How Does Caffeine Affect Fibrocystic Breasts?

Fibrocystic breast changes are a common issue women face. Most fibrocystic changes do not increase your risk of cancer, but they can cause discomfort or make breast exams more difficult. Caffeine has not been proven to cause fibrocystic change but can affect the symptoms you might experience.

Fibrocystic Changes of the Breast

Fibrocystic changes, or FCC, affect at least half of all women, most commonly during their childbearing years, according to the American Cancer Society. Most of a woman's breast tissue normally consists of fat, which, with FCC, is replaced by areas of fibrous tissue, cysts and proliferations of the breast ducts and lobules that result in irregular lumps and tissue thickening. Fibrous tissue, being denser than fat, can make breast exams and mammograms more difficult to interpret, but most fibrocystic changes carry little or no increased risk of cancer. FCC is not always symptomatic, but you might experience breast pain, tenderness or thickened areas that change with your menstrual cycle.

Caffeine

Caffeine is a naturally occurring plant substance, also produced synthetically, best known for its stimulant properties and diuretic effects. Your body absorbs and distributes caffeine rapidly through all your tissues, excreting it over several hours in the urine. Caffeine can cause a faster heart rate, restlessness, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, frequent urination and nausea, but despite extensive study it is generally considered to have no long-term negative health effects when used in moderate amounts. Common sources of caffeine include coffee, tea, chocolate, various soft drinks and many over-the-counter medications in which it is a labeled additive.

Caffeine and Fibrocystic Changes

Any possible link between caffeine and fibrocystic changes remains controversial, despite numerous studies over the years, as discussed in "Cancer of the Breast." Most research has found no significant association between caffeine and FCC, although some possible links tying catecholamine levels, caffeine use and the development of breast disease have been reported. No clear evidence of caffeine causing FCC has been found; however, physicians have regularly observed that 10 to 20 percent of women with FCC who avoid caffeine report a reduction in their symptoms.

Symptomatic Fibrocystic Changes

Benign fibrocystic changes typically require no specific treatment, but some actions may reduce troublesome pain and tenderness. Avoid caffeine in all its forms, including caffeinated drinks, chocolate and over-the-counter medications. Following a high-fiber, low-fat diet and decreasing salt intake has been found to reduce breast swelling and tenderness in some women. If these steps haven't helped after several months, vitamin E supplements of 400 to 800 units a day might help, but begin with the lower dose and discontinue use if you have no response, according to Swedish Medical Center. Finally, standard painkillers like ibuprofen might lessen your symptoms with as little as one or two tablets a day.