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 Fan Hong Qiao
Breast Health Department
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What medicine should be taken for mammary gland hyperplasia?

Simple lobular hyperplasia of the breast does not require medication or other treatments, just pay attention to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and regularly check the lobular hyperplasia in both breasts at the hospital to monitor any changes in the condition. After menopause, as the body's estrogen levels decrease, the lobular hyperplasia will gradually improve. Just pay attention to a regular lifestyle, and there is no special dietary requirements compared to others. If the pain is unbearable and severely affects daily life, under the guidance of a doctor, you can take some traditional Chinese medicines that soothe the liver and regulate qi, invigorate blood and resolve stasis, or use estrogen receptor antagonists, which prevent the estrogen receptors from exerting their physiological effects, thereby relieving symptoms.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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Does lobular hyperplasia usually cause pain?

The primary manifestation of mammary gland hyperplasia is cyclical swelling and pain in the breast, often occurring or worsening before menstruation and alleviating or disappearing after menstruation. Mild cases are noteworthy for the patient, while severe cases can affect daily life and work. However, some patients do not exhibit obvious cyclical changes; others may experience unilateral or bilateral breast swelling and pain or needle-like pain. The pain may extend to the shoulder, upper limbs, or shoulder-back area. A few patients may have nipple discharge. During physical examinations, nodular lumps of varying sizes, which are tough but not hard, can be felt in one or both breasts. Sometimes, these lumps are tender to touch, and their boundaries with surrounding tissues are unclear, but they do not adhere to the skin or chest muscles.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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Why are there lymph nodes under the armpit in lobular hyperplasia?

Breast lobular hyperplasia generally does not involve enlargement of the lymph nodes. The enlargement of lymph nodes can be physiological or pathological. Physiological enlargement is either congenital or caused by inflammation, whereas pathological enlargement is generally caused by breast cancer. Lymph nodes affected by breast cancer can be located and fixed in the armpit, and may also be palpable above or below the clavicle. Lobular hyperplasia is related to the levels of hormones in the body; it is not inflammatory, but mainly associated with increased estrogen levels. There may also be variations in the quality and quantity of estrogen receptors in the breast tissue components, leading to uneven development in different parts of the breast.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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The difference between breast cancer and lobular hyperplasia

The difference between breast cancer and lobular hyperplasia is as follows: Lobular hyperplasia primarily manifests as nodular lumps that can be felt within one or both breasts. These lumps vary in size, are tough but not hard, and sometimes tender to touch. The boundaries of the lumps with the surrounding breast tissue are not clear, but they are not adherent to the skin or chest muscles, sometimes presenting as areas of thickening with unclear boundaries. Breast cancer, on the other hand, appears as a solitary, painless lump that is hard as stone and can be round, oval-shaped, or irregular. It can grow large, has poor mobility, and can easily adhere to the skin and surrounding tissues. The growth of the cancerous lump is not related to the menstrual cycle or emotional changes, and it can grow rapidly in a short time. On a mammogram, breast cancer lumps may show tiny calcifications, abnormal vascular shadows, and spicules.

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Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
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What should I do about lobular hyperplasia of the breast?

For cases with mild symptoms or less severe conditions, treatment is generally not necessary; regular follow-ups with breast ultrasound or mammography are sufficient. For those with pronounced symptoms, medication and symptomatic treatments can be given, as detailed below: Chinese herbal medicine can be used, treating breast hyperplasia through methods that soothe the liver, regulate qi, and harmonize the Chong. Endocrine treatments are also an option, though preferably avoided, but can be administered before menstruation for those who experience significant pain during the premenopausal period. Vitamin therapy, including vitamins B, C, and E, can improve liver function and regulate basal metabolism, as well as enhance the function of the autonomic nervous system, serving as supplementary medicine for this condition. Recently, vitamin E is also considered to have pain-relieving effects. For individuals with a family history of breast cancer, lesions confined to a part of the breast, or those who still have significant lumps after menstruation, it is recommended to conduct a puncture biopsy and consider surgical treatment if necessary.