What should I do about the pain from lobular hyperplasia of the breast?

Written by Fan Hong Qiao
Breast Health Department
Updated on September 03, 2024
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Breast lobular hyperplasia accounts for more than two-thirds of female breast disease patients and can occur from youth to middle age. In the early stage of the disease, there is breast pain, followed by lumps, or pale yellow nipple discharge. Therefore, women should pay attention to preventing the occurrence of breast lobular hyperplasia. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that breast lobular hyperplasia is caused by liver Qi stagnation and phlegm and Qi stagnation, related to unhappy emotions and depressive moods. If there is a satisfying sexual relationship between spouses, including a coordinated and harmonious sex life, it can maintain a happy mood and smooth liver Qi. The Qi and blood in the collaterals will be harmonized and smooth, and the breast lobule will not easily proliferate. Therefore, we should adjust from life and diet, and of course, necessary medical treatment is essential.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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Early symptoms of mammary gland hyperplasia

The early symptoms of mammary gland hyperplasia are cyclic swelling pain, which worsens before menstruation and diminishes or disappears after menstruation, with these being the typical symptoms. During a physical examination, nodular lumps of varying sizes can be felt within the breast, which are firm but not hard, and sometimes tender to the touch. Ultrasonography may not show any lumps, or mammography may reveal a cotton-wool-like appearance, which can diagnose mammary gland hyperplasia. However, it is crucial to be cautious of the potential coexistence of mammary gland hyperplasia and breast cancer. On one hand, patients with significant hyperplasia should be closely followed up, advised to return to the hospital every two to three months for re-examination. On the other hand, for patients with significant hyperplastic lumps or unclear boundaries in the thickening type of mammary glands, a biopsy is recommended.

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Breast Surgery
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Can mild pain from lobular hyperplasia be ignored?

For mild pain associated with lobular hyperplasia, it may not require intervention but regular follow-up is needed. For more pronounced symptoms, symptomatic pharmaceutical treatment should be administered. Supporting the breasts with a bra, using traditional Chinese medicine to soothe the liver, regulate qi, and harmonize the Chong and Ren meridians may alleviate the pain. Endocrine treatment is another option, though generally avoided if possible. However, for severe pre-menopausal pain, taking vitamins such as B, C, and E before menstruation can help as they improve liver function, regulate hormone metabolism, and enhance autonomic nerve function. Vitamin E also helps alleviate pain.

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Breast Surgery
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Is it normal to have ovulatory pain due to lobular hyperplasia?

Lobular hyperplasia causing pain during ovulation is normal. The main symptoms of breast hyperplasia are cyclical swelling and pain of the breasts, often appearing or worsening before menstruation and lessening or disappearing after menstruation. Generally, mild cases do not receive much attention from patients, but severe cases can affect daily life and work. Some patients do not show obvious cyclical changes, and symptoms can include unilateral or bilateral breast pain or cyclical changes, sharp pain, which can extend to the shoulder, upper limbs, or thoracic back area. A minority of patients may experience nipple discharge, which can be yellow-green, brown, or serous in color. The condition can persist for a long time, but symptoms usually disappear or decrease after menopause.

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What does breast lobule feel like to the touch?

Fibrocystic breast changes may occur in one or both breasts, where palpable, nodular lumps of varying sizes can be felt. These lumps are firm but not hard, and sometimes painful. The boundary between the lumps and surrounding breast tissue is unclear, yet they are not adherent to the skin or chest muscles, sometimes appearing as unclearly bordered thickened areas. Lesions are more commonly located in the upper outer quadrant of the breast but can affect the entire breast. The lumps may enlarge during premenstrual or postmenstrual phases, but they typically reduce in size postmenstrually. Diagnosis can be confirmed through breast ultrasound and mammography. Breast ultrasound typically indicates proliferative breast tissue, showing areas of uneven, low echogenicity and, in cases of cysts, anechoic areas.

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Can ultrasonography detect lobular hyperplasia?

Lobular hyperplasia can be detected by ultrasound, appearing as heterogeneous hypoechoic areas on the ultrasound, and if cysts form, they appear as anechoic areas. The exact cause of lobular hyperplasia in the mammary glands is not very clear. It is currently believed to be related to elevated levels of estrogen caused by endocrine disorders, external environmental factors, work and living conditions, interpersonal relationships, and various other stressors that affect the psychological aspects, all of which can change the body’s internal environment. This in turn affects the function of the endocrine system, causing abnormal secretion of one or several hormones, ultimately disrupting the balance of hormone levels in the body, leading to increased estrogen, and causing mammary tissue hyperplasia.