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Can Fibroadenomas Turn Into Breast Cancer?
By Raveena M Prakash
Finding a lump in one of those breasts might make a woman skip their heart beats! And the mind starts to imagine worst case scenarios and ends up in a question of ‘could it be breast cancer? But here’s the good news, not all lumps are cancerous! One of the common reasons for developing lumps in the breast could be the presence of fibroadenomas! This is a benign tumor found in the breasts, who are in the age groups of 20s to 30s.
In this blog, we’ll discover more about the types of fibroadenomas, their diagnosis and whether they are cancerous or have a risk of becoming a breast cancer!
What is a fibroadenoma?
Fibroadenoma is a benign breast tumor, which is non-cancerous in nature. This lump appears to be smooth, round and solid tumors consisting of fibrous tissue and glandular tissue that forms a mass. Studies have shown that, in rare cases, fibroadenomas contain breast cancer. Fibroadenomas are not dangerous, they often shrink or disappear without any major treatment.
Types of fibroadenoma
There are mainly two types of fibroadenomas:
- Simple fibroadenoma: These are the most common types of fibroadenoma, they are small in size. These types of lumps do not increase the cancer risk.
- Complex fibroadenoma: These are commonly found in women who are above the age of 35 or above. These types of lumps often increase the risk of developing breast cancer slightly when compared to women with no lumps.
Other types of fibroadenomas include:
- Giant fibroadenomas: These are other types of lumps that grow larger than 5 cm.
- Juvenile fibroadenomas: Fibroadenoma mostly occurs in children and teenagers between the age group of 10 and 18.
Symptoms
These are solid lumps developed in one or two breasts. These are not painful and move quickly under the skin. These benign lumps are as small as a pea, and sometimes they can grow as large as a ball, which is about 2 to 3 cm.
Including:
- Round or oval with a boundaries
- Smooth texture
- Rubbery
What causes fibroadenomas?
The reason for developing these types of benign tumors in the breast is not clear yet. However, some studies suggest that women are sensitive to estrogen.Most of the time, fibroadenomas start to grow during pregnancy or hormone therapy, when the estrogen is higher. While these tumors tend to shrink during menopause, when the estrogen level is low.
How common are fibroadenomas?
Benign breast tumors, also commonly known as non-cancerous tumors, are common in women. Fibroadenoma is a type of benign tumor found in women between the ages of 20s and 30. Studies claim that approximately 10% of women are diagnosed with fibroadenoma in their lives.
Difference between fibroadenoma and breast cancer
Here are some of the distinct features of fibroadenoma and breast cancer that set them apart from each other, including:
Characteristics | Fibroadenoma | Breast cancer |
|---|---|---|
Movement | Moves quickly | No, mostly fixed in one place |
Texture | Smooth and rubbery | Hard and irregular |
Painful | Painless | Mostly painless, but tender |
Speed of growth | Slow, shrink over time | May grow rapidly |
Risk of cancer | No, benign tumors | It can spread, (if the cancer is malignant) |
Can fibroadenoma turn into breast cancer
No, in most cases these benign tumors won’t turn into cancer. Studies suggest that 99% of fibroadenomas remain as benign tumors in a woman’s life. Only in rare cases, when women with a complex fibroadenoma have a risk of developing cancer. However, even in complex cases, the risk of developing cancer is very low.
When should a fibroadenoma be removed?
In most cases, the removal of fibroadenoma cannot be suggested, However surgery is often considered in certain cases. The doctor might recommend the removal of this type of benign tumor, when:
- The lump starts to grow quickly.
- The size is larger than 3-4 cm.
- It starts to cause pain or discomfort.
- The patient has a family history of cancer.
- The ultrasound or biopsy results show the abnormal (atypical) cells.
What are the treatments used to remove a fibroadenoma?
In most cases, the removal of these benign tumours is not required. However, the doctor might recommend surgery when the lump is getting large and becoming painful. If a patient belongs from the family who has a history of breast or ovarian cancer, then the medical team might suggest removing these tumors immediately.
- Lumpectomy: This is a minor surgical procedure used to remove the lump or tumor, while preserving the rest of the breast tissue.
- Cryoablation: This is another type of procedure used to freeze and destroy small size of fibroadenoma commonly called cryoablation.
- VABB: This procedure is also known as vacuum-assisted excision biopsy. The doctor collects the tissues via a vacuum device, along with an ultrasound as a guide. This is not an invasive procedure; the doctor might give a local anesthetic to the patients. However, no stitches are required during this process.
Does fibroadenoma increase the risk of breast cancer?
In most cases, fibroadenomas do not increase the risk of breast cancer. However, in rare cases, the subtypes of fibroadenoma are also commonly called complex fibroadenoma. This is a type of fibroadenoma with abnormal cell changes similar to atypia, which are known to increase the risk of cancer.
Prevention
Unfortunately, you can't prevent the development of these types of benign tumors in the breasts. However, you can reduce the risk of developing these types of lumps in the breasts, by changing some of the lifestyle choices.
- Perform regular self breast exams
- Perform a clinical breast examination each year
- Get your regular mammogram screenings (after the age of 40)
- Stop drinking alcohol
- Stop smoking cigarettes
- Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits
- Maintain a healthy weight
- Follow balanced diet
Consult Today
Can fibroadenomas turn into breast cancer? The answer is no in most cases. Fibroadenomas are rarely associated with cancer because they are benign breast tumors that are not cancerous in nature. However, if you notice any lump or sudden changes in the skin, don’t ignore it. Consult with a healthcare practitioner to get a professional diagnosis and effective treatments.
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If you or any loved ones of yours are diagnosed with cancer, then visit Oncare Cancer Center and book an appointment with our experienced cancer specialists. Get an estimated cost of cancer treatments today!
Frequently Asked Questions
You can’t prevent the formation of these benign tumors. However, you can take these steps to reduce the risk of breast cancer.
- Consider to perform regular breast examination
- Perform regular mammogram check-ups after the age of 40
- Stop alcohol consumption
- Stop smoking cigarettes
- Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits
- Drink more water
Complex fibroadenomas slightly increase the risk of developing cancer in the breasts when compared to simple fibroadenoma.
If the simple fibroadenomas go untreated, nothing goes wrong, while the benign tumor belongs to the category of complex fibroadenomas. When it starts to grow, then the removal is required to avoid any future complications.
Here’s how fibroadenomas can diagnosed, it involves:
- Imaging scans, including mammogram and ultrasound
- Core-needle breast therapy