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Breast cysts: What role does caffeine play?
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/breast-cysts/AN00889
- With Mayo Clinic internist
Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
Dr. Sandhya Pruthi, certified by the American Board of Family Practice, has been practicing medicine at Mayo Clinic since 1995 with special interests in breast diseases and women's health.
Dr. Pruthi is a consultant in the Department of Medicine, the Division of General Internal Medicine and the Breast Diagnostic Clinic. She is an associate professor of medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester, Minn.
The Winnipeg, Manitoba, native is enthusiastic about promoting education and patient-related research and has been active in both areas since joining Mayo Clinic. Dr. Pruthi is the primary investigator at Mayo Clinic of a clinical trial evaluating new agents for the prevention of breast cancer and has research interests in the identification of biomarkers for early detection of breast cancer.
Her other research and clinical interests include managing the health of women who are at increased risk of breast cancer, breast pain and hot flashes, and developing patient education decision-making tools for breast-related concerns.
She is past director of the Breast Diagnostic Clinic and has been a member of the Women's Health Executive Committee. Dr. Pruthi has been newly elected as a secretary of the executive committee for the American Society of Breast Disease. She has assisted with a variety of website content.
"Having an opportunity to share information and empower my patients in the way that will help them to understand and be able to make educated decisions about their own health is very important to me," Dr. Pruthi says.
"The Internet is a tremendous resource and information site for people, and I want them to get up-to-date and accurate information to be able to make informed choices for themselves, their family members and friends."
Risk factors (1)
- Fibrocystic breast changes: Linked to breast cancer?
Causes (1)
- Breast cysts: What role does caffeine play?
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Question
Breast cysts: What role does caffeine play?
Does caffeine cause breast cysts?
Answer
from Sandhya Pruthi, M.D.
No, caffeine doesn't appear to cause breast cysts (fibrocystic breast changes), a noncancerous (benign) breast disease. In large quantities, though, caffeine can raise the levels of cortisol and other stress hormones in your system — and stress hormones may, over time, affect your reproductive hormones. The interplay of caffeine, stress hormones and reproductive hormones could play a role in premenstrual breast swelling and discomfort.
Anecdotally, some women report reduced breast pain when they go off caffeine. Although no research has documented this effect, there's no reason not to go caffeine-free to see if it relieves discomfort from breast cysts.
Also, if you drink several cups of coffee on a typical day, you might consider cutting back. Data from two large, long-term women's health studies suggest a connection between high caffeine intake and precancerous or high-risk breast lesions.
Next questionFibrocystic breast changes: Linked to breast cancer?
- Rosolowich V, et al. Mastaglia: SOGC Clinical Practice Guideline 170. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada. 2006;28:49.
- Webb P, et al. A prospective study of diet and benign breast disease. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention. 2004;13:1106.
- Ishitani K, et al. Caffeine consumption and the risk of breast cancer in a large prospective cohort of women. Archives of Internal Medicine. 2008;168:2022. http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/168/18/2022. Accessed Nov. 8, 2010.
- Harris A, et al. Coffee, stress and cortisol in nursing staff. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2007;2:322.
- Kajantie E, et al. The effects of sex and hormonal status on the physiological response to acute psychosocial stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2006;31:151.
- Diagnosis of breast disease. Bloomington, Minn.: Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement. http://www.icsi.org/breast_disease_diagnosis/diagnosis_of_breast_disease_2.html. Accessed Nov. 4, 2010.
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