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How to Shrink Fibroid Adenomas in the Breast
A fibroid adenoma, or fibroadenoma, is a benign (non-cancerous) lump in the breast 1. Unlike cancerous tumors, a fibroadenoma usually feels quite firm, round, smooth-edged and moveable—like the tip of a pencil eraser--and is most common in premenopausal women 1. These lumps are rarely anything to worry about and not often painful, but can be uncomfortable, especially in the week leading up to menstruation when estrogen levels rise. Too much estrogen is often the culprit in many diseases and conditions, including fibroadenoma 1. Rather than go through the trauma of surgery, you can try to reduce the fibroadenoma through natural means 1.
Become familiar with your breasts. Because some women’s breast tissue tends to be generally lumpy, and many women’s breasts get lumpy just prior to menstruation, you should get to know your own body through regular self-examination 2.
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Eliminate soda, coffee, black tea and chocolate. These substances contain a chemical called methylxanthine that may cause lumpy and painful breast tissue. Also cut back on alcohol, as estrogen is metabolized by the liver.
Reduce your sugar and simple carbohydrates (white flour, pasta and rice). These types of carbs are pro-inflammatory, which contributes to lumps in the breasts.
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Increase the fiber in your diet, especially from vegetables, as fiber helps flush estrogen from the body. The more excess estrogen you have, the more likely you are to suffer from hormonal conditions, such as fibroadenoma or even cancer 1. Flaxseed is also good source of fiber, plus it contains lignans, which bind to estrogen and eliminate it from the body.
Go organic. Pesticides sprayed on fruits and vegetables and hormones or antibiotics fed to animals are called xenoestrogens, which act like estrogen in your body, thereby increasing your levels.
Boost your progesterone. Because of poor diet and exposure to toxins, many women are estrogen dominant, which means that their body produces too much estrogen and/or too little progesterone. Take the hormone test to determine if this is you, and then supplement with a natural progesterone cream or Vitex (aka Chaste Berry) capsules.
Use evening primrose oil. This oil is a popular remedy in Europe to help reduce breast pain caused by fibroadenoma as it is anti-inflammatory 1. Add the oil to your food or take it in capsule form.
Warnings
Do not take evening primrose oil if you're pregnant, since it may cause miscarriage or premature birth.
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References
- Mayo Clinic: fibroadenoma
- Women To Women: Breast Health
- Ajmal M, Van Fossen K. Breast Fibroadenoma. Treasure Island, FL: StatPearls Publishing. Updated November 11, 2019.
- Papathemelis T, Heim S, Lux MP, Erhardt I, Scharl A, Scharl S. Minimally invasive breast fibroadenoma excision using an ultrasound-guided vacuum-assisted biopsy device. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd. 2017;77(2):176-181. doi:10.1055/s-0043-100387
- Li P, Xiao-Yin T, Cui D, et al. Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for treating multiple breast fibroadenoma. J Cancer Res Ther. 2016;12(Supplement):C138-C142. doi:10.4103/jcrt.JCRT_966_16
- Peek MCL, Ahmed M, Scudder J, et al. High-intensity focused ultrasound in the treatment of breast fibroadenomata (HIFU-F trial). Int J Hyperthermia. 2018;34(7):1002-1009. doi:10.1080/02656736.2017.1373865
- Hartmann LC, Sellers TA, Frost MH, et al. Benign breast disease and the risk of breast cancer. N Engl J Med. 2005;353(3):229-237. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa044383
- American Cancer Society. Fibroadenomas. 2017.
- Cavallo Marincola B, Pediconi F, Anzidei M, et al. High-intensity focused ultrasound in breast pathology: non-invasive treatment of benign and malignant lesions. Expert Rev Med Devices. 2015;12(2):191-199. doi:10.1586/17434440.2015.986096
- Peek M, Douek M. Ablative techniques for the treatment of benign and malignant breast tumours. Journal of Therapeutic Ultrasound. 2017;5:18. doi:10.1186/s40349-017-0097-8
Warnings
- Do not take evening primrose oil if you're pregnant, since it may cause miscarriage or premature birth.
Writer Bio
Selena Templeton has been a professional writer for nine years. She now lives and works as a freelance writer in Los Angeles. She has been published in The Hollywood Reporter, PowderRoomGraffiti.com and eHow.com, and wrote/produced an award-winning short film. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada.