Whether mastopathy. Treatment of mastopathy: reviews of methods and medicines. Wear the right bra

Our expert - mammologist Taisiya Kokorina.

Mastopathy is a benign disease of the mammary glands that occurs due to hormonal imbalance. According to WHO, by the age of 40, more than 60% of women have such a diagnosis.

What worries?

The main symptoms of mastopathy are pain, swelling, tightness and a feeling of heaviness in the chest. True, most women can present such complaints before menstruation. But normally, such symptoms can occur only a few days (maximum a week) before menstruation and disappear in the first days after its onset. With mastopathy, the chest hurts much longer. And this pain should not be ignored.

Mastopathy can develop against the background of hormonal disorders. It is often found in diseases of the ovaries, liver, thyroid gland, obesity and other endocrine pathologies. The reasons can be nervous disorders, prolonged stress and much more. To understand the origins of the disease, mammologists prescribe blood tests for hormones to patients, conduct ultrasound of the thyroid gland, liver and ovaries, send them to an endocrinologist and a neurologist. After all, the treatment of mastopathy largely depends on the causes that caused it. In some cases, hormonal drugs are required, but more often it is possible to do without them.

Is it dangerous?

There are two main forms of mastopathy - diffuse and nodular. In the first case, small seals periodically appear in the mammary gland tissue, which dissolve by themselves with the onset of the menstrual cycle. This form is more common in younger women and is considered less dangerous, however, it should be monitored and, if possible, treated. And the detection of nodular mastopathy, in which round or oval nodules with a clear contour, ranging in size from a pea to a quail egg, are probed in the mammary gland, may be an indication for surgery. It is believed that the presence of some forms of nodular mastopathy increases the risk of developing breast cancer by 5 times. In this case, a sectoral resection is used, in which only the nodes are removed, and the mammary gland itself remains intact. But often this form of the disease is also simply observed. An individual schedule of examinations and examinations will be appointed by a mammologist. He will also prescribe drugs to treat and maintain the health of the mammary glands. And it will also help in choosing the right nutrition, physical activity.

Treatment of mastopathy depends on the cause of the disease. Therefore, mammologists often work in collaboration with doctors of other specialties: neurologists, endocrinologists. Sometimes hormonal drugs (in particular, oral contraceptives) are prescribed for treatment, but more often it is possible to get by with non-hormonal drugs. However, patients should not decide on their own which method of treatment will be appropriate.

Important!

You should immediately contact a mammologist if you have:

• seals and pain in the mammary gland;
• swollen lymph nodes under the arm, under or above the collarbone;
• any changes in the skin of the chest;
• fever at the site of the gland;
• asymmetry of the mammary glands (change in shape, size);
• inverted nipple or wrinkling of the breast skin;
• discharge from the nipple.

Take care of yourself

But don't rely on treatment alone. Prevention can help keep your breasts healthy.

Proper nutrition. Food must be natural. Fresh vegetables, fruits and berries should be consumed daily. Cruciferous vegetables are especially beneficial. These include all types of cabbage: broccoli, white, cauliflower, Beijing. In addition to antioxidants (vitamins A, C and E), these vegetables are rich in anti-cancer substances (indoles and sulforaphanes). Soy products (tofu, miso, soy milk) are also helpful. There are many useful isoflavones, plant fibers, folic acid.

Taking dietary supplements and vitamins. Antioxidants, the most effective of which are coenzyme Q10, lycopene, rutin, vitamins A, C and E, help neutralize harmful free radicals, and in addition, they also enhance the therapeutic activity of other drugs and strengthen the immune system. Vitamin D, omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, as well as indole, a natural plant oncoprotector, have anticancer activity.

Regular sex life. Studies have shown that a quality sex life, in which the female hormonal background is normalized, is a good prevention of cancer.

Comfortable underwear. The bra should fit in size, but at the same time provide good support for the mammary gland. Constant pressure disrupts its blood supply, and this increases the risk of tumors.

Physical activity. Dancing, gymnastics, running, Nordic walking will do. And the ideal sport for the mammary gland is swimming 2-3 times a week.

Childbirth and breastfeeding. Each year of breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast cancer by 8%, and each birth by 9%.

Breast self-examination. It is important to develop the habit once a month at the same time (preferably a couple of days after the end of menstruation) to examine the chest in the mirror and feel it in a standing and lying position. You also need to inspect the underwear to make sure that there is no discharge from the chest.

