Is fibroadenoma breast cancer?

I am 28 years old and have a fibroadenoma in my left breast. Is this a form of breast cancer, is it dangerous? (Ngoc Chau, Ho Chi Minh City)

Reply:

Fibroadenoma, also known as fibroadenoma of the breast, is a solid, round mass made up of fibrous and glandular tissue, usually benign. The disease is common in women aged 15-35, and is rarely seen in postmenopausal women.

Most fibroadenomas do not increase the risk of breast cancer. But they do cause changes in the breast that make it harder to detect and diagnose cancer during a breast exam or mammogram.

In some cases, fibroadenomas increase the risk of cancer if the fibroadenoma is complex or accompanied by a phyllodes tumor. Small, uncomplicated fibroadenomas that grow slowly and increase in size with hormonal changes due to pregnancy do not require treatment. These tumors may increase in size and bleed internally, but this is rare.

Most fibroadenomas are benign and do not increase the risk of breast cancer. Photo: Freepik. — Most fibroadenomas are benign and do not increase the risk of breast cancer. Photo: *Freepik*

Tumors can form painless, easily movable lumps on one or both sides of the breast. Tumors can be as small as a pea or as large as 2-3 cm.

Typical fibroadenomas are round or oval with clear, smooth borders, and tend to soften a few days before menstruation. Larger fibroids are more likely to cause pain. These fibroids tend to grow very slowly, and in many cases the tumor shrinks and may grow larger during pregnancy.

The disease is detected during a health check or during a routine mammogram or ultrasound. Some diagnostic methods are as follows:

Breast ultrasound : This method is used to evaluate breast tumors. On ultrasound, fibroadenomas are easily distinguished from other tissues due to their response to sound waves. They appear as dark areas with clear borders, similar to transparent, round or oval, with smooth concave and convex areas.

Mammography: Tumors appear as round or oval masses with clear borders that do not invade surrounding tissue. They are sometimes accompanied by large calcifications (calcium deposits).

3D Mammography : A specialized mammography method that creates 3D images of the breast, providing more detailed assessment than a conventional mammogram.

Biopsy : Doctors order people with fibroadenomas to have tissue samples taken for pathology. Different types of biopsies are used for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes, including core needle biopsy, using a needle to take a tissue sample, and fine needle aspiration.

You did not say how big your fibroadenoma is. However, most fibroadenoma are small, slow-growing, stable, and do not require treatment. Some fibroadenoma shrink or disappear on their own. If the biopsy confirms that the tumor is not cancerous, the patient will need to return for a follow-up visit in 3-6 months so the doctor can monitor the tumor for any changes.

Master, Doctor Nguyen Do Thuy Giang
Head of Breast Surgery Department, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City

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