May 18, 2024

1400H - 1500H
Via Zoom

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

Reminder:
25 OLETE Certificates = 1
Voucher for ROJoson
Medical Consultation
either Face-to-Face or
Telemedical.
 Empowerment ROJOSON’S REQUEST:
objective - for
FEEDBACK TO THIS
laypeople to have an
PEP TALK!
BREAST CYSTS essential
and understanding on Pls. type in your
FIBROCYSTIC BREAST CYSTS AND feedback in the chat
CHANGES FIBROCYSTIC box during the open
CHANGES as part of forum and before we
adjourn!
their health
management. Thank you!
 LET’S NOW HAVE A
Empowerment GROUP PICTURE
objective - for TAKING BEFORE WE
laypeople to have an START PEP TALK
essential PROPER IN 2
BREAST CYSTS
MINUTES!
and understanding on
FIBROCYSTIC BREAST CYSTS AND Pls. turn on your
CHANGES FIBROCYSTIC video!
CHANGES as part of Show your face!
their health
management.
 Empowerment
objective - for ROJoson PEP Talk
laypeople to have an
I have a Patient
BREAST CYSTS essential Empowerment
and understanding on Program in which I
FIBROCYSTIC BREAST CYSTS AND like to empower the
CHANGES FIBROCYSTIC lay people or
CHANGES as part of patients to take
their health control in the
management of
management. their health.
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.
 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.
 Empowerment My PEP TALK today is
objective - for entitled:
laypeople to have an BREAST CYSTS
BREAST CYSTS essential
and
and understanding on
FIBROCYSTIC
FIBROCYSTIC BREAST CYSTS AND
CHANGES CHANGES
FIBROCYSTIC
CHANGES as part of
their health
management.
 Contents Disclaimer:
BREAST CYSTS • What is a breast cyst?
and • What are fibrocystic changes? ROJoson PEP Talk
FIBROCYSTIC • How to recognize and diagnose BREAST CYSTS contains ROJoson’s
CHANGES and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES? Thoughts,
• What / how to feel when given a diagnosis of Perceptions,
BREAST CYSTS AND FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES? Opinions and
Recommendations
(TPORs) culled from
experiences of
ROJoson and
writings of other
health professionals.
 What is a breast cyst?
BREAST CYSTS
and A breast cyst is a cyst arising from the breast.
FIBROCYSTIC
CHANGES A cyst is fluid-filled sac.
 What is a breast cyst?
BREAST CYSTS
and A cyst can be microcyst or macrocyst.
FIBROCYSTIC
CHANGES 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.
 What is a breast cyst?
BREAST CYSTS
and The exact cause of a breast cyst is NOT known.
FIBROCYSTIC However, it is usually theorized to be associated
CHANGES 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.
 What is a breast cyst? Risk for breast
BREAST CYSTS cancer:
and Breast cysts can be classified into 3 types (usually
FIBROCYSTIC based on ultrasound): Simple cysts –
CHANGES practically none
• Simple cysts containing purely fluid, no solid
component. Complicated cysts –
• Complicated cysts containing fluid with practically none
“debris” floating in the fluid but no solid
component. Complex cysts –
• Complex cysts containing both fluid and solid higher risk for
components. cancer, about 20%
 What is a breast cyst?
BREAST CYSTS
and Further discussion will NOW focus on SIMPLE
FIBROCYSTIC CYSTS. When we say breast cysts here, we refer
CHANGES 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.
 What is a breast cyst?
BREAST CYSTS
and Breast cysts –
FIBROCYSTIC
CHANGES 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
 What is a breast cyst?
BREAST CYSTS
and Breast cysts –
FIBROCYSTIC
CHANGES Key information:
• Usually hypothesized to be hormonal changes
related
• More frequent in 30 to 50 years old females
• Rare and may disappear during menopausal
stage
• More frequent in postmenopausal women
taking hormonal replacement therapy
 What is a breast cyst?
BREAST CYSTS
and Breast cysts –
FIBROCYSTIC
CHANGES 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.
 What is a breast cyst?
BREAST CYSTS
and Breast cysts –
FIBROCYSTIC
CHANGES 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
 What is a breast cyst?
BREAST CYSTS
and Breast cysts –
FIBROCYSTIC More than 30 cc of dark
gray fluid aspirated from
CHANGES a big macrocyst of the
breast
 What are fibrocystic changes?
BREAST CYSTS
and
FIBROCYSTIC
CHANGES
 What are fibrocystic changes? FCC is characterized
BREAST CYSTS by fibrous changes
and Closely related or associated with breast cysts are and microcystic
FIBROCYSTIC the fibrocystic changes (FCC). changes in the
CHANGES breast with NO
FCC are also theorized to be associated with dominant mass.
hormonal changes in the breasts.
On palpation, the
The cysts in FCC are the microcysts of breast breast will feel
cysts. bumpy and lumpy
The F in FCC are the fibrous tissue reactions (not but with NO
mass) associated with the hormonal changes. dominant mass.
 What are fibrocystic
BREAST CYSTS changes?
and
FIBROCYSTIC FCC is characterized by
CHANGES 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.
 What are fibrocystic changes?
BREAST CYSTS
and FCC is characterized by fibrous changes and
FIBROCYSTIC microcystic changes in the breast with NO
CHANGES dominant mass.