The state and behavior of the glandular tissue of the female breast changes several times in the period from ovulation to menstruation, because the ratio of the hormones that regulate its activity changes. In addition to the well-known estrogens, we are also talking about progesterone (it is a hormone common to both sexes), prolactin and oxytocin. So, in reality, there are more hormones than you can imagine, especially considering that the estrogen group also includes not one hormone, but three (estradiol, estrone, estriol). At different stages of the cycle, the balance of these compounds in the blood and tissues of a woman changes, one of them gives way to another.

Age also contributes to the development of hormonal mastopathy - as well as the presence / absence of healthy pregnancies, the time when the first of them occurred, the weight category. And all this affects the processes taking place in the mammary glands. It is not surprising that over time, it becomes more and more difficult for the mammary glands to adequately respond to the next changes in the background, since with age the ability of tissues to even natural changes decreases. Therefore, mastopathy, although in theory it can develop at any age from adolescence, most often occurs in women over thirty years old. And after menopause (47-50 years), the threat of mastopathy again begins to decline.

Causes

The main hormones responsible for the menstrual cycle are:

• estrogens - responsible for the maturation of the egg;
• progesterone - ensures the preparation of the uterus for fertilization;

• prolactin - affects the state of the mammary glands more noticeably than estrogen, but this applies only to the last weeks of pregnancy, since it stimulates the production of breast milk during lactation.

The increase in estrogen levels that accompanies ovulation also leads to an acceleration of cell division in the mammary glands. If pregnancy does not occur, the level of progesterone, which began to rise from the middle of ovulation, triggers the cessation of the accelerated cell division of the ducts of the mammary glands. Therefore, most often the causes of mastopathy are reduced to:

• insufficient concentration of progesterone;
• excess estrogen;
• excess prolactin in the absence of lactation and pregnancy.

Immune failure and other non-hormonal factors

Mastopathy turns into oncology? In addition to hormonal, the development of mastopathy can be affected by another factor - immune. The older the human body, the more often defective new cells are born in it. Sometimes they appear instead of healthy breast cells - especially when hormones stimulate them to actively divide and grow.

One of the parts of the immune defense is “tuned” to the timely detection and destruction of “wrong” cells - lymphocytes of several types, “trained” by the thymus gland. These bodies are able to distinguish defective and infected cells from healthy ones and destroy them. But aging also changes the functioning of the immune system, which is why, over the years, the danger that lymphocytes “miss” some abnormal cell increases. Meanwhile, it is defective cellular elements that become the basis of many benign and malignant tumors.

It is believed that the following pathologies predispose to the emergence of defective breast cells in mastopathy.

• Breast injury. Especially chronic, caused, for example, by wearing tight or uncomfortable underwear.
• Pathology of the ovaries. Including cysts, inflammation, malignant tumors. All of them cause a failure in the synthesis of the main sex hormones, and cysts and ovarian cancer themselves often trigger the production of hormone-like substances to stimulate the growth of their own body (if the neoplasm has already become malignant).
• Tumors and injuries of the adrenal glands. Because they are also involved in the synthesis of some of the main hormones (for example, progesterone).
• Chronic thyroiditis. Pathology of the thyroid gland, the hormones of which regulate the rate of growth and renewal of the tissues of the whole body, the metabolism in it. Their connection with sexual activity is not direct, but it also exists. Therefore, the deficiency of “thyroid” hormones gradually leads to dysfunction of the reproductive system of both women and men.

In addition, medicine includes in the list of possible causes of mastopathy a sex life that is far from ideal (many partners, a history of abortions), an abundance of stress, late or early childbirth, as well as smoking and drinking alcohol. In fact, there are no objective data that women who suffer from alcoholism, smoke or often change partners have mastopathy more often than prosperous housewives.

Kinds

All mastopathy is divided into two main varieties.

1. Diffuse mastopathy. With it, the connective tissue that divides the mammary gland into lobules grows in strands with the formation of a number of small (the size of rice or millet grains) nodes.
2. Nodular mastopathy. In the case of her, a single knot appears, up to the size of a walnut.

Diffuse varieties of mastopathy are divided into several types.

