Treatment or Removal of Fibroadenomas:
Since fibroadenomas are benign, treatment will vary depending on your diagnosis. If it is small, painless, remains the same size, and a biopsy shows no problems, you would not need further treatment, but may have follow-up ultrasounds. However, if it is large (more than three cm), painful, growing, or a biopsy results in atypical (very active) cells, you can have it surgically removed with a lumpectomy. If you qualify, you can have fibroadenomas removed with a laser ablation (using heat) or cryoablation (freezing). In-situ ablation of fibroadenomas can be done in-office, leaves tiny scars, and has fast recovery.
What Causes Fibroadenomas?:
The exact cause of fibroadenomas is unknown. They seem to be influenced by estrogen, because they appear most often in premenopausal or pregnant women, or in women who are postmenopausal and taking HRT (hormone replacement therapy). Most fibroadenomas come and go during your menstrual cycle, when your hormone levels are changing.
When Do Fibroadenomas Appear?:
These are most common in women who are from 15 to 30 years old and in pregnant women. Fibroadenomas occur in 10 percent of all women, but in 20 percent of African-American women. They are much less common in postmenopausal women, unless the women is on estrogen therapy. About 10 percent of all fibroadenomas will disappear over time, and twenty percent of them will recur. If they don’t disappear, they usually stop growing when they reach two or three cm.
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Hi,
Is there really no remedy for the fibroadenoma? No way to control them to grow & become bigger?
And will the enlarge of fibroadenoma due to pregnancy & breast feeding back to normal size after birth?
Really need your advise on this...
i have already had a fibroadenoma removed then a few months after i had another two my doctor recommended having these out what i want to know is will i get more and how long does it take for these to be removed icant remember from last time.
hi, I have a 2.7 cm fibroadenoma in my right breast. I'm also having some pain in my breast, and it's now larger than my other breast. Should I be concerned. marj nov. 30 2008
Hi,
What symptoms are you having? Are the fibroadenomas causing pain, pressure symptoms, etc?
Fibroadenomas are followed up with regular breast self examinations, periodic evaluation by your doctor and repeat investigations annually or 6 monthly, as advised by your doctor.
They are only removed surgically in case of pressure symptoms, pain, etc. They are known to otherwise regress spontaneously at menopause.
You could discuss this with your breast specialist in detail.
Let us know about how you are doing and what your breast specialist advises.
Hope this helps.
Regards.
I am a 39 yo female with a history of breast cysts. I have had 3 aspirated and one solid one surgical removed which turned out to be benign. Recently I had a mammogram and they found 3 fibroadenomas on one side an one atypical ductal hyperplasia nodule on the other side. I plan on having the ADH removed but should I also push to have the fibroadenomas removed as well?
Hi,
It is most probably a fibroadenoma. On your next visit to the doctor ask for a confirmed diagnosis. A fibroadenoma need not be removed unless it is very large and causing symptoms. Fibroadenoma usually starts to regress after menopause. Have you had a mammogram lately to see if there is any change in size and shape of the fibroadenoma.
I have had a lump in my breast since I was 23 years old and a mammogram and ultrasound was done at that time and I was told not to worry about it. They didn't tell me what it was, and I was so young I didn't ask any questions.
Now at the age of 37, that lump is still there, unchanged. My current doctor is not worried and doesn't recommend removal. Should it be removed?
Hi,
There are no complications associated with fibroadenoma except for a little change in size and tenderness during your menstrual periods. They flare up with OCP or HRT use. They are known to regress spontaneously in most cases post menopause.
i want to know , what is the complication if i don't want to remove it
Hi,
In case a fibroadenoma is diagnosed before the age of 35, a conservative approach with a follow-up every 6 months in order to detect any changes of the lesion is recommended. In cases of regression, the follow-up should continue until complete regression. If the fibroadenomas do not completely regress, or remain unchanged by the age of 35, they should be excised surgically. Fibroadenomas that become larger should be excised without delay. In patients with a family history of breast cancer, or known changes of complex fibroadenoma, an excisional biopsy is done.Ypu should discuss with your surgeon the above options and proceed accordingly.