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Symptoms

By Mayo Clinic staff

Symptoms of fibrocystic breasts include:

  • Breast lumps or areas of thickening
  • Breast pain or tenderness
  • Fluctuating size of breast lumps
  • Nonbloody nipple discharge, in some cases
  • Changes in both breasts, usually
  • Monthly increase in breast pain or lumpiness from midcycle (ovulation) to just before your period

Fibrocystic breast changes occur most often in women in their 20s to 50s. Rarely do postmenopausal women experience fibrocystic breast changes, unless they're on hormone therapy.

When to see a doctor
Most fibrocystic breast changes are perfectly normal. However, if you find a new breast lump or area of thickening, or if a previously evaluated breast lump seems to have grown or otherwise changed, make an appointment with your doctor to get it checked out.

DS01070

Aug. 20, 2008

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