• Diffuse cystic. When the overgrown bands block the blood and lymph flow in one of the areas of the mammary gland or prevent the outflow of colostrum / milk from it. As a result of such mastopathy, multiple cysts are formed. That is, cavities with a dense shell filled with a liquid with a very different composition. Such mastopathy is usually dishormonal - caused by fluctuations in the hormonal background.
• Diffuse fibrous. In which the breast tissue is “permeated” with overgrown coarse connective tissue fibers that separate the lobules of the gland. Fibrous mastopathy often occurs due to inflammation.
• Fibrocystic. That is, mixed mastopathy. Fibrous cystic mastopathy of the mammary glands is the worst to treat, and most of all resembles a malignant tumor (and becomes one over time).
• Fibro-adenomatous. Or, rather, fibrous-adenous mastopathy, which is characterized by a focal proliferation of secretory cells of the gland itself.

Nodular mastopathy can occur in the form of fibroadenoma or cysts. In addition, mastopathy in general can affect both one of the mammary glands (unilateral) and both (bilateral). According to the degree of brightness of manifestations, it is slightly pronounced, moderate and pronounced.

Symptoms of mastopathy

Signs of breast mastopathy at the initial stage, which can last for several months or several years, are practically absent. It is possible to detect seals inside the tissues of the mammary gland only by chance, when probing. As a rule, at this stage of mastopathy, the zones of seals are small, but pressure in them causes aching pain and a feeling of a foreign body inside the gland. Without treatment, mastopathy always progresses. That is:

• nodules increase in size;
• dull, aching pain in the gland becomes constant;
• there is a feeling of heaviness in the mammary gland;
• the feeling of a foreign object is enhanced not only by palpation, but also by wearing underwear.

Additionally, already at the intermediate stage of development of mastopathy, patients may experience discharge from the nipples. But already by the third stage, there are almost always discharges, and some of the most mature tumors can suppurate. If such foci with mastopathy are located close to the surface of the body, the fistula opens outward. If not, the entire mammary gland may swell. At the same time, the pains become sharp, shooting, wearing a bra becomes impossible.

In addition to the probable suppuration with a breakthrough outward, which is very reminiscent of necrosis of a malignant tumor, mastopathy is often accompanied by swelling of one or more nearby lymph nodes, especially subclavian and axillary. This symptom is also typical for cancer, since malignant neoplasms give near metastasis to the lymphatic system already in the second stage - even before distant metastasis begins.

Diagnostic methods and techniques

Modern medicine advises all women who are in the age-related risk group for mastopathy (that is, from thirty to fifty years old) to regularly conduct independent palpation and examination of both mammary glands. First in a standing position, and then lying down. You can begin to worry if, upon examination or palpation, the following changes are found in one or both glands.

• Tight knots. That is, harder than the surrounding tissue, because healthy breast tissue also does not feel uniform to the touch.
• Discharge from nipples. In this case, they are constant, not related to the stages of the cycle, although they can intensify before critical days. Their volume is almost always small, but noticeable. The worst sign in the case of them is the admixture of pus or clotted blood in them.
• Swollen lymph nodes. They can be single or multiple (then they will be located in a chain), the size of a plum, painless and soft. They are located either in the armpit from the side of the affected gland, or lead from the chest up to the collarbone and neck. Such a "chain" sometimes also occurs due to damage to the lymph nodes by the Epstein-Barr virus or for other reasons. But much more often it accompanies mastopathy and cancer of any location, not just the breast.

Otherwise, mastopathy is diagnosed with the help of ultrasound or mammography - chest X-ray in projections from the front and side. Such surveys are recommended to be carried out at least once every six months. When tumors are detected, they are biopsied - taking a sample for histological analysis, which allows you to accurately determine their benign or malignant nature. And the only external difference between mastopathy and breast cancer can only be observed if it is bilateral, since cancer never spreads to the second breast and does not affect them at the same time.

You just need to remember that behind the sternum (in the zone of direct action of x-rays) is the thymus gland - the one that is responsible for "anti-cancer" immunity due to the synthesis of lymphocytes. Therefore, in half of the cases, it is better to replace mammography with mastopathy with ultrasound, even despite complaints about the accuracy of its results with small neoplasms.

Scientific Therapy

Science itself seeks to treat mastopathy with conservative methods, especially if the disease proceeds in a benign form - it is not prone to progression and relapse, does not give complications, and responds well to hormone therapy. True, an operation can be prescribed in case of cyst formation, since its potential for suppuration and malignancy in mastopathy is especially high. But otherwise, the following measures are recommended for patients with mastopathy.

• Proper nutrition. Including a diet aimed at achieving a normal weight category. Estrogens are metabolized and accumulated in adipose tissues, so we are talking not only about weight loss, but also about its set, which is also sometimes necessary. The diet must include foods rich in vitamins A, B, C, E and iodine, and should not be fatty, spicy, fried foods. You should reduce the amount of meat in the diet, balancing its amount with vegetables. It is also useful to take fruits rich in antioxidants - grapes (especially dark ones), citrus fruits, strawberries, blueberries, lingonberries, raspberries.
• Hormonal drugs. Usually it is aimed at reducing the concentration of estrogen in the blood during mastopathy. One of its most versatile and well-known options is taking oral contraceptives, which help to cope with bright premenstrual syndrome, prolonged / painful periods, skin rashes, mood swings, and other signs of hormonal imbalance. But there are other remedies for mastopathy, including "Visanne" and other drugs based on dienogest. But since an incorrectly selected or performed hormone therapy can have far-reaching consequences (infertility and), it should be prescribed exclusively by a doctor.
• Local anesthesia. With mastopathy, it is often necessary, although it changes the picture of symptoms. Creams and gels based on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and anesthetics (diclofenac, ketoprofen) are considered the safest.
• Phytotherapy. Often it is aimed simply at relieving stress (it affects the level of prolactin, if we are not talking about the period of breastfeeding). But medicinal herbs for mastopathy can also provide an anti-inflammatory or immunostimulatory effect.

In gynecology, it is widely believed that with mastopathy it is better to minimize the effect of factors that can "spur" malignancy. So, when she is not advised to take sunbaths and sunbathe, undergo any physiotherapy, including massage. Going to the bath with mastopathy is also not recommended. However, this point of view is far from being supported by doctors, especially since with timely treatment, mastopathy usually does not cause fear of turning into cancer.

Folk remedies

Does it turn into cancer? Mastopathy is dangerous malignant degeneration into cancer. And if her origin of mastopathy is not traumatic, then it probably has a hormonal “underpinning”. Therefore, for the purpose of treatment, you can, of course, apply a fresh cabbage leaf to the chest affected by mastopathy or use compresses from strong natural anti-inflammatory drugs: oak bark, lilac color, celandine herbs.

But in fact, the treatment of mastopathy with folk remedies is not a treatment. It relieves the symptoms of inflammation, but acts on the result (directly mastopathy), and not on its origins (hormonal imbalance). And given the fact that it is very easy to confuse a malignant tumor with benign seals in the chest, self-treatment of breast mastopathy with folk remedies looks all the more rash.

- one of the most common diseases in women in reproductive and. The disease is characterized by pathological proliferation of glandular tissues and the formation of seals, and is most often manifested by pain and discharge from the nipples.

Oncological processes in the mammary gland can have similar manifestations, so patients are interested in how to distinguish these diseases and whether mastopathy can develop into cancer.

Types of mastopathy

Mammologists distinguish two general groups of mastopathy: nodular and diffuse. In the diffuse form of the disease, pain is manifested due to the proliferation of connective tissue and the increase in many small nodules at once under the influence of hormonal imbalance. Nodular mastopathy occurs as a result of an untreated diffuse form of the disease.

It can manifest itself as a fibroadenoma or cyst and, under the influence of risk factors, malignize over time (lead to the appearance of a malignant tumor). As a rule, the probability of developing breast cancer in patients with mastopathy is 3-5 times higher than in healthy women of the same age group.

Diffuse mastopathy occurs more often than nodular. The disease develops due to hormonal imbalance (excess estrogen, prolactin with insufficient progesterone - this ratio is often observed in ovarian diseases or menopause, as well as in some other conditions). With the growth of the connective tissue, the patient begins to feel discomfort and tension of the glands, small nodules are felt during palpation. Most often, the sensitivity of the breast increases, pathological discharge from the nipples is observed.

Depending on the nature of hormonal disorders, mastopathy may be accompanied by constant fatigue, dry skin, menstrual irregularities and amenorrhea, irritability or apathy.

Diffuse mastopathy can be of three types:

• (manifested by the growth of connective tissue);
• cystic (characterized by the appearance of fluid-filled cysts, in the later stages may be accompanied by inflammation of the gland caused by congestion);
• fibrocystic (mixed).

