Well, the time has come to make a formal announcement about fibrocystic breast tissue: It isn't a disease.
And, perhaps more important, fibrocystic breast tissue is very common and is not something that people should be freaking out about if they've been told they have "it." In fact, this variety of breast tissue would be better called a condition.
Having dense breast tissue isn't a disease either. Density means exactly what it sounds like: Tissue that is condensed, or more closely packed together. Dense tissue is commonly a sign of youthful breasts, when higher levels of estrogen are present. Dense breast tissue looks white on a mammogram and so, since tumors are unfortunately also white, finding a polar bear in a snowstorm can be difficult.
So what is fibrocystic breast tissue? Simply put, it's lumpy, bumpy breasts. Technically, the anatomy of a fibrocystic breast is just the same as that of any other breast, with ducts and lobules and fatty tissue. Only the internal composition of the breast — as detected when feeling the breast or looking at it on imaging — is different, reflecting tissue that is lumpier than usual inside.
Is fibrocystic breast tissue a precursor to getting breast cancer? No, its only real link with cancer is that a radiologist may have a bit more difficulty in distinguishing a "normal" lump from one that warrants further investigation. Mammograms may also be a bit more difficult to interpret.
So what should you do if you have fibrocystic breasts? Know the internal geography of your own breasts and check them monthly (as we all should).
You should definitely learn and commit to memory all the regular and expected lumps and bumps within your breasts. When doing a breast self exam, you are looking for any variations from what you felt the previous month.
What about mammograms? Digital mammography would be your best option here — it delivers clearer images of both dense breast tissue and fibrocystic tissue.
Is there anything you can do to reduce the amount of fibrocystic tissue that you have? The jury is kinda out on this one still. Some think taking a vitamin E supplement can make a difference. Others think curtailing your caffeine intake helps.
Will your breasts always be as lumpy as they are now? Maybe not: As you age, and especially after menopause, your body begins to replace breast tissue with tissue that contains more fat, making the lumpiness less of a problem. Hurray for old age!