Treat Hardened Fatty Breast Tissue
A monthly breast self-examination, preferably two weeks after the onset of menstruation, should appear on every woman's "to do" list. Many women panic when discovering a mass of hardened fatty breast tissue during their monthly exam, but these tissue changes generally indicate a benign condition. A physician should examine any change in breast tissue, but a woman should not immediately assume that the lump that she feels indicates a serious condition. Treatment for hardened fatty breast tissue can proceed in a variety of ways.
Instructions
1. Note the way the breast tissue feels. Suspect a benign mass if the tissue feels lumpy, has a defined outline or moves easily within the breast. Benign breast tissue masses don't require treatment, but if the mass is uncomfortable or the condition persists, ask a doctor to do a breast exam and confirm that the hardened fatty tissue presents no problem.
2. Do breast self-examinations monthly two weeks into the menstruation cycle. Hardened fatty breast tissue appears more often in the days surrounding the onset of menstruation. This condition, fibrocystic breasts, needs no medical care and will disappear as the monthly cycle progresses.
3. Request a mammogram if the hardened fatty breast tissue doesn't disappear. Conditions that seem, even to a doctor, as a benign condition at first may in fact be masking something more serious. A mammogram provides a higher level of certainty in diagnosing any underlying causes that could cause hardened fatty breast tissue.
4. Discuss with a doctor the possible need to remove the hardened fatty breast tissue if it is a fibroadenoma or a Phyllida tumor. These growths, though benign, can grow and cause additional problems. Removal is often indicated.
5. Consult with a doctor about the need for a fine needle aspiration if the hardened fatty breast tissue is a fat necrosis or oil cyst. These conditions appear as a result of an injury to the breast (after radiation or surgery) and, if uncomfortable or painful, respond to treatment by fine needle aspiration.
Tags: breast tissue, fatty breast, fatty breast tissue, hardened fatty, breast tissue, hardened fatty
