Fibrosis and cysts are most common in women of child-bearing age, but they can affect women of any age. They may be found in different parts of the breast and in both breasts at the same time. Fibrosis refers to a large amount of fibrous tissue, the same tissue that ligaments and scar tissue are made of. Areas of fibrosis feel rubbery, firm, or hard to the touch. Cysts are fluid-filled, round or oval sacs within the breasts. They are often felt as a round, movable lump, which might also be tender to the touch.
They are most often found in women in their 40s, but they can occur in women of any age. Monthly hormone changes often cause cysts to get bigger and become painful and sometimes more noticeable just before the menstrual period. Email address. Thank you for subscribing You will receive the first breast cancer email in your inbox shortly, which will include information on treatment, diagnosis, surgery and how breast cancer teams at Mayo Clinic approach personalized care.
Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry. More Information Breast cysts: What role does caffeine play? Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Laronga C, et al. Breast cysts: Clinical manifestations, diagnosis and management. Accessed Oct. Fibrosis and simple cysts in the breast.
American Cancer Society. Understanding breast changes. National Cancer Institute. Townsend CM Jr, et al. Elsevier; Bland KI, et al. When a duct becomes blocked, or the amount of fluid produced is greater than the amount absorbed, fluid accumulates which causes cysts. Cysts can be single or multiple. They can come and go, and vary in size during the menstrual cycle. Breast cysts are very common. Cysts can develop in women of any age. They are most common in the 30—50 year age group.
They usually disappear after menopause, but in some women they can last throughout life. Cysts are more common in post-menopausal women who take hormone replacement therapy than in post-menopausal women who do not.
All of these factors support the theory that breast cysts are hormonally responsive, although it is not clear why some women form cysts and others do not.
Most breast cysts are tiny only a few millimetres in diameter and they cause no symptoms. Often they are seen on a mammogram or ultrasound study that has been performed for another reason. On a mammogram, they can sometimes be seen as a smooth, round mass in the breast tissue. On ultrasound, they are usually smooth, round and black.
Sometimes cysts do not have these typical features and they are difficult to distinguish from solid non-fluid lesions just by looking. Can breast cysts be prevented? Does a breast cyst increase my risk of breast cancer?
Breast cysts are a benign not cancer condition. Breast cysts can feel soft or hard and can be any size, ranging from a few millimetres to several centimetres. For some people, cysts can feel uncomfortable and even painful. Before a period, cysts may become larger and feel sore and tender as hormone levels change. However, many women can have cysts and not be able to feel them at all. Breasts are made up of lobules milk-producing glands and ducts tubes that carry milk to the nipple.
The milk glands are surrounded by fibrous support tissue and fat, known as breast tissue. This tissue gives breasts their size and shape. Sometimes, the milk glands can fill up with fluid; these are breast cysts. Cysts may appear naturally as the breast alters with age, due to normal changes in the oestrogen hormone levels.
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