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Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
About me
Graduated from Jiamusi Medical University in July 2005 with a Master's degree in Medicine.
Proficient in diseases
Treat various breast diseases such as breast hyperplasia, benign and malignant tumors. Has unique insights into the application of mammary ductoscopy.
Voices
What to do with breast hyperplasia and chest pain?
What can be done about breast hyperplasia and chest pain? Generally, we can use traditional Chinese medicine for treatment, using methods to soothe the liver and regulate qi to alleviate pain; endocrine therapy is also an option, to be used as little as possible, but it can be taken before menstruation starts when the pain is very significant in the pre-menopausal period, because endocrine therapy may increase the risk of endometrial cancer, thus regular pelvic ultrasound re-examinations are necessary. Vitamin therapy can also be used, as vitamins B, C, and E have functions to improve liver functions, regulate basal metabolic rate, and enhance autonomic nerve function, and can be used as supplementary medication for this condition. In recent years, vitamin E is also considered to have a pain-relieving effect, especially for those with a family history of breast cancer, and when the lesion is confined to a part of the breast. If there are still significant lumps after menstruation, it may be necessary to perform a puncture biopsy or necessary surgical treatment.
Where does breast cancer usually hurt?
Breast cancer generally is painless, early stages present as a painless, solitary, small lump that is hard and has an uneven surface, with unclear boundaries with the surrounding tissue and is difficult to move within the breast. It is usually discovered accidentally by the patient or while bathing. As breast cancer continues to grow, it invades the Cooper's ligaments, causing contraction, hence the skin over the lump often appears puckered, a sign commonly referred to as dimpling, indicative of early-stage breast cancer. As the cancer progresses, it often causes the breast to shrink and harden, elevates the nipple, and may involve the milk ducts, leading to nipple retraction or indentation. It can also significantly increase in size within months, causing the affected breast to become larger and protrude. Breast cancer, invading the chest muscles and fascia, may fix the lump to the chest wall, making it difficult to move.
What is the difference between breast fibroids and breast cysts?
Lobular hyperplasia and breast hyperplasia are the same, collectively referred to as breast hyperplasia. Clinically, it manifests as cyclical swelling and pain in the breasts, often occurring or worsening during the premenstrual period, and diminishing or disappearing after menstruation. Mild cases may go unnoticed by the patient, while severe cases can affect daily life and work. However, some patients do not exhibit obvious cyclical changes, and some may experience unilateral or bilateral breast swelling or needle-like pain, which can extend to the shoulder, upper limbs, or the chest and back. A few patients may have nipple discharge, and the duration of the disease can sometimes be lengthy, but symptoms usually disappear or lessen after menopause. Upon physical examination, nodular masses of varying sizes can be felt in one or both breasts, which are firm yet not hard, sometimes tender to the touch. The masses are not clearly demarcated from the surrounding breast tissue but are not adhered to the skin or chest muscles, sometimes presenting as indistinctly bounded thickened areas.
Is breast hyperplasia okay?
Breast hyperplasia generally is not problematic, typically presenting as cyclical breast pain and swelling that appears before menstruation and may disappear afterwards. Mild cases often go unnoticed by patients, but severe cases can impact daily life and work. Some patients do not show obvious cyclical changes; instead, they may experience unilateral breast pain, swelling, or stabbing pain, which can extend to the shoulders, upper limbs, or back. A few patients might experience nipple discharge, such as yellow, brown, serous, or bloody discharge.
What should I do if acute mastitis does not subside with fever?
We can go to a formal hospital's breast department for routine blood tests and ultrasound examinations. If the blood count exceeds ten thousand, with increased neutrophils and a left shift in the nucleus indicating severe inflammation, we can apply local moist heat. Around the inflammation, penicillin and saline can be injected to promote the resolution of the inflammation. Systemically, antibiotics can be used, including penicillin, cephalosporins, or erythromycin. Since antibiotics can be secreted into breast milk and affect the baby, it is advisable to avoid using tetracyclines, aminoglycosides, sulfonamides, and metronidazole. The duration of antibiotic use should be determined based on the condition, which requires regular re-examination of the blood routine and breast ultrasound.
Early symptoms of breast cancer
The initial symptom of early breast cancer is a painless, single small lump with no redness or swelling around the skin. However, a few individuals may experience nipple discharge, typically fresh or stale blood. There may be slight indentations on the skin and some itching. Visually, some individuals might notice inverted nipples and lymph node metastasis under the armpits. The lump often has unclear boundaries, is hard in texture, has limited mobility, adheres to the skin, and is difficult to move within the breast tissue.
Breast swelling and pain, increased vaginal discharge, does it mean that menstruation is coming?
Breast swelling and pain, increased vaginal discharge, it might be that menstruation is coming. Breast swelling and pain are generally manifestations of mammary gland hyperplasia. The symptoms of mammary gland hyperplasia typically include cyclical breast swelling and pain, which often appear or worsen before menstruation and subside or disappear after menstruation. Some patients do not experience obvious cyclical changes; some may have swelling and needle-like pain in one or both breasts, which can extend to the shoulders, upper limbs, or chest and back areas. A few patients might have nipple discharge; the discharge can be yellow, brown, or bloody. The disease course can sometimes be long, but symptoms often disappear or lessen after menopause.
What should I do if I have advanced breast cancer with breast necrosis?
Firstly, radiotherapy can be used, localized radiation therapy, which will achieve certain local control effects. It can also provide surgical opportunities for some breast cancer patients who are otherwise inoperable. Additionally, it can relieve pain, reduce compression symptoms, and stop bleeding in ulcerated cancer lesions, thereby improving the patient's quality of life. If chemotherapy is possible, it should be pursued as it can reduce distant and extensive metastases. Then, if surgery is feasible, the ulcerated or already healed surgical incisions can be excised and sutured to improve the patient's quality of life.
How to feel for breast hyperplasia
Patients with mammary gland hyperplasia can feel foreign objects when touching, but the pain from pressing is not very obvious. Patients generally can feel multiple or single nodules with elasticity, and there is no noticeable pain when pressed. Some patients may also experience symptoms such as breast tenderness, which is usually more pronounced before menstruation and may relieve on its own after menstruation ends. Mammary gland hyperplasia is mostly a benign tumor. If the symptoms are not very noticeable, observation can be the first approach. However, if hyperplastic nodules appear, cytological puncture should be conducted, and surgery may be necessary to achieve a cure when needed.
What should I do if acute mastitis bursts?
An acute breast abscess has ruptured, and it should be treated in a formal hospital setting. Under general anesthesia through intravenous administration, the abscess area should be expanded to the normal tissue via an incision. Then, using color ultrasound for abscess localization, to avoid damaging the milk ducts and prevent fistula formation, the incision should follow the direction of the milk ducts, extending radially towards the areola. If there are multiple abscess cavities, the partitions between the cavities should be opened with a finger. If necessary, multiple incisions should be made, or successive operations for drainage of the abscess cavities might be required. Latex sheets or drainage tubes may be used.