Introduction
Fibro adenomas are non cancerous (benign) and harmless tumors which are made up of fibrous tissues of the breast. These are common in adolescent women. The incidence of Fibroadenoma reduces with increasing age.
Fibroadenomas are the most common benign tumors of the female breast. They develop at any age but are more common in young women, often teenagers, and are mistaken for cancer.
It is a benign breast growth (Pseudopsora/ Sycosis) that most commonly presents in teenage girls and women under the age of thirty. The presence of a fibroadenoma mass in a breast often causes women anxiety (Psora/ Pseudopsora) and concern, partly because people associate any type of breast lump with cancer. Fibroadenoma carries a very slight menace for future breast cancer, but the majority of fibroadenoma are benign breast growths. They may be excised but frequent recurrence is common.
The fibroadenoma is the most common circumscribed benign solid tumor (Pseudopsora/ Sycosis) of the breast. As its name implies, it is composed of fibrous and adenomatous elements. A rarer variation is the fibroadenolipoma, which is an encapsulated lesion (Pseudopsora) that may represent a hamartoma (Pseudopsora/ Sycosis) and contains, as the name implies, fat, fibrous, and adenomatous tissue elements. The fibroadenoma is hormonally sensitive (Psora) and is more common in the young female. Beginning in the teenage years fibroadenomas are the most commonly biopsied solid lesion (Sycosis) of the breast, and this remains true through the mid 30s. As solid lesions they cannot be distinguished from well-circumscribed malignancy by either physical examination or imaging methods. Fibroadenomas are found frequently in postmenopausal women as well, but because of their hormone sensitivity they usually involute and become hyalinized. In some women this results in calcification (Psora), and these calcifications are among the most distinctive mammographically. Fibroadenomas do not become malignant, but frequently can grow to enormous size (giant fibroadenoma), and a potentially malignant cystosarcoma phylloides (Cancerous) cannot be distinguished from a fibroadenoma except that it usually grows very rapidly.Signs and symptoms
1) Fibroadenomas are smooth, round and easily movable swellings. It is referred as ‘Breast Mouse’ or ‘floating tumor’ as it easily sleeps away from fingers. Size of the tumor may vary from one to five centimeters.
2) It could be single or multiple. Generally it is painless and may affect both breasts.
3) Pain and tenderness (pain when touched) may be present especially before periods and subsides after periods. These cyclical changes are because of the hormonal changes. This is the reason why it is less common after menopause.
Clinical Signs
Palpable mass for young women, feels like small, slipper marbles. (Psora/ Pseudopsora)
Mammographic density for older women.
Mass is more circumscribed and mobile than carcinoma. (Psora/ Pseudopsora)
Causes of Fibroadenoma
Exact cause of Fibroadenoma is unknown. It is because of the cyclical hormonal changes that take place in the body of women of child bearing age.
Treatment
Conventional treatment –1) Fibroadenoma can subside on it’s own.
2) Cryoablation (use of extreme cold to destroy tissue) is safe and effective and less invasive method of treatment for Fibroadenoma.
3) Surgical removal may be required in case of large Fibroadenoma.
Homeopathic treatment –
Homeopathy is strongly suggested in the treatment of Fibroadenoma. Homeopathy can be given as a baseline treatment in mild and moderate cases where as it has good supportive role in advanced cases of tissue changes. The results using homeopathy in the cases of Fibroadenoma are very good.
Homeopathic medicines are prescribed after studying patient’s complete case history. It enhances the body’s self healing mechanism (immunity) thus further recurrence of fibroadenoma can be prevented.
