Fibrocystic Bre@sts/PMS bre@sts

[Negin]

I have suffered from this intermittently for years. I know that it is related to my caffeine intake, which, I have a hard time, cutting out entirely. Not that my caffeine intake is particularly high, but in the months that I have more caffeine, I notice that bre@st lumpiness and tenderness is much worse.

So, I thought to share what I'm trying. I am already noticing improvement. I would love to hear what has worked for you also, so please do share if you know of anything.

----

 

Fibrocystic breast is a condition that develops when fluid is not being evacuated fast enough from the breast causing cysts to form in them. These lumps move around the breast, grow and shrink, but they are benign.

Normally the fluids in the breast are transported out by the lymphatic system. But if there is too much fluid some may get deposited in different areas of the breast, tissue grows around them creating these lumps. Again, these cysts are harmless, but they should be monitored, and a woman should check her breasts frequently (particularly one week after her period) in order to find and control the cysts.

Discomfort, tenderness, and noticeable growth are normal especially around menstrual periods when estrogen levels change, it may be that the cysts disappear after the monthly period. However if the lump is hard, does not move freely and does not go away, check with a doctor immediately.

 

Coenzyme Q10 helps remove toxins from the body and controls fibrocystic breasts

Helps fight cancer - CoQ10 has been found to be low in people with cancer, but particularly breast cancer. Breast tumor tissues contain lower levels of CoQ10 than healthy breast tissue

Two-thirds of volunteers who consumed 200 mg daily cut their migraine attacks in half.

Consider taking CoQ10 if you are over 35

Natural food sources: almonds, broccoli, potatoes, eggs, rice, spinach, and wheat

 

In many studies Evening Primrose Oil has shown to reduce size of lumps.

Relieves peri-menopausal symptoms and PMS symptoms

Helps with mood swings, cramping, tiredness during periods

Don’t use EPO if you take an antiseizure Rx.

Take it on a full stomach in 2 divided doses, equally spaced during the day.

Take up to 500 mg EPO 2-3 times daily or 2000 mg total daily

 

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects breast tissue against fibrocystic breasts.

Reduces mood swings, anxiety, and menstrual pain

Take 400 IU of vitamin E a day. Take d-alpha, NOT dl-alpha

 

Vitamin B6 manages fluids and hormone levels

Works as a natural diuretic

May help fight breast cancer

Manages fluids and hormone levels, helping fight fibrocystic breast disease

Women are more likely to become deficient in B6 as they age

B6 requirements increase when high-protein diets are consumed.

 

Limit, as much as is possible, coffee, regular tea, colas, chocolate and any other foods that contain caffeine. Caffeine definitely increases fibrocystic breasts.

 

Omega-3 fatty acids reduce breast tenderness, bloating, cramps, and PMS. Take a good fish oil, such as Carlson’s, as well as eating foods high in Omega-3s:

Walnuts

Chia Seeds

Flax seeds – 4 tablespoons of ground flaxseed daily

Fatty Fish like salmon, tuna, sardines

Foods to Limit – that are high in Omega-6s (which cause inflammation)

Red meat - especially if it is produced by industrial farming techniques and if it does not carry an “omega-3” label

Dairy products

Eggs not marked “omega-3”

Sunflower oil

Corn oil

Safflower oil

Soybean oil

 

Turn to natural diuretics - parsley, cucumbers, and cabbage are healthy for you and will keep you naturally flushed.

 

Increasing your intake of fiber can help control the hormonal fluctuations behind fibrocystic breast disease. Eat whole-wheat bread, brown rice, beans, and fruits.

 

A deficiency of iodine may be a factor in the development of breast lumps. Because iodine is concentrated in breast tissue, it can protect against fibrocystic breast disease and even breast cancer. Iodine is critical for breast tissue function and has been shown to be lower in cancerous breast tissue. Research has found strong evidence that women who are deficient in iodine are more prone to breast cancer.

