What is the Difference Between Breast Cancer and Fibroadenoma

The female breast is a very important organ as it produces milk for newborns. Breast cancer and fibroadenoma are two different conditions that affect the female breast.

The key difference between breast cancer and fibroadenoma is their nature. Breast cancer leads to the formation of cancerous lumps in breast tissue, which can spread over time outside the breast, while fibroadenoma leads to the formation of benign or non-cancerous lumps in the breast tissue, which do not spread over time outside the breast.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Breast Cancer
3. What is Fibroadenoma
4. Similarities – Breast Cancer and Fibroadenoma
5. Breast Cancer vs Fibroadenoma in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Breast Cancer vs Fibroadenoma
7. FAQ –  Breast Cancer and Fibroadenoma

What is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is a type of cancer that occurs when breast cells mutate and multiply to form tumors. It affects women, usually aged 50 or older. The signs and symptoms of breast cancer include a change in the size and shape of the breast, a lump in the breast that may feel as small as a pea, thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm that persists through the menstrual cycle, a change in the appearance of the skin on the breast or nipple, a marble-like hardened area under the skin, and a blood-stained or clear fluid discharge from the nipple. Breast cancer happens when breast cells mutate and become cancerous cells that divide and multiply to create tumors. These genes include BRCA1, BRCA2, Tp53, HER2, etc.

Breast cancers can be diagnosed through physical examination, breast ultrasound, breast MRI scan, breast biopsy, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and genetic testing. Furthermore, treatment options for breast cancer may include surgeries like mastectomy, lumpectomy, breast reconstruction, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy.

What is Fibroadenoma?

Fibroadenoma is a benign or noncancerous breast lump. Fibroadenoma only remains in the breast tissue and does not spread to other areas of the body. It is normally 1 inch in size but can become larger over time. The signs and symptoms of fibroadenoma may include a marble that easily moves around beneath the skin, smooth borders, and the lump feeling firm or rubbery. Some women may feel a little tenderness shortly before their period and experience more pain if the lump is larger.

Fibroadenoma can be caused by the changing levels of the hormone estrogen. Moreover, it often appears in women between the ages of 15 to 35. Fibroadenoma can be diagnosed by physical examination, imaging scan, and biopsy. Furthermore, treatment options for fibroadenoma are cryoablation and surgeries such as lumpectomy.

Similarities Between Breast Cancer and Fibroadenoma

1. Breast cancer and fibroadenoma are two different conditions that affect the female breast.
2. Both these conditions can form lumps in the breast tissue.
3. Both these conditions can be diagnosed through physical examination and imaging testing.
4. They can be treated through surgeries such as lumpectomy.

Difference Between Breast Cancer and Fibroadenomas

Definition

1. Breast cancer is a type of cancer that occurs when breast cells mutate and multiply to form tumors.
2. Fibroadenoma is a benign breast lump.

Causes

1. Breast cancer happens when breast cells mutate and become cancerous cells, dividing and multiplying to create tumors, which include mutations in genes such as BRCA1, BRCA2, Tp53, HER2, etc.
2. Fibroadenoma is caused by the changing levels of the hormone estrogen.

Age

1. Breast cancer usually affects women aged 50 or older.
2. Fibroadenomas affect women between the ages of 15 to 35.

Signs and Symptoms

1. Signs and symptoms of breast cancer include changes in the size or shape of the breast, a lump in the breast, thickening in or near the breast or underarm, changes in the skin on the breast or nipple, a hardened area under the skin, and nipple discharge.
2. Signs and symptoms of fibroadenomas include a marble-like lump that moves easily beneath the skin, smooth borders, firm or rubbery texture, tenderness shortly before the period, and increased pain if the lump is larger.

Diagnosis

1. Diagnosis of breast cancer involves physical examination, breast ultrasound, breast MRI scan, breast biopsy, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and genetic testing.
2. Diagnosis of fibroadenomas involves physical examination, imaging scans, and biopsy.

Treatment

1. Treatment options for breast cancer include surgeries like mastectomy and lumpectomy, breast reconstruction, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy.
2. Treatment options for fibroadenomas include cryoablation and surgeries such as lumpectomy.

The infographic below presents the differences between breast cancer and fibroadenoma in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Breast Cancer vs Fibroadenomas

Breast cancer and fibroadenoma are two different conditions that affect the female breast. Both these conditions can form lumps in the breast tissue. However, breast cancer is a condition that leads to the formation of cancerous lumps in breast tissue which can spread over time outside the breast while fibroadenoma is a condition that leads to the formation of benign or non-cancerous lumps in the breast tissue which do not spread over the time outside the breast. Thus, this summarizes the difference between breast cancer and fibroadenoma.

FAQ: Breast Cancer and Fibroadenomas

1. What are the symptoms of breast cancer?

• The symptoms of breast cancer include a new lump in the breast or underarm, thickening or swelling of part of the breast, irritation or dimpling of breast skin, redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast, and pain in the nipple area.

2. Can breast cancer be cured?

• Treatment for breast cancer will be successful for most people, and the risk of recurrence reduces as time goes on, but it does not go away altogether. Treatments include surgeries like mastectomy, lumpectomy, breast reconstruction, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy.

3. How to avoid breast cancer?

• To avoid breast cancer, keep weight in check, be physically active, eat fruits & vegetables, limit alcohol, stop smoking, breastfeed, avoid birth control pills, and avoid hormone therapy for menopause.

4. Can you tell the difference between a fibroadenoma and cancer?

• Breast cancer can cause various symptoms, such as a lump in the breast, changes in breast size or shape, and changes in the skin of the breast or color in the region of the nipple. However, fibroadenoma may not cause any symptoms other than a lump or mass in the breast that can only be felt during self-examination or diagnosed through ultrasound.

5. Are fibroadenomas in the breast harmful?

• Fibroadenomas are not cancerous. They are benign lumps in the breast tissues. They do not spread to other areas in the body. However, some of these lumps need to be removed, and a biopsy is needed to stop this concern.

Reference:

1. “Breast Cancer.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization.
2. Ajmal, Maleeha. “Breast Fibroadenoma.” StatPearls [Internet]., U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Breast cancer incidence by anatomical site (females)” By Cancer Research UK uploader – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Breast US Fibroadenoma 0531093420937 Nevit” By © Nevit Dilmen (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia