ROJoson PEP Talk: Breast Cysts and Fibrocystic Changes

ROJoson PEP Talk: Breast Cysts and Fibrocystic Changes

1. May 18, 2024 1400H - 1500H Via Zoom BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on BREAST CYSTS AND FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES as part of their health management.

2. May 18, 2024 1400H - 1500H Via Zoom BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on BREAST CYSTS AND FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES as part of their health management. Welcome all! MUTE yourself but always show your video picture. Sign in your name, FB account, or email address in the Chat Box! Include names of companions attending. Use the Chat Box to ask questions and make comments while the PEP TALK is on. There will be group pictures at start and end of PEP TALK – show your face in video.

3. Reminder after the PEP Talk: Take the Online Learning cum Evaluation Test Exercise (OLETE) for mastery of learning and have a perfect score to get a Certificate. Link is in Chat Box.

4. Reminder: 25 OLETE Certificates = 1 Voucher for ROJoson Medical Consultation either Face-to-Face or Telemedical.

5. BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on BREAST CYSTS AND FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES as part of their health management. ROJOSON’S REQUEST: FEEDBACK TO THIS PEP TALK! Pls. type in your feedback in the chat box during the open forum and before we adjourn! Thank you!

6. BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on BREAST CYSTS AND FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES as part of their health management. LET’S NOW HAVE A GROUP PICTURE TAKING BEFORE WE START PEP TALK PROPER IN 2 MINUTES! Pls. turn on your video! Show your face!

7. BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on BREAST CYSTS AND FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES as part of their health management. ROJoson PEP Talk I have a Patient Empowerment Program in which I like to empower the lay people or patients to take control in the management of their health.

8. I started the PEP Talk on May 15, 2021 during the COVID19 Pandemic. There are 3 courses in the PEP Talk. I completed the Core Course on October 9, 2021.

9. From October 23, 2021 onwards, I have been tackling Health Disorder and Health Issue Courses. May 18, 2024 marks the start of YEAR 4 of ROJoson PEP Talk. How long the PEP Talk will last will depend on our enthusiasm , discipline and perseverance .

10. BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on BREAST CYSTS AND FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES as part of their health management. My PEP TALK today is entitled: BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

11. Contents What is a breast cyst? What are fibrocystic changes ? How to recognize and diagnose BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES ? What / how to feel when given a diagnosis of BREAST CYSTS AND FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES ? Disclaimer: ROJoson PEP Talk contains ROJoson’s Thoughts, Perceptions, Opinions and Recommendations (TPORs) culled from experiences of ROJoson and writings of other health professionals. BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

12. What is a breast cyst? A breast cyst is a cyst arising from the breast. A cyst is fluid-filled sac. BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

13. What is a breast cyst? A cyst can be microcyst or macrocyst . A microcyst is one that is too small to be felt but can be detected on imaging procedures, particularly ultrasound. The size is usually less than 1 cm. It is usually associated with lumpy breast tissues. A macrocyst is one that is large enough to be felt (usually 1 cm or bigger). It is usually felt as a dominant mass. BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

14. What is a breast cyst? The exact cause of a breast cyst is NOT known. However, it is usually theorized to be associated with hormonal changes. It is said to be commonly seen in women 30 to 50 years old. disappear or less common during menopausal stage. be more common in menopausal women taking hormonal replacement therapy. BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

15. What is a breast cyst? Breast cysts can be classified into 3 types (usually based on ultrasound): Simple cysts containing purely fluid, no solid component. Complicated cysts containing fluid with “debris” floating in the fluid but no solid component. Complex cysts containing both fluid and solid components. BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES Risk for breast cancer: Simple cysts – practically none Complicated cysts – practically none Complex cysts – higher risk for cancer, about 20%

16. What is a breast cyst? Further discussion will NOW focus on SIMPLE CYSTS . When we say breast cysts here, we refer to SIMPLE CYSTS. Simple cysts containing purely fluid, no solid component. Complicated cysts containing fluid with “debris” floating in the fluid but no solid component. Complex cysts containing both fluid and solid components. BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

17. What is a breast cyst? Breast cysts – Key information: May be microcysts or macrocysts . May be single or multiple in one or two breasts. 99% non-cancerous or benign 99 % do not become cancer BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

18. What is a breast cyst? Breast cysts – Key information: Usually hypothesized to be hormonal changes related More frequent in 30 to 50 years old Rare and may disappear during menopausal stage More frequent in postmenopausal women taking hormonal replacement therapy BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

19. What is a breast cyst? Breast cysts – Key information: Majority are asymptomatic. Some may have breast pain. Macrocysts are discoverable by palpation; microcysts are not palpable. Ultrasound is a reliable tool in detecting microcysts and macrocysts . BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

20. What is a breast cyst? Breast cysts – Key information: Treatment: For microcysts , none – just watch and wait, monitor – the microcysts may disappear (oftentimes) or they may increase in size to become macrocysts For macrocysts – may do watch and wait if asymptomatic and small; if symptomatic with pain, drain fluid with needle aspiration; if big, say more than 2 cm, MAY drain fluid with needle aspiration Medications – none except for analgesics if needed BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

21. What is a breast cyst? Breast cysts – BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES More than 30 cc of dark gray fluid aspirated from a big macrocyst of the breast

22. What are fibrocystic changes? BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

23. What are fibrocystic changes ? Closely related or associated with breast cysts are the fibrocystic changes (FCC). FCC are also theorized to be associated with hormonal changes in the breasts. The cysts in FCC are the microcysts of breast cysts. The F in FCC are the fibrous tissue reactions associated with the hormonal changes. BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES FCC is characterized by fibrous changes and microcystic changes in the breast with NO dominant mass. On palpation, the breast will feel bumpy and lumpy but with NO dominant mass.

