Survivor Shares Her Fibroadenoma (Breast Lump) Experience With ALL FACTS NEWSPAPER | READ IN FULL

Have you ever felt your life’s end flash before your eyes in split seconds?
It happened to me. I was standing in front of my sister’s door waiting for her to open up when my hand carelessly dropped on something in my chest or so I thought. Still lost in my thoughts and what had brought me to her door, I tried take it out when I realized the “something” wasn’t just a something in my shirt, but a mass in my breast! And right there, my thoughts did a cross country race to the end of my life and back.

 

“I have cancer!”
“My days are numbered!”
“I’m dying!”
“I’ll never live a normal life,”
“I’ll never get married,”
“I’ll never have children,”
” I’ll never be happy again,”
” I’ll die depressed!”

All these thoughts came pouring in within less than a minute, and my heart sank. Reason because somehow, I had feared this day would come, I only didn’t expect my fears to come through so soon. This however, is a story entirely for another day.

Now, while it’s very much appreciated for one to be health conscious, harbouring negativity over every little health hitch is a poison which kills faster than the issue or diagnosis itself. This is because a number of diseases may have certain similar signs and symptoms until medically proven.

A number of people have died simply because they assumed and concluded some of the symptoms their body systems demonstrated were as a result of some deadly or incurable diseases.

Same thing happens when a young lady notices for the first time, a lump in her breast. It could wreck panic attack if her heart is not helped. Those first seconds had their toll on me, but I’m glad God regained my thoughts back on track. It wasn’t cancer but something less than that. Something called Fibroadenoma.

There’s a general school of thought amongst the average Nigerians, including myself until now, that, once there’s a lump in someone’s breast, it’s bound to be cancer. This school of thought however, is as wrong as saying every dark cloud brings a hurricane. And we all know hurricanes don’t come around as often as the rains. Same goes with cancer and Fibroadenoma. Cancer may be likened to the hurricane, whereas, fibroadenoma might just be a harmless little rain.

What is a fibroadenoma?

A fibroadenoma is a non cancerous solid breast lump. Fibroadenoma often develops during puberty, so are commonly found in young women between the ages of 15 to 35 years. Men can also get fibroadenomas, but theirs is very rare.

A fibroadenoma often causes no pain but may feel firm, smooth and rubbery. It may have a round shape like a pea in the breast or it could feel as flat as a coin. When touched, it moves easily within the breast tissue.

Fibroadenomas are very common breast lumps. Anyone with fibroadenoma may be advised by a doctor to simply watch for changes in its size or feel. You may need to do a check up or a surgery to remove it. Many fibroadenomas need no further treatment than this.

Symptoms of fibroadenoma

A fibroadenoma is usually felt as a lump in the breast which is smooth to the touch and moves easily under the skin. Mine was a round mass in the right breast which moved when touched.

A fibroadenoma often grows slowly. The average size is about 1 inch (2.5 centimeters). A fibroadenoma can get bigger over time. It may be tender or cause soreness a few days before your period. A large fibroadenoma may hurt when you touch it. But most often, this type of breast lump causes no pain.

You can have a single fibroadenoma or more than one fibroadenoma, and they can occur in one or both breasts.
Some fibroadenomas shrink over time. Most fibroadenomas in adolescents shrink over many months to a few years and then disappear. They may also change shape over time.

Fibroadenomas may get bigger during pregnancy, and might shrink after menopause.

Types of fibroadenoma

Simple fibroadenoma
Most fibroadenomas are about 1–2.5cm in size and are called simple fibroadenomas. When looked at under a microscope, simple fibroadenomas will look the same all over.
Simple fibroadenomas do not increase the risk of developing breast cancer in the future.

Complex fibroadenoma
Some fibroadenomas are called complex fibroadenomas. When these are looked at under a microscope, some of the cells have different features. They can get bigger over time. They can press on or displace nearby breast tissue.

Having a complex fibroadenoma can very slightly increase the risk of developing breast cancer in the future.

Giant or juvenile fibroadenoma
Occasionally, a fibroadenoma can grow to more than 5cm and may be called a giant fibroadenoma. Those found in teenage girls may be called juvenile fibroadenomas.

Causes of fibroadenoma
It’s not known what causes a fibroadenoma. It’s thought that it probably occurs because of increased sensitivity to the hormone oestrogen.
Breasts are made up of lobules (milk-producing glands) and ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple). These are surrounded by glandular, fibrous and fatty tissue. This tissue gives breasts their size and shape.
Fibroadenomas develop from a lobule. The glandular tissue and ducts grow over the lobule and form a solid lump.

Diagnosis
If you find a breast lump, see a specialist or nurses at a breast clinic. There, you’ll run some tests which may include:

Breast x-ray or Ultrasound scan
Fibroadenomas are often easier to identify in younger women. If you’re in your early 20s or younger, your fibroadenoma may be diagnosed with a breast examination, same way I discovered mine, and or through ultrasound.

Treatment and follow-up
In most cases you’ll not need any treatment or follow-up if you have a fibroadenoma. Usually you’ll be asked to go for a surgery to have it removed. This is usually performed under general anaesthetic.
The removed tissue is sent to a laboratory and examined under a microscope.
Note that the removal of fibroadenoma does not usually affect the shape of the breast, but there may be a slight dent in the breast where it has been removed.

Stay breast aware
It is important to note that having a fibroadenoma does not increase the risk of developing breast cancer.
If you were diagnosed with a complex fibroadenoma, you may be worried that your risk is very slightly increased. However, this does not necessarily mean you’ll develop breast cancer in the future.
It’s important to continue to be breast aware and go back to your doctor if you notice any changes in your breasts, regardless of how soon these occur after your diagnosis of a fibroadenoma. And do this without any fear of cancer or death from cancer.