with the functioning of the mammary gland. The disease can spread to the connective tissues or internal organs of a person.
Features of the development of the disease
When considering a disease such as stromal fibrosis, one should first consider the structuremammary glands. The breast of a woman includes adipose and glandular tissues: the first is responsible for the overall shape of the breast, and the second forms the main ducts and gland. But between the described tissues there is also a connective tissue, which helps to bind them into a single whole.
Also, fibrous tissues form a kind of partitions that connect the skin and the glandular capsule. Connective tissue is not only in the human chest, so the disease in most cases begins in the liver, prostate and thyroid gland, as well as the lungs.
The uniform distribution of tissues in the mammary gland depends on the hormonal background of the woman, and over time, when the ability to bear a child decreases, the gland tissue begins to be replaced by fatty tissue. If there are problems with the production of hormones in the human body (this is the main regulator of a woman's breast he alth), the stroma begins to actively increase in size, which is very dangerous.
It should be noted that in its pure form, fibrosis occurs extremely rarely in humans, most often the lesion is one of the manifestations of a concomitant disease - fibrocystic mastopathy. At an early stage of development, stromal fibrosis is not easy to diagnose, in some cases it is even impossible to consult a doctor. But over time, the fibrous tissue spreads, forming knots and characteristic seals.
Types of fibrosis
The benignity and malignancy of the formation that arose during the development of fragments of stromal fibrosis will directly depend on the structure and location of the nodes. There are the following types of damage:
- Local form. It is characterized by a round or oval formation, which has a smooth surface. It can be easily diagnosed by palpation, the formation is distinguished by its mobility.
- Diffuse fibrosis is a more complex and serious form of stromal fibrosis, otherwise known as widespread fibrosis. Connective tissue quickly forms within and adjacent to the lactiferous ducts. In this case, the formation does not have pronounced boundaries, and when probing it is not determined in all cases.
- Tight, or linear, fibrosis appears in a woman when the tissues, spreading through the ducts and moving to the partitions between the lobes of the gland, form oblong strands.
- Perivascular fibrosis is an endometrial polyp with focal stromal fibrosis. Occurs in the mammary glands with active growth of connective tissue, not only next to the partitions and ducts, but also blood, lymphatic vessels and capillaries.
Causes of defeat
With severe stromal fibrosis in a woman, there are serious problems with the hormonal background in the body. In treatment, the main goal is to eliminate the cause of the imbalance in the hormonal background. Doctors divide all the causes of hormonal problems in a woman into external and internal:
- Internal include diseases of the internal organs, injury, miscarriage, refusal to breastfeed.
- External causes of the disease include poor ecology inplace of residence of a woman, a poorly composed diet, abuse of bad habits, nervous shocks, depression, regular stress, strong physical exertion on the body, fatigue.
When identifying the cause of a problem with the hormonal system, it is very important to eliminate it or try to reduce its effect on the human body.
For breast fibrosis, treatment always begins with diagnostic measures, testing, improving diet and prescribing a special diet. In this case, a woman should give up bad habits and a stressful lifestyle.
Fibrosis symptoms
Symptoms of the disease in each case may be different and manifest individually for each woman. The most common and characteristic of such a disease include the following manifestations:
- pain syndrome, fatigue, general malaise;
- nipple discharge (usually colorless);
- the appearance of characteristic seals, a change in the shape of the mammary glands;
- changing the color of the nipples and halo.
It is important to remember that all of the symptoms described can indicate the presence of other diseases, including breast cancer, so you should not postpone visiting a doctor for a long time, as this can be very dangerous.
Diagnostic measures
Any lumps in a woman's mammary gland is an alarming sign, in which it is important to visit a doctor as soon as possible and determine the nature of the disease. Remember: Surgeryor drug treatment with an inaccurate diagnosis can provoke an acceleration in the development of cancer.
Diagnostic measures for fibrosis include:
- Examination by a mammologist who will feel the mammary glands, lymph nodes and identify possible formations.
- Ultrasound and mammography. Also, some women require chromocystography (x-ray of the milk ducts with the introduction of special contrasts).
- Blood test (for hormones and total).
- Tissue biopsy, histological examination.
After the diagnosis is accurately established, the doctor will prescribe the woman the correct and effective treatment, which will be aimed at eliminating the symptoms of the lesion in a particular case. Depending on the stage of development of the disease and its danger, both treatment with medications alone and surgical intervention (up to the removal of a significant part of the breast) can be prescribed.
It should be noted that they try to use surgery as rarely as possible, most often doctors limit themselves to removing nodes and cysts in the acute course of the disease. Usually, doctors prescribe treatment to the patient with traditional and folk methods.
Traditional (in other words - medication) treatment includes a complex intake of hormonal drugs, homeopathic medicines and following a special diet. The choice of hormonal agents is made by the doctor, based on the lack or excess of the hormone, whichprovoked the disease. Hormones can be both internal and external - ointments, gels, creams. Homeopathic remedies may be prescribed if a woman has diffuse fibrosis.
