What is benign (fibrocystic) breast disease?
It is not unusual for a woman to develop one or more cysts in her breasts, nor is it unusual for a woman to have generally lumpy breasts. These are benign (noncancerous) lumps. Opinions differ about whether the presence of these lumps should be called a disease. Some refer to this condition as benign breast disease or fibrocystic disease. Others argue that the lumps are not a disease at all but simply normal fibrocystic changes in the breast. Because opinions differ, there is little data on what percentage of healthy women have benign lumps in their breasts. These conditions are, however, very common, and women are more likely to undergo such changes as they age.
