What are "fibrocystic changes" in a breast?

What are "fibrocystic changes" in a breast?

Richard E. Gould (Hematologist/Oncologist, Cedars-Sinai Outpatient Cancer Center) gives expert video advice on: What are the most common types of breast cancer?; What causes breast cancer?; Is breast cancer fatal? and more...

With regards to breast cancer basics, fibrocystic changes describe the changes in a breast that is denser, with areas of nodularity and areas of thickening. Fibrocystic changes are benign, they are not cancerous. They usually happen in younger women with denser breasts, but it's important to separate them out from cancerous changes. So, you have to work with your health care professional to make sure you're getting appropriate monitoring to make sure there are not changes occurring in the breast.