In addition to the basic methods of treatment, the doctor prescribes a combination of vitamins, iodine products and sedatives. Traditional medicine - decoctions of herbs, compresses, lotions - in this case does not bring much effect, but can be used to alleviate some of the symptoms of the disease. Before using folk recipes, it is important to consult a doctor without fail.
Prevention measures
Currently, it is impossible to prevent the development of the disease, so it can occur in every person. To prevent the complication of the disease and start its timely treatment, it is important to regularly conduct self-examination. The best time for this will be the first few weeks of the menstrual cycle. It is also important to remember about scheduled examinations by a doctor (gynecologist and mammologist), ultrasound and appropriate tests.
There are factors that can trigger breast fibrosis:
- The birth of a child at a late age. This applies to those women who delay having a child until the age of 30 and later, the risk of suffering from the disease is much higher.
- The risk group includes women who often have abortions and use large amounts of hormonal drugs.
- Negatively affects the body and leads to the appearance of various diseases, also women's refusal to breastfeedfeeding.
Also, the prevention of this and other diseases will be maintaining a he althy lifestyle: getting rid of bad habits, playing sports, proper nutrition. The hormonal background affects many systems in the human body. It helps to maintain sleep and the condition of the breast of a woman who reacts sharply to any violations in it. Breast fibrosis is a common manifestation of hormonal disorders.
Uterine fibrosis
Fibrosis of the uterine stroma can be of several types - diffuse and focal. A change in the connective tissue and the formation of a characteristic seal, as a rule, leads to the appearance of the corresponding symptoms. It is impossible to independently identify the disease, especially when it is at the initial stage of its development. Symptoms will directly depend on the location of the growth, as well as its vastness. The main symptoms of cervical stromal fibrosis:
- Pain during intercourse.
- Augmentation of the lower abdomen.
- Feeling of strong pressure on the lower abdomen, its fullness.
- Problems with urination.
- Pain in the pelvis and lumbar spine.
- Long period.
Endometrial stroma with focal fibrosis leads to prolonged and severe bleeding during menstruation, as well as bleeding outside the menstrual cycle. Benign nodules can cause constipation if they put pressure on the rectum.
As a result of the deterioration of immunity in the cervical canal, focal stromal fibrosis is formed, which often leads to infertility or inflammation in the uterus. If timely treatment is not provided, the disease provokes problems with the menstrual cycle.
You can avoid this condition if you regularly visit a gynecologist for a checkup. It is important to remember that with uterine fibrosis, a woman's genital tract is shedding blood between periods.
Ovarian fibrosis
Ovarian stromal fibrosis is a benign tumor, most often of a unilateral type, non-functioning and characterized by mild symptoms. Such a lesion cannot be attributed to a common one, and it is usually detected after a significant increase in size. The tumor is distinguished by a rounded shape, a nodular or even surface, and a location on a leg, which gives it mobility. Can be soft or hard.
The stroma with severe ovarian fibrosis is removed through surgery together with the diseased appendage. At a serious stage of development of the disease, the formation can reach up to 12 centimeters in cross section. Small tumors most often do not bring unpleasant symptoms to a woman and do not lead to pain and problems with the functioning of the ovary.
Glandular endometrial polyp
Endometrium is the mucous layer of the uterus that lines its cavity. It includes the integumentary epithelium and the basal layer (base and stroma) with glands embedded inside. The endometrium can change a lotthroughout the entire menstrual cycle. Under the influence of the hormones produced, it can become thicker, thereby preparing for the transfer of a fertilized egg. The glands branch during menstruation, secrete a certain amount of secretion with an alkaline reaction.
If the egg does not reach the uterine cavity and is not fixed in it, then the endometrium thins and is rejected over time, leading to menstruation. In this case, only the integumentary epithelium is rejected. The basal layer remains in place and helps restore the condition of the endometrium. The process begins anew with the onset of a new cycle of menstruation.
Endometrial polyp is a benign neoplasm that is formed from its cells. The glandular polyp of the endometrium is formed from the cells of the endometrial glands in the basal layer. It looks like a knot and is located at the bottom or in opposite corners of the uterus.
Glandular polyp is small in size and consists of a separate body and a stalk containing blood vessels. With incomplete removal of the polyp pedicle, in most cases the disease recurs. Sometimes the glands next to the polyp begin to change their shape and overall structure. This condition is called adenomatosis, a disease that can become cancerous.
Reasons for appearance
Glandular polyps of the endometrium with stromal fibrosis can appear as a result of various factors. Most often, their appearance is associated with glandular hyperplasia of the endometrium (formation in the mucous layer, whichoccurs with an increase in the number of glandular cells). Such a lesion develops rapidly due to problems with hormones in the body (excessive estrogen and lack of progesterone). Hyperplasia manifests itself in small areas of the uterine wall in the form of foci, which then change to endometrial glandular polyps.
Glandular polyps with focal stromal fibrosis can appear in a person of any age category. But most often they occur in women who are in transition (puberty or menopause). This can be explained by the fact that during this period of time there are problems with hormones in their body, which provoke the appearance of such formations.