Back in the ’70s, scientists noted geographic differences in the rates of breast cancer (as well as endometrial and ovarian cancer), depending upon dietary iodine intake. Where iodine intake was lower, the incidence of these cancers was higher. Diets low in iodine can lead to more circulating estrogen levels in the body.

What most people don’t realize is that next to the thyroid, iodine is concentrated in breast tissue. Iodine helps to normalize the impact of estrogens on the breast. Iodine decreases or turns off the estrogen receptor sites in the breast. So when there is a lack of iodine, breasts overreact to estrogen, which then leads to pre-cancer and then full-blown breast cancer.

 

Women with fibrocystic disease (benign breast lumps) are four times more likely to develop breast cancer, the Mayo Clinic finds. But double-blind research at Queen’s University in Ontario has shown that iodine treatment improves fibrocystic disease in 70 percent of the women tested.

When bromide gets into breast tissues, it displaces iodine. Some women with fibrocystic breast disease find their cysts and tenderness disappear after iodine supplementation.

 

What to Take:

Increase your intake with mineral-rich sea vegetables (agar, hijiki, kombu, nori, and wakame) at least twice a week. You can eat as much seaweed as you want. Brown seaweeds are highest in iodine. They include all forms of kelp. Fucus, also known as Bladderwrack, is considered to be the best for underactive thyroids. Hijiki and Sargassum are two other forms of brown seaweeds. Red seaweeds include dulse, nori, Irish moss, and Gracillaria.

Since toasting doesn’t affect seaweed’s iodine content, you can eat it dried or dried and toasted. Toast some in the oven or in a dry frying pan to see if you prefer that taste. You can also powdered seaweed to your food or add larger pieces of seaweed to soups, grains, or vegetables. Seaweed should be an enjoyable addition to your diet, not an unpleasant experience. If you simply don’t like its taste, you can get it in capsules.

Use 5-10 grams of mixed brown and red seaweed for thyroid problems. This is about 1 ½ teaspoons per day. If you’ve been told that your thyroid is borderline-low, eating seaweed makes sense. But remember, you need to eat seaweed every day or take iodine in a different form.

Not all seaweeds are safe to eat. Some come from polluted waters.

Be more cautious and talk to a naturopath if you’re on thyroid meds and want to try seaweed.

I have not yet tried this, but would like to look into it next time we travel to the U.S.

 

Use iodine-rich Seaweed Gomasio to season your food.

 

The RDA for iodine is 150 mcg. This amount was set based on the amount needed to prevent goiter. This amount will prevent goiter but it will not prevent breast cancer or its precurser fibrocystic breast disease or other serious diseases. Breast tissue and other reproductive organs require much more iodine than the thyroid gland. Many researchers now believe that you may need 100 to 400 times the RDI.

Breast tissue needs many times more iodine than the thyroid gland.

The average consumption of iodine from seaweed by the mainland Japanese is nearly 14 mg. They have some of the lowest incidence of iodine-deficiency diseases like goiter, hypothyroidism, and cancers of the reproductive system (breast, ovaries, and uterus). As our intake of iodine has declined, breast cancer has increased.

 

Instead of using seaweed to boost your iodine levels, you might consider taking an iodine supplement. Iodoral is a very good one. I have just started taking it.

You may need 1 to 4 tablets of Iodoral, a combination of 5 mg of iodine and 7.5 mg of potassium iodide. Additional research finds that vitamin C improves the transport of iodine in the body, so it may be best to take Iodoral with Vitamin C.

Studies show that women who weigh about 110 pounds need at least 5 mg of iodine a day for normal breast function. If you’re heavier, you may need more.

Start off slowly over a 4 week period. Take 1 pill for 30 days

Then 2 pills for 30 days

Then maybe 3 for 30 days

Then 1 in morning and 1 in evening for 30 days

Can then go back to taking 1 or 2 a day to maintain

Your body will know....listen to it...

