19/03/2024
Cyclomastopathy
(Fibroadenomas, Fibrocystic Changes)
Fibrocystic breast disease, neither a tumor nor an inflammation, is characterized histologically by the proliferation and degenerative changes of breast tissue, closely associated with endocrine dysfunction. It predominantly affects middle-aged women, though adolescents and postmenopausal women can also be affected. In today's urban professional women, 50%-70% experience varying degrees of fibrocystic changes. Common manifestations include breast pain and palpable breast nodules. The danger lies not in the disease itself but in the psychological stress, fearing the development of breast cancer. Fibrocystic breast disease encompasses various pathological types, with simple adenosis being the most prevalent. By adjusting mindset and alleviating stress, symptoms can gradually improve. However, if adenosis is accompanied by ductal epithelial hyperplasia and presents as severe dysplasia, it indicates a precancerous lesion (a very small percentage), requiring active treatment and regular monitoring to prevent progression to cancer.
Different age groups exhibit distinct characteristics. Unmarried women, nulliparous married women, and those who have not breastfed typically experience breast swelling and tenderness, often more pronounced on one side. Breast pain is significantly worse before menstruation, diminishing afterward until the next menstrual cycle, when it recurs. The entire breast feels nodular and tender. In women over 35, the primary symptom is breast lumps, with milder breast pain and tenderness unrelated to the menstrual cycle. Palpation reveals variable-sized, round or irregular, elastic nodules with ill-defined borders that are freely movable. Women over 45 often present with single or multiple scattered cystic masses with clear boundaries, often accompanied by dull pain, fullness, or burning sensation. After menopause, breast glandular tissue atrophies, and cystic changes become more prominent. The severity of breast pain is unrelated to the presence or extent of nodules and can radiate to the axilla and shoulder/back. A minority of patients may have ni**le discharge. Due to endocrine dysfunction as the underlying cause, symptoms may also include irregular menstruation, irritability, anger, and increased sweating.
Fibrocystic breast disease arises from endocrine dysfunction. For mild breast pain, psychological adjustment and stress reduction are recommended, while traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and acupuncture are advised for more severe pain, alongside regular follow-ups.
1. Psychological Therapy:
The onset of fibrocystic breast disease is often linked to fatigue, irregular lifestyle, mental stress, and excessive pressure. Treating fibrocystic breast disease involves alleviating life and work stress, eliminating worries, maintaining a relaxed mood, and achieving emotional equilibrium, which can alleviate symptoms.
2. Posture Correction and Acupoint Stimulation:
Many patients experience changes in body posture, particularly scoliosis at the level of thoracic vertebrae 3-4, as well as contractions of the trapezius, pectoralis major, pectoralis minor, and serratus anterior muscles due to postural issues (assessment of posture is necessary). After acupuncture or specific muscle massage targeting these conditions, patients often experience improved or normalized posture, leading to significant improvement in fibrocystic breast disease (including fibroadenomas and fibrocystic changes).
3. Acupuncture and Herbal Treatment:
TCM views fibrocystic breast disease as originating from liver depression, followed by the formation of blood stasis and phlegm masses. Treatment focuses on soothing the liver, regulating qi, promoting blood circulation, resolving blood stasis, and softening nodules. The combination of meridian biophysics resonance technology and Chinese herbal medicine is utilized to treat liver depression-phlegm stagnation type fibrocystic breast disease, with clinical efficacy observed, exploring a new approach to integrating TCM with modern scientific technology in the treatment of fibrocystic breast disease.
Dr. Zhu(Chinese medicine practitioner and acupuncturist) has over twenty years of clinical experience in treating breast diseases. Typically, after acupuncture and specific muscle tension release, patients often experience significant improvement on the spot. When combined with herbal medicine as adjunctive therapy, the treatment outcomes can be even more promising.