In the absence of treatment, dense nodes with a diameter of up to 8-10 centimeters are formed. They may have the character of a cyst or fibroadenoma. Despite the fact that any of these pathologies increases the risk of developing breast cancer, leaf-shaped fibroadenoma is the most likely to pass. Medical practice shows that no special conditions are required for malignancy. The most likely risk factor is a hormonal surge (for example, during or after menopause).

Pain in nodular and diffuse mastopathy

Pain in mastopathy depends not only on the stage, but also on the type of disease. The cause of pain when there are multiple formations and growths of connective tissue. They compress nearby nerves, which causes discomfort to the patient.

Chest pain with diffuse type mastopathy has a number of differences:

• increases in the premenstrual period, and after the end of the cycle disappears or decreases significantly;
• accompanied by swelling of the breast and an increase in its sensitivity;
• is aching or oppressive in nature;
• manifested by increased sensitivity or even soreness of the nipples, in the later stages - discharge from them.

It is also possible to determine nodular mastopathy by a number of characteristic pain signs:

• the pain does not go away during the entire cycle, with the aggravation of the disease, it becomes more acute;
• discomfort is given to the shoulder, armpits, back, forearm area;
• the pain is usually aching in nature, but in an acute form it can become stabbing;
• hypersensitivity turns into painful discomfort (even with a light touch or underwear pressure on the chest, aching pain appears);
• the nipple area becomes very painful.

Benign tumors are usually mobile relative to the surrounding tissues.

It is very important to carry out differentiated diagnostics in order to distinguish it from breast cancer and increase the chances of successful treatment in the presence of a malignant disease.

Differences in symptoms in breast cancer and mastopathy

Some signs of breast cancer are similar to the symptoms of mastopathy, but the rest (in combination with hardware methods) still allow for a differentiated diagnosis.

The success of an early diagnosis of an oncological disease may depend on how the chest hurts with mastopathy and what symptoms this condition accompanies.

How to distinguish mastopathy from cancer using diagnostic methods

If the chest hurts during mastopathy and all the symptoms indicate the absence of oncology, the doctor still recommends that the patient undergo a series of additional studies. Methods of differentiated diagnostics allow you to determine the location, size and shape of formations in the chest.

In rare cases, mastopathy turns into breast cancer (the frequency of malignancy is one in ten cases with a diagnosed leaf-shaped fibroadenoma), so the specialist must determine what is more reasonable: removal of the neoplasm, placing the patient on an oncological register, or prescribing conservative therapy.

If a lump is found in the mammary gland (on its own or at an annual examination), it is necessary to undergo a mammogram (X-ray examination of the breast). As a rule, mammography is prescribed for women over 35 years old, because. in young patients, the mammary gland is sensitive to the effects of gamma rays. They are advised to replace the x-ray of the gland with ultrasound diagnostics. Benign nodes on ultrasound have smooth contours, and a malignant tumor has an uneven relief.

If malignancy is suspected, the patient undergoes a biopsy of tumor tissues (taking a sample to study the degree of cell differentiation). In order to diagnose cancer, an analysis is also performed for the main oncomarker of the breast (Ca 15.3) and a contrast study of the glandular ducts.

When confirming an oncological diagnosis, an ultrasound scan of the regional and abdominal departments and a chest x-ray are prescribed to investigate the extent of the spread and stage of the disease. The neoplasm is examined for sensitivity to progesterone and estrogen, if necessary, prescribing hormone-lowering therapy.

In the case of diagnosed mastopathy, the opposite is true: after examining the hormonal background of the patient, she is prescribed replacement therapy with synthetic analogues of deficient hormones (most often progesterone).

Regardless of whether the chest hurts with mastopathy, if a seal is detected, you should immediately contact a mammologist. Based on the results of tests and studies, he will be able to accurately determine the degree of malignancy of the process and prescribe adequate treatment.

The mammary gland is a rather vulnerable organ of the female body. She is often exposed to various pathologies, and one of them is.

Not everyone knows that mastopathy is pretty, which needs careful treatment and supervision by a qualified doctor.

If left untreated, some can transform into an oncological process.

In this article, we will talk about what to do when mastopathy is detected, what tests are taken if it is present, how to treat this pathology and whether it is possible to get rid of it for good.

Essence of pathology

NOTE!

The term "mastopathy" includes a large number of forms and types of the disease, but all of them are accompanied by a violation of the ratio of connective and epithelial tissue.

Such processes are associated with failures of neuroregulatory processes, that is, mastopathy can develop not only with - progesterone, estrogen and prolactin, but also with disorders of the functionality of the nervous system - depression, stress, nervous strain.

Associated symptoms

The most effective folk remedies are:

• honey. It can be taken orally or compresses can be made from it;
• . Used as compresses that help eliminate pain;
• camphor oil. Used for compresses or for massage;
• medicinal herbs. Herbs are used that reduce the risk of developing tumors, have anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Enjoys the greatest popularity. This plant has an antitumor effect, therefore it occupies a leading position in the treatment of mastopathy;
• tinctures. Positive feedback has a tincture of cinquefoil, it has antitumor and anti-inflammatory effects, and also improves lymph circulation;
• vegetable medicines. You will need a glass of carrot juice, a glass of black radish juice, a glass of lemon juice, a glass of Cahors, a glass of garlic juice and a glass of liquid flower honey. All ingredients are mixed and placed in a glass container with a lid. The remedy is taken three times a day before meals in a tablespoon. Keep refrigerated.

Folk remedies can be combined with traditional treatment, but the doctor must be made aware of this in order to adjust the dosage of medications if necessary.

Separately, it must be said about hirudotherapy.

The positive effect of treating mastopathy with leeches is achieved due to the following:

• bloodletting eliminates the stagnation of lymph and blood in the tissues;
• in the secret of saliva of leeches there are biologically active enzymes that have a positive effect on the state of the whole organism as a whole;
• leeches are placed on certain areas of the body, which leads to the harmonization of bioenergetics. Of course, this issue has not been studied much yet, but traditional medicine does not deny the positive impact of hirudotherapy on the human body.

Surgical intervention

Indications for surgical treatment are as follows:

• large nodes in the late stage of the disease;
• severe discomfort from compaction;
• development of the inflammatory process;
• suppuration or rupture of the cystic cavity;
• sharp and rapid growth of neoplasms;
• the occurrence of a large number of seals in a short period of time;
• fibroadenoma;
• intraductal adenoma;
• calcareous elements in the breast;
• no effect of therapeutic treatment;
• suspected oncological process.

The operation for mastopathy is carried out by two main methods:

• sclerosing. A cyst is punctured, after which a special substance is introduced into the vacated cavity, which provides "gluing" of the cyst walls;
• resection. Part of the mammary gland or the entire gland is removed.

After surgery, a woman must undergo rehabilitation and recover. After removal of neoplasms, it is necessary to visit a mammologist regularly to prevent recurrence.

Lifestyle with mastopathy

Everyone knows that healthy sleep is the key to the successful treatment of any disease. A woman with mastopathy needs to forget about sleepless nights and go to bed no later than 22.00.

You need to sleep 10 hours a day. Then the rested body will restore the balance of hormones and accumulate strength to resist the disease.

Physical exercise will help improve your health. It is also very important to avoid stressful situations and get rid of bad habits.

Patients with mastopathy are prohibited from overheating in saunas and baths. It is also not recommended to sunbathe, both in a solarium and in a natural way.

Read about other contraindications for mastopathy.

Sexual contacts should be present in a woman's life regularly. Lack of sexual life is one of the reasons for the development of mastopathy. Orgasm is the best natural way to get rid of high levels of estrogen.

Diet

Dairy products, fruits and vegetables should be included in the diet. In addition, it is important to eat foods with a high content of iodine and other trace elements.

Avoid the following products:

• coffee and alcohol;
• a large amount of animal fats;
• fried and smoked;
• floury and sweet.

In order for iodine to be properly absorbed by the body, it is better to exclude white cabbage from the diet, but broccoli or cauliflower will come in handy - they have an anti-oncogenic effect on the body.

You should also limit the use of salt, as it contributes to the retention of fluid in the body, which leads to swelling.

Food should be taken in small portions, but often. Be sure to drink plenty of clean water.

Allowed products:

• fish, meat and vegetarian soups with vegetables and cereals;
• grain bread;
• low-fat varieties of red poultry meat, fish, seafood;
• whole grain cereals;
• low-fat dairy products;
• legumes;
• vegetables and fruits;
• vegetable oils;
• dried fruits;
• nuts;
• bee products;
• marmalade, marshmallow, marshmallow;
• green tea, herbal tea, fruit drinks and compotes.