One Iodoral tablet provides 12.5 milligrams of iodine/iodide which is about the amount the average Japanese consumed in 1964 in their everyday diet.

Iodoral is the best way to get the recommended amount of iodine.

When we take 50 mg of iodine/iodide a day, it acts as an adaptogen, regulating various body functions.

 

Substances that interfere with iodine

Chlorine – present in most city water supplies – unless you de-chlorinate your water, you are being exposed to thyroid-lowering gases whenever you bathe, shower, or have a drink of water.

 

Fluorine

 

Bromide or Bromine – found in some pesticides – try to eat organic whenever possible

Bromide is even used in some asthma drugs

Mountain Dew, Fresca, and orange Gatorade all contain bromide in the form of brominated vegetable oils. Drinking beverages with bromide causes low thyroid function in some people.

 

These toxins are in our water, hot tubs, non-organic foods, and some soft drinks.

If you don’t have enough iodine, chances are you have too much fluoride and bromide. Sufficient iodine pulls these toxins out of your body.

 

Aspirin, blood thinner meds, and steroids can result in iodine deficiency thyroid problems. If you’re taking these, ask your doctor to check your thyroid function.

[Peela]

Lol Negin, you have done your research!

 

So....if you know that caffeine is a significant factor (my understanding is that coffee in particular, rather than just caffeine in general, is a major factor)....wouldnt it be easier to cut it out altogether rather than take all that stuff ??:lol:

 

There is life without caffine, you know. Sometimes I go there :lol:. In my system, coffee tastes and smells so wonderful but if I start cultivating too regular a habit, all my joints start hurting. I know it ain't good for me! But don't take away my morning cup of low caffeine tea, ok?

 

Sorry, I am not much help..I havent had fibrocystic breasts, however I have had very painful PMS breasts and I dont know why they are there some months and not others. Overall they are better than they used to be, and so is my diet, so it may be related.

[laundrycrisis]

Thank you for all the information !!!!!

 

Shortly after a weaning roller coaster with our youngest child, I developed what I thought was a plugged duct. A couple months later I ended up having an ultrasound and biopsy, and it turned out to be fibrocystic. I remember some days my breasts were so painful I avoided physical contact with my kids because their hugs hurt too much.

 

What I have noticed for me was that anything that had previously helped me to boost my milk supply - especially oats - will cause the fibrocystic areas to swell and hurt. I also had to cut out coffee completely for a while. I noticed that even one cup of decaf would affect my breasts for a week. However, I do not have the same reaction to other forms of caffeine. Strong tea or :o Red Bull do not cause me any problems at all. I also need to avoid dairy fat - it seems to make it worse.

 

I took vitamin E and evening primrose oil daily for a while. They helped some. Vitamin B complex seems to help me the most though. The Red Bull contains B3, B5, B6, and B12 and I think the fact that I have one daily (and no coffee) may be helping the situation for me.

[G5052]

I've had the same problem for years, and the things you list do help. Mine haven't been painful for a long time because I use many of the things you list.

 

However, I'll note that those of us who are lumpy/ropey probably will get flagged on mammograms, especially as we get older and more fiborous. Every year they made comments about it, and now that I'm almost 50, I get called back every year for one or more thick areas. Now I have one that is signicantly thicker than last year, so they've decided to do a 6-month recheck.

 

Just one of those things...

[Catherine]

When I started a regular program of frequent exercise, my breast pain practically disappeared that first month, and has not returned (I'm still exercising).

[sleepymommy]

I've had fibrocystic breasts since my first pregnancy and it's just been getting worse ever since.

 

Thank you Negin for such a helpful post!!

[KJsMom]

I had never heard of the condition until I was told I had it. After that I found out that several women I know have it, including my mom. What helped me the most was to give up caffiene. I do still have a cup of coffee in the morning but I no longer drink diet coke or tea. I also take vitamin E and that also helps. I'm thinking about adding decaf to my regular coffee and weaning myself, but I don't know. I'm a bear in the morning. :tongue_smilie:

[Mejane]

There is life without caffine, you know.

