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Cracks in the connective tissue are often caused by too rapid expansion of the breast during pregnancy and appear on the skin as reddish to whitish streaks. These cracks of the lower skin layers are also called stretch marks and are mainly a problem of aesthetic nature. They do not represent a health risk.
These cracks are scars and can be stimulated to regenerate by special procedures. After a certain period of time they appear very pale and are hardly noticeable. Here, a diet rich in vitamins and minerals as well as special creams are particularly helpful in healing.
Lumps in the breast
When palpating the breasts, many women notice small swellings. As part of the monthly menstrual cycle, there may be tension, swelling or pain in the breasts. If the swelling remains for a longer period of time, it could also be a lump.
A lump is not always a cause for concern, but a doctor should examine the breast more closely for clarification. On closer examination of the lump in the breast, the cause is malignant in less than 20% of cases. Especially in younger women, benign tumours, cysts or inflammations are usually the cause of the lump in the connective tissue in the breast.
Fibroadenoma of the breast
Fibroadenoma is the most common benign change in breast tissue and occurs mainly in young women between 18 and 35 years of age. The adenomas grow under hormonal influence and are mostly formed from glandular or connective tissue. Due to the lack of hormone influence, fibroadenomas can shrink again during the menopause.
They appear as round, spherical structures that can be easily separated from the remaining tissue and shifted. The diagnosis can be made on the basis of a sonography of the breast tissue and confirmed with a biopsy. The risk of breast cancer is about 5% higher for patients with a fibroadenoma than for women who do not have the disease.
Lipoma in the breast
A lipoma is a benign, soft and slow-growing structure or growth of fatty tissue. Lipomas occur not only on the breast, but also on other parts of the body directly under the skin as shifting nodes. In the breast, they can also contain tissue parts of the connective tissue or glandular cells.
They are then called fibroadenomas or adenolipomas. In most cases, the lump that develops here can be easily distinguished from the rest of the tissue and causes no discomfort. It is the most common cause of lumps in the breast in menopausal women.
Chest pain
Pain in the chest can become very unpleasant. Men can also have chest pain during their lifetime. The most common cause is the female menstrual cycle.
Every month, just before menstruation, a pulling, tightening pain in the breast is nothing unusual. Since the female breast is exposed to many hormonal changes, these can lead to pain due to structural changes in the connective tissue of the breast. Many younger women develop tumours in the breast, which are known as “fibrocystic mastopathy“, which can also cause pain.
Breast pain during pregnancy is a common side effect of the remodelling of the connective tissue of the breast to enable milk production. During the menopause, typical breast pain usually decreases. However, if hormones are taken after the menopause, they can lead to breast pain.
Often painful is the so-called “mastitis“, the inflammation of the breast. It can occur at any age and can also affect men. It is usually the result of an infection with bacteria and should be clarified by a doctor.