Can breast hyperplasia turn into cancer?

Written by Wang Zhi Chao
Breast Surgery
Updated on October 18, 2024
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Traditional breast hyperplasia, specifically lobular hyperplasia, does not become cancerous. However, if the hyperplasia has progressed to atypical hyperplasia, there is a small chance that it could turn into cancer. Normal lobular hyperplasia, in itself, does not become cancerous. Self-examinations and annual hospital check-ups are very important. Therefore, when you cannot distinguish whether the hyperplasia is lobular or atypical, you should go to a formal hospital for an examination.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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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.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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Is category II breast hyperplasia serious?

Category II breast hyperplasia is not serious; it is simply a type of breast hyperplasia. Breast hyperplasia is mainly related to the estrogen levels in the body. The main treatments should focus on soothing the liver and regulating qi, promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis, regulating mood, and adjusting endocrine functions. Some traditional Chinese medicines that soothe the liver, regulate qi, and promote blood circulation to remove blood stasis can also be used to manage these symptoms. There is no psychological burden associated with this, and normal treatment is sufficient.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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Symptoms of breast hyperplasia

Breast hyperplasia mainly manifests as cyclical breast pain and tenderness, which often appears or worsens before menstruation and lessens or disappears after menstruation. Mild cases may not catch the patient's attention, while severe cases can affect daily life and work. However, some patients do not show obvious cyclical changes. Symptoms can include unilateral or bilateral breast fullness and pain or needle-like pain, which may extend to the shoulders, upper limbs, or chest/back area. A few patients may experience nipple discharge that can be yellow-green, brown, serous, or bloody. The condition can persist for a long time, but symptoms may disappear or lessen after menopause.

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Written by Fan Hong Qiao
Breast Health Department
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How to treat nodular hyperplasia of the breast?

According to different pathological types, clinically, there are simple hyperplasia of the breast and cystic hyperplasia of the breast, and the treatment methods are different. For simple breast hyperplasia: If the patient has no symptoms such as pain, medication treatment can be considered unnecessary. Maintaining a regular lifestyle, relaxing, and eating less high-fat food and fewer caffeine-containing beverages are beneficial. If the pain affects normal life and work, timely treatment is needed to alleviate the pain. Surgery is generally not recommended unless the hyperplastic lumps cannot be ruled out for malignant transformation. For the treatment of cystic breast hyperplasia: If the cyst is small and the symptoms are mild, endocrine treatment can be carried out; if the cyst is large, has symptoms of compression, or if ultrasound suggests thickening of the cyst wall, rich blood supply, or intra-cystic tumors, or if the patient worries about cancer transformation causing significant mental stress, surgical treatment can be considered.

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Written by Wu Shi Ting
Breast Health Department
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What should I do if I have breast hyperplasia?

In clinical practice, based on different pathological types, breast hyperplasia can generally be divided into simple breast hyperplasia and cystic breast hyperplasia, and the treatment methods are different. For simple breast hyperplasia: If there are no symptoms such as pain, we generally do not use drug treatment. Maintaining a regular lifestyle, relaxing, eating less high-fat food, and drinking fewer caffeinated beverages are all beneficial. If the pain affects normal life and work, it needs to be treated in a timely manner to relieve the pain. Surgery is generally not recommended unless the growth mass cannot rule out malignancy. As for the treatment of cystic breast hyperplasia: If the cyst is small and the symptoms are mild, endocrine treatment can be carried out; If the cyst is large, has compression symptoms, or ultrasound suggests that the cyst wall is locally thickened, has abundant blood supply, or there are tumors attached to the cyst wall, or the patient is greatly stressed about cancer, surgical treatment can be considered.