Prohibited Products:

• horseradish;
• radish;
• cakes, chocolates and sweets;
• mayonnaise;
• mustard;
• lard and fatty meat;
• sausages;
• fast food.

Massage and exercise

Movements should be as follows:

• stroking- preparation of the skin for the procedure, carried out with light movements from the nipples to the periphery;
• warming up- Adjustment of blood circulation. The chest is kneaded with gentle squeezing movements;
• vibration- closing reception. Relaxes blood vessels. A palm is placed on the chest and vibrates intensely.

Despite the simplicity of the procedure, it is better that the first few massage sessions are carried out by a specialist, then it can be done independently at home.

Contraindications:

• temperature above 38 degrees;
• malignant tumors;
• mammary gland injuries;
• allergic reactions.

NOTE!

As for exercise, it is recommended to select such sports activities, in which sweat will be intensively released and the pulse will increase. Active exercises provoke the synthesis of the “hormone of happiness” in the body, and it perfectly neutralizes stressful influences.

Relaxing exercises are also indicated for this disease. For example, yoga. It has already been proven that yoga helps to eliminate the clinical manifestations of many diseases, and mastopathy is one of them.

When mastopathy is prohibited:

• martial arts;
• strength exercises;
• weight lifting.

• lightweight fitness;
• yoga;
• belly dancing;
• dance Sport;
• swimming and exercise in the pool.

It is absolutely not necessary to go to gyms - half an hour of feasible exercises at home in a week will give the first results.

The most effective treatment regimen

There is no single treatment plan for pathology. The doctor selects therapy in accordance with the age of the woman, the form and stage of the disease, and also, starting from the background ailments and causes that provoked the development of mastopathy.

In most cases, they write:

• hormonal and sedative drugs;
• vitamins;
• funds for local use;
• traditional medicine;
• diet;
• physical exercise.

The most effective treatment for mastopathy is complex. Using one drug, it is impossible to cope with the disease.

Mastopathy is a benign disease of the breast. In its occurrence, the imbalance of female sex hormones in the body is usually to blame. With self-examination of the breast, a woman can find quite obvious signs of pathology. It is not always possible to distinguish mastopathy from breast cancer in appearance. There are special methods that allow the doctor to find out exactly what kind of disease it is. The main thing is that the woman does not hesitate and does not listen to anyone's advice on how to get rid of seals on her own. The moment when the disease can be dealt with may be missed.

The development and condition of the female breast is influenced by sex hormones - estrogen and progesterone, produced in the ovaries. An excess of estrogen and a lack of progesterone leads to pathological changes in tissues. The cause of a violation of the hormonal composition can be diseases of the genital organs, long-term treatment or contraception with hormonal drugs.

An imbalance is formed when the natural course of physiological processes in the body is disturbed (termination of pregnancy, irregular sex life, and others), as well as after operations on the uterus and ovaries. The formation of mastopathy is also facilitated by an excess of prolactin, a hormone that regulates milk production and the state of the glandular tissue.

Basically, all such processes occur at the age of 18-45 years. At risk are women 30-40 years old, so it is at this age that the first signs of a weakening of the functioning of the ovaries appear, changes in the ratio of hormones occur.

Video: What is mastopathy, how dangerous is it

Types of disease

There are 2 forms of mastopathy: diffuse and nodular. The nodular form is more dangerous, since in the advanced stage, a cancerous tumor may appear at the site of nodal neoplasms.

Diffuse mastopathy

It is considered the initial stage of the disease. The growth of connective tissue cells occurs unevenly, which leads to the appearance of small nodules, stretching of individual tissue sections, and the formation of cysts. The development of glandular tissue cells is also disturbed. As a result of these changes, a pulling pain appears in the woman's chest, the mammary gland becomes dense. Painful symptoms are worse before menstruation, when the breasts swell.

There are several varieties of diffuse breast mastopathy:

1. Glandular (adenosis) - with the predominant development of glandular tissue compared to connective.
2. Glandular cystic. Predominantly glandular tissue develops abnormally, and multiple cysts form in it.
3. Fibrocystic. There is a proliferation of connective (fibrous) tissue, in which cysts appear.

With mixed mastopathy, cysts form in both tissues. Growth occurs with a predominance of fibrous tissue.

Nodular mastopathy

It usually develops against the background of diffuse mastopathy. There is an increase in nodes in any part of the mammary gland due to the presence of intraductal papilloma, the formation of a large cyst or tumor (fibroadenomas, lipomas). Abnormal changes occur predominantly in fibrous tissue.