 

Yes, but I'm afraid I'd sleep right through it! ;)

[LG Gone Wild]

Progesterone cream has helped. This thing has only started to bother me in the last year.

[Negin]

Lol Negin, you have done your research!

So....if you know that caffeine is a significant factor (my understanding is that coffee in particular, rather than just caffeine in general, is a major factor)....wouldnt it be easier to cut it out altogether rather than take all that stuff ??:lol:

I havent had fibrocystic breasts, however I have had very painful PMS breasts and I dont know why they are there some months and not others. Overall they are better than they used to be, and so is my diet, so it may be related.

Peela, yes, I am a bit of a research-nut when it comes to health-related stuff :lol:. Hence, why I always love your posts. :grouphug:

Yes, the common-sense advice would be to cut out caffeine, but I can't seem to cut it out completely. I wish there were natural alternatives that actually worked as well. I need a buzz at times.

Come to think of it, I don't think I've had fibrocsystic breasts, just monthly discomfort and tenderness. And not every single month, although I do have it most months.

Not wearing a bra all the time helps also.

I agree that diet is a big factor.

I have not had a mammogram yet and don't plan on having one anytime soon. I'm 42 and this year I hope to start having breast thermography. Have you heard about this? Of course, I do monthly self-exams also.

 

What I have noticed for me was that anything that had previously helped me to boost my milk supply - especially oats - will cause the fibrocystic areas to swell and hurt. I also had to cut out coffee completely for a while. I noticed that even one cup of decaf would affect my breasts for a week. However, I do not have the same reaction to other forms of caffeine. Strong tea or :o Red Bull do not cause me any problems at all. I also need to avoid dairy fat - it seems to make it worse.

I took vitamin E and evening primrose oil daily for a while. They helped some. Vitamin B complex seems to help me the most though. The Red Bull contains B3, B5, B6, and B12 and I think the fact that I have one daily (and no coffee) may be helping the situation for me.

Very interesting. Glad that you found relief.

 

I've had the same problem for years, and the things you list do help. Mine haven't been painful for a long time because I use many of the things you list.

However, I'll note that those of us who are lumpy/ropey probably will get flagged on mammograms, especially as we get older and more fiborous. Every year they made comments about it, and now that I'm almost 50, I get called back every year for one or more thick areas. Now I have one that is signicantly thicker than last year, so they've decided to do a 6-month recheck.

Just one of those things...

Wow, sorry you've had to go through all this.

This is one of the reasons I don't like mammograms, although all those call-backs, false-positives, or whatever they call it, and radiation ... sorry, don't mean to scare you. But all of that is just not my cup of tea. I'm going to postpone mammograms for as long as possible. Mind you, I know that on most forums, when I say this, I get lots of negative reactions. :glare:

 

When I started a regular program of frequent exercise, my breast pain practically disappeared that first month, and has not returned (I'm still exercising).

Catherine, yes, exercise helps me also. Not completely, but quite a bit.

 

Progesterone cream has helped. This thing has only started to bother me in the last year.

I need to look into progesterone cream. I keep hearing about it, but know very little. I worry about excess facial hair (always a problem for Middle Eastern background me) and other side-effects. I don't really know how I feel about adding hormones myself and messing with my body. I guess I need to read up on this.

[coffeefreak]

There is life without caffine, you know.

 

BLASPHEMY Peela!!!!;)

[Peela]

BLASPHEMY Peela!!!!;)

 

:lol::lol::lol:

[jld]

In Neal Barnard's book, Foods that Fight Pain, (I think that was the one) he mentions a gal who switched to an oil-free, vegan diet and stopped having any cycle-related discomfort. I read that book several years ago, so I don't remember any more details. Just fyi.