On palpation, the breast will feel bumpy and

lumpy but with NO dominant mass.
 What are fibrocystic changes?
BREAST CYSTS
and FCC is characterized by fibrous changes and
FIBROCYSTIC microcystic changes in the breast with NO
CHANGES dominant mass.

On palpation, the breast will feel bumpy and

lumpy but with NO dominant mass.
 What are fibrocystic changes?
BREAST CYSTS
and FCC is characterized by fibrous changes and
FIBROCYSTIC microcystic changes in the breast with NO
CHANGES dominant mass.

On palpation, the breast will feel bumpy and

lumpy but with NO dominant mass.
 What are fibrocystic changes?
BREAST CYSTS
and Fibrocystic Changes and Breast Cysts
FIBROCYSTIC
CHANGES 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).
 What are fibrocystic changes?
BREAST CYSTS
and Key information:
FIBROCYSTIC
CHANGES • 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
 What are fibrocystic changes?
BREAST CYSTS
and Key information:
FIBROCYSTIC
CHANGES • 99% non-cancerous or benign – may be
considered “normal” – normal medical
condition in female breasts
• 99% do not become cancer – 99% no risk for
breast cancer
 What are fibrocystic changes?
BREAST CYSTS
and Key information:
FIBROCYSTIC
CHANGES • Treatment: NONE – just watch and wait –
observe
• Medications – none except for analgesics if
needed
 How to recognize and diagnose
BREAST CYSTS BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC
and CHANGES?
FIBROCYSTIC
CHANGES Palpation of the breast (Self and
Physician)
NO dominant breast mass even if
with pain: FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES
(normal – hormonal changes)
 How to recognize and diagnose
BREAST CYSTS BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC
and CHANGES?
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.
 What / how to feel when given a diagnosis of BREAST CYSTS AND
BREAST CYSTS FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES?
and
FIBROCYSTIC This should allay your initial anxiety of not knowing what you have.
CHANGES
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.
 What / how to feel when given a diagnosis of BREAST CYSTS AND
BREAST CYSTS FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES?
and
FIBROCYSTIC Just OBSERVE, MONITOR, WATCH AND WAIT.
CHANGES 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.
 Contents
BREAST CYSTS Summary
• What is a breast cyst?
and • What are fibrocystic changes? Take Away
FIBROCYSTIC • How to recognize and diagnose BREAST CYSTS
CHANGES and FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES?
• What / how to feel when given a diagnosis of
BREAST CYSTS AND FIBROCYSTIC CHANGES?
 Be always in touch with reliable medical
BREAST CYSTS Take Away in
information on BREAST CYSTS and FIBROCYSTIC
and CHANGES. relation to
FIBROCYSTIC Patient
CHANGES Empowerment
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.
 Empowerment This ends my PEP
objective - for TALK today on:
laypeople to have an BREAST CYSTS
BREAST CYSTS essential
and
and understanding on
FIBROCYSTIC
FIBROCYSTIC BREAST CYSTS AND
CHANGES CHANGES
FIBROCYSTIC
CHANGES as part of
their health
management.
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.

Reminder:
25 OLETE Certificates = 1
Voucher for ROJoson
Medical Consultation
either Face-to-Face or
Telemedical.
 Empowerment ROJOSON’S REQUEST:
objective - for
FEEDBACK TO THIS
laypeople to have an
PEP TALK!
BREAST CYSTS essential
and understanding on Pls. type in your
FIBROCYSTIC BREAST CYSTS AND feedback in the chat
CHANGES FIBROCYSTIC box during the open
CHANGES as part of forum and before we
adjourn!
their health
management. Thank you!
 LET’S NOW HAVE A
Empowerment GROUP PICTURE
objective - for TAKING BEFORE WE
laypeople to have an START Q&A AND
essential INTERACTIONS!
BREAST CYSTS
and understanding on
Pls. turn on your
FIBROCYSTIC BREAST CYSTS AND video!
CHANGES FIBROCYSTIC Show your face!
CHANGES as part of
their health
management.