Signs of nodular mastopathy are seals that appear on one of the sections of the gland, swelling and redness of the skin over this area, the presence of discharge from the nipple (transparent, white, pinkish).

Depending on what neoplasm caused nodular mastopathy, it is divided into the following types:

• fibrocystic (with cysts in fibrous tissue);
• fibrous, when nodes appear in a certain area of ​​​​the connective tissue;
• lobular (glandular) - germination of connective tissue in the epithelium of the lobules of the mammary gland.

The growth of tissues leads to the appearance of papillomas (papillae) on the epithelium of the ducts, the formation of a multilayered epithelium that narrows the lumen of the ducts, and also to the appearance of large cystic cavities.

Depending on how pronounced such changes in the epithelium are, mastopathy is divided into simple (there is an increase in the number of cells without changing their structure) and proliferating (there is a change in the structure of cells). As a result of proliferation, so-called atypical cells appear with larger nuclei and irregular division. These cells can become cancerous, so proliferating nodular breast mastopathy is considered a precancerous disease. Especially dangerous is the formation of leaf-shaped cysts in the breast tissue (flat multilayer cavities with overgrown layers of the epithelium). Mastopathy of this kind degenerates into sarcoma.

Video: Causes, symptoms and diagnosis of mastopathy

Symptoms and signs

The nature of the symptoms depends on the form of mastopathy, its stage and the characteristics of the body of the patient herself.

Pain in chest before menstruation. At first, a woman may perceive it as a normal premenstrual symptom, especially since it disappears at the end of menstruation. But the next time, the pulling pain can turn into a sharp, stabbing, stronger one. She begins to give in the hand, under the shoulder blade.

breast swelling in the second half of the cycle. The growing tissues begin to compress the vessels, blood circulation is disturbed, which leads to swelling, an increase in the volume of the gland.

Discharge from nipples. They appear when pressed. The color of the discharge can be almost anything. Greenish discharge occurs if an inflammatory process occurs in the ducts or lobules. The most dangerous are spotting, which can be a sign of the appearance of a malignant tumor.

The appearance of seals in the chest. Nodes are formed in one or both mammary glands, in a single amount or several at once.

With diffuse mastopathy, fine-grained seals are palpated due to an increase in the size of the lobules in the mammary gland. With nodular mastopathy, seals can reach a size of 7 cm. They do not have clear boundaries. In a large cyst, on the contrary, the seal has a well-defined contour. The neoplasm is mobile, not connected with the skin.

What is the danger of mastopathy

The disease must be eliminated. As a rule, hormone-containing preparations are used. In advanced cases, a surgical operation is performed to remove a dangerous node. Mastopathy does not go away on its own. If the disease is not controlled, the seal can increase in size, turn into a cancerous tumor. One of the signs of mastopathy of the mammary gland, indicating a dangerous degeneration, is the appearance of many small calcifications in the mammary gland.

The danger is also the occurrence of inflammatory processes in areas with damaged tissue structure, fluid suppuration in cysts. Cysts can burst, leading to widespread inflammation of the breast.

Diagnosis of mastopathy

Mammological examination consists primarily of palpation and visual examination of the gland. Important diagnostic methods are mammography (an x-ray of the mammary glands, which is performed for women over 35 years old), as well as ultrasound. This method can detect neoplasms with a size of 1-2 mm.

The nature of the compaction is clarified with the help of a biopsy - sampling and examining it under a microscope to detect atypical or cancerous cells.

Video: Prevention of mastopathy

Prevention of mastopathy and its complications

The basis of prevention is regular self-examination of the mammary glands. It is carried out on the 5th-7th day from the onset of menstruation, when the breasts are softest. It is carried out in a standing and lying position.

If you find seals of any size, an increase in the volume of the glands, the appearance of discharge from the nipples, redness and swelling of the skin and other symptoms of breast mastopathy, it is urgent to undergo an examination by a mammologist. An important reason for this is the appearance of characteristic chest pains.

Prevention of mastopathy also lies in the timely treatment of gynecological and endocrine diseases. It is necessary to be careful about the use of hormonal drugs. They must be individually prescribed by a doctor. New generation drugs are used, containing, in addition to estrogen, also progesterone. This reduces the risk of breast cancer.