What causes FBD?

Estrogen stimulates the growth of breast glandular tissue in preparation for pregnancy during the second half of the menstrual cycle. If not pregnancy ensues the body has to eliminate the extra breast cells with a process of programmed cell death, also know as apoptosis. After the cells break downs they are removed by specialized white blood cells, however, if the process is not functioning properly, too much inflammation can ensue and tiny scars may form which can damage the breast ducts. Also, the process of programmed cell death can malfunction. Ultimately this scarring and inflammation may lead to breast cancer which is why it should be addressed immediately.

FBD can increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer by two to six times. The average North American woman has a one in eight chance of developing breast cancer in a lifetime. 

How to treat FBD naturally     

From my experience abnormal estrogen metabolism and poor elimination of toxins in general are the main factors to consider when treating FBD.

Many women have elevated levels of circulating estrogen as a result of high fat diets and exposure to environmental pollutants which have estrogen-like activity, also known as xenobiotics. Many pesticides and components in plastic such as bispenol-A show estrogen-like activity.

In Israel the use of three common organochlorine pesticides, including DDT, Lindane and Benzene Hexachloride was banned in 1978 and breast cancer mortality, which had increased every year for 25 years dropped nearly 8 percent for all age groups and more than 33% for women age 25-34 in 1986. Two of these pesticides are still in common use in North America.

Diet and Fibrocystic Breast Disease

•  Eat organic as much as possible and if you can’t afford it at least scrub and wash your fruits and veggies thoroughly with soap and water.

•  Eat five to ten servings of fruits and veggies a day, this will not only give you lots of vitamins, minerals and many plant compounds which are just beginning to be understood and may have anticancer properties.

• Reduce your saturated fat intake to as low as possible, eliminate especially cheese, ice cream, butter, read meat and processed meat as well as peanut butter and chocolate. This is the most important thing you can do. Saturated fats increase estrogen production by the body in several ways and also make it harder for the liver to eliminate estrogen.

• Get plenty of fibre. Eat bran or flax seed cereal for breakfast and add extra fibre such as psyllium and oat bran to your diet. Eat only whole grain products such as brown rice, whole grain bread and pasta.

•  Keep a diet diary and see a professional about your diet, most people underestimate how bad their diets really are. Believe me, they do.

Supplements for Fibrocystic Breast Disease

• Take a good probiotic to ensure good bowel flora balance. Beneficial GI flora will help to break down estrogen

• Take milk thistle to support liver function. Talk to a professional about dosage

• Evening primrose oil has been successfully used to decrease the symptoms of FBD, you will need to take about 3000 mg a day for good results.

• Iodine can be helpful in FBD as the body requires iodine also for estrogen breakdown.

• Chaste-tree berry tincture or capsules can be helpful to balance estrogen levels and relieve FBD as well.

• Remember that these supplements will not help unless you also change your diet. Do take this seriously, not only will you have less breast pain but you will definitely reduce your risk of breast and other cancers.