24. What are fibrocystic changes ? FCC is characterized by fibrous changes and microcystic changes in the breast with NO dominant mass = FCC On palpation, the breast will feel bumpy and lumpy but with NO dominant mass. BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

25. What are fibrocystic changes ? FCC is characterized by fibrous changes and microcystic changes in the breast with NO dominant mass. On palpation, the breast will feel bumpy and lumpy but with NO dominant mass. BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

26. What are fibrocystic changes ? FCC is characterized by fibrous changes and microcystic changes in the breast with NO dominant mass. On palpation, the breast will feel bumpy and lumpy but with NO dominant mass. BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

27. What are fibrocystic changes ? FCC is characterized by fibrous changes and microcystic changes in the breast with NO dominant mass. On palpation, the breast will feel bumpy and lumpy but with NO dominant mass. BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

28. What are fibrocystic changes ? Fibrocystic Changes and Breast Cysts Hormonal changes Fibrous changes and cystic changes – FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES (with cysts being microcysts ) If microcysts enlarge to become palpable, then they become MACROCYSTS (simple cysts). BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

29. What are fibrocystic changes ? Key information: Hormonal changes Usually bilateral but one breast or one area in the breast or several areas in the breasts may be more prominent than the rest Feel bumpy, humpy, lumpy but NO dominant mass May have pain symptoms Symptoms and feel of breasts may fluctuate during menstrual period BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

30. What are fibrocystic changes ? Key information: 99 % non-cancerous or benign – may be considered “normal” – normal medical condition in female breasts 99% does not become cancer – 99% no risk for breast cancer BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

31. What are fibrocystic changes ? Key information: Treatment: NONE – just watch and wait – observe Medications – none except for analgesics if needed BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

32. How to recogn ize and diagnose BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES? Palpation of the breast (Self and Physician) NO dominant breast mass even if with pain: FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES (normal – hormonal changes) BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

33. How to recogn ize and diagnose BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES? Palpation of the breast (Self and Physician) POSITIVE for dominant breast mass, regardless of size, but cystic on palpation (mass depressible on palpation): MACROCYST NOTE: Microcysts cannot be palpated by the fingers. Ultrasound can reliably identify MICROCYSTS. BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

34. What / how to feel when given a diagnosis of BREAST CYSTS AND FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES? This should allay your initial anxiety of not knowing what you have. Do not be anxious anymore because both breast cysts and fibrocystic changes are NOT CANCER DIAGNOSES and 99% have NO risk to become CANCER. Furthermore, do not be anxious anymore because both conditions strictly speaking, can be considered NORMAL or expected medical conditions and that usually do not need treatment. BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

35. What / how to feel when given a diagnosis of BREAST CYSTS AND FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES? Just OBSERVE, MONITOR, WATCH AND WAIT. Do regular monthly Breast Self-Exam. Have a consultation and regular check-up with a breast specialist. Don’t jump to mammography and ultrasound unless advised by a breast specialist. Do NOT take any medications for hormonal control and supplements. May just take analgesics when needed. BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

36. Contents BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES Summary Take Away Contents What is a breast cyst? What are fibrocystic changes ? How to recognize and diagnose BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES ? What / how to feel when given a diagnosis of BREAST CYSTS AND FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES ?

37. Take Away in relation to Patient Empowerment Be always in touch with reliable medical information on BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES. Knowledge is power; it gives power. Use the 4Ks of Patient Empowerment: Kaalaman , Kakayanan , Karapatan and Kapangyarihan to gain greater control over decisions / make better decisions on management of BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES as part of your health management. BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

38. BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on BREAST CYSTS AND FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES as part of their health management. This ends m y PEP TALK today on: BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES

39. Reminder after the PEP Talk: Take the Online Learning cum Evaluation Test Exercise (OLETE) for mastery of learning and have a perfect score to get a Certificate. Link is in Chat Box.

40. Reminder: 25 OLETE Certificates = 1 Voucher for ROJoson Medical Consultation either Face-to-Face or Telemedical.

41. BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on BREAST CYSTS AND FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES as part of their health management. ROJOSON’S REQUEST: FEEDBACK TO THIS PEP TALK! Pls. type in your feedback in the chat box during the open forum and before we adjourn! Thank you!

42. BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES Empowerment objective - for laypeople to have an essential  understanding on BREAST CYSTS AND FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES as part of their health management. LET’S NOW HAVE A GROUP PICTURE TAKING BEFORE WE START Q&A AND INTERACTIONS! Pls. turn on your video! Show your face!