It may not be breast cancer, but cyclic breast disorder instead

Most doctors no longer call the pain and lumpiness of fibrocystic breasts a disease because this condition affects virtually half of all women under the age of 50. Selected supplements and a change of diet may help to alleviate the symptoms of this disorder.

What It Is
Normal breasts vary m density and texture. Before menopause, women tend to have more tissue (which can make the breasts feel firm or lumpy) and less fat in their breasts than they do in their later years. Occasionally, women develop fluid-filled cysts or fibrous areas, which can be tender just before menstruation. Though most women experience some mild breast discomfort in their life, some have monthly pain so severe that it interferes with daily activities.

Such premenstrual changes are now known as 'cyclic breast disorder'. This condition is not a disease, and it doesn't increase your risk of breast cancer (though having lumpy breasts may make identifying a cancerous growth more difficult if one develops). Normal lumps can usually be distinguished from cancerous ones because they move freely in the breast, changing with the menstrual cycle.

What Causes It
Fibrocystic changes in the breast are linked to the rise and fall of hormone levels associated with the menstrual cycle. Women who produce a particularly high level of estrogen in conjunction with a low level of progesterone after ovulation may suffer more. This combination can cause the body to produce too much prolactin, a hormone that triggers milk production in new mothers but increases breast tenderness in women who are not breastfeeding.

Many experts think caffeine stimulates the growth of lumps or fluid-filled breast cysts (and some women show improvement when they eliminate caffeine), but other researchers maintain that there's no firm evidence of any connection between caffeine and breast tenderness.

Symptoms

• Breast lumps or nodules, which may be tender or not painful at all.
• An increase in the size of lumps or in breast discomfort a week or so before a menstrual period.

When to Call a Doctor

• If a new lump develops, especially if you haven't always had lumpy breasts.
• If a lump grows larger, hardens or does not shrink after your menstrual period ends.
• If you have any discharge from either nipple.
• If your breast pain is severe.
• Reminder: If you have a medical condition, talk to your doctor before taking supplements.

How Supplements Can Help
All the supplements discussed here can be used together and as needed. You should see some improvement in a month or two. Many women report relief from breast pain after taking vitamin E. just how it works is unknown, but some experts believe this vitamin blocks the changes in breast tissue possibly caused by caffeine. Because it works to restore the hormonal balance between estrogen and progesterone, the herb chaste tree may be useful in reducing menstrual-related breast changes. Essential fatty acids often act as anti-inflammatory compounds; they also help the body to absorb iodine. (Low iodine levels have been linked to fibrocystic formation in breasts.) Magnesium may also reduce inflammation and pain. Vitamin B6 may be beneficial for women who experience PMS symptoms with breast pain; it may also help the liver to process excess estrogen.

What else you can do

• Eliminate caffeine; that may help. Besides coffee and tea, caffeine is found in chocolate, cola drinks and some over-the-counter medications.
• Be patient: it may be six months before you notice any improvement.
• Wear a bra with good support when your breasts are tender.
• Eat fish to give you iodine, as low iodine levels have been linked to cyclic breast disorder.

Case Study
Sandra V dreaded the second half of her menstrual cycle. As each day passed, her lumpy breasts became more and more painful until she could hardly bear the pressure of wearing a bra. Her doctor recommended taking a prescription drug that altered the mix of certain hormones. It brought relief, but at the price of hot flushes so severe that they were almost worse than the breast pain.

Then her sister recommended a nutritionist who had helped her. 'This woman understood my situation immediately', Sandra recalls. 'She made lots of suggestions, such as taking extra vitamin E, but said-1 should start by giving up caffeine'.

After several months, Sandra knew she was on the right track. Going without coffee was hard, but the relief from monthly pain made the sacrifice well worth the effort. Now Sandra can do what she once thought impossible: go jogging with her husband every day, even during the week before her period.