Hardness felt in the breast is called a mass in medicine. In benign diseases of the breast, the hardness that can be felt will generally be appropriate since the disease does not spread beyond the tissue in which it is located. The mass can be limited more easily. It generally does not adhere to the environment and is mobile. The masses can have various characters; It can be detected as very hard, rubbery, soft, mobile, immobile, with clear borders or with unclear borders. In tense cysts and fibroadenomas, the tissue may have a hard, rubbery consistency.

Development of Benign Diseases

Breast tissue is under the control of hormones in our body. A woman's hormonal balance is greatly affected by factors such as excessive stress, ongoing diseases, fatigue, and irregular nutrition. In this case, hormones are produced more or less than necessary and their ratios with each other are disrupted. This causes some benign diseases to occur in the breast. Changes in hormones also cause benign diseases such as fibrocystic structure, edema and adenosis in the breast.

Fibroadenoma: This is the condition popularly called milk gland. It is a mobile structure that develops due to the increase in cells in the breast ducts and can be felt as hard as an eraser. It cannot be considered a cancerous structure, but it has been observed that it can change by 3-4%. Many options are taken into consideration in follow-up and treatment, depending on the structure of the fibroadenoma detected. Although it is more common in the breasts between the ages of 18-29, it can be observed that they grow and change due to the hormonal changes experienced in the premenopausal period. Fibroadenomas that grow, degenerate and begin to bleed are considered high risk and are taken into surgery. However, the growth of fibroadenomas can be largely controlled by good stress-sleep control, monitoring and control of hormones that affect breast tissue, and reducing inflammatory problems in the body.

Cyst

Cysts in the Breast: The ducts may become blocked due to changes in the support and duct tissues of the breast tissue. The fluid in the breast ducts cannot maintain its normal flow and accumulates in the duct. In rare cases, the size of the cysts formed in this way can reach from a few mm to a few cm. These cysts, which are generally detected as painless masses within the breast tissue during examination, are mobile structures that are not very hard. It is usually seen between the ages of 30-35. Although it is rare, it can become infected. It is characterized by sudden swelling, hardness and redness in the breast. This situation is called complicated cyst. When infection develops, the cyst wall integrity is disrupted, irregular and edematous on ultrasound. In painful cases, the treatment is to first drain the cyst with a fine needle under USG guidance and remove the infected fluid. Antibiotics may also be added to the treatment.

Fibrocystic Structure and Breast Edema: Fibrocystic changes in the breast and hardness that can be felt due to edema usually occur before menstruation and may not be felt after menstruation. It can usually be identified with swelling and tenderness. Small cystic structures are usually noted in breast ultrasound. Treatment is planned according to the cause of the disease. 

Although breast edema is in the benign disease group, if it lasts for a long time, it exceeds the body's destruction and production capacity and can be a stepping stone to the development of precancerous lesions. Fibrocystic structure and edema, just like cellulite, occur as a result of the inflammatory reaction between the tissues of the body, which gradually hardens the tissue. 

Medical protocols to reduce inflammation, an antioxidant nutrition plan with reduced caffeine, and herbal supplements reduces edema in the breast tissue, increases patient comfort and prevents the progression of benign problems and changes in the tissues.
Breast Pain (Mastodynia): Pain is also generally a symptom of benign diseases of the breast. Pain in breast cancer is more often detected as an advanced symptom. Since breast cancer can disrupt the comfort of life, its cause must be found and treated. Fibrocystic structures and breast infections are among the most common causes of breast pain. 

However, while the breast tissue develops under the skin, it is held tightly to the surrounding tissue with thin ligaments (Cooper's ligaments). Problems that cause pain in the surrounding tissue can also stimulate the breast and cause pain due to these ligaments. Before menstruation (4-5 days), when the edema of the breast tissue increases, the weight of the breast increases. This pain may become evident. The patient feels pain even during daily movements and is very uncomfortable even when lying down. 

The treatment strategy for painful breast conditions is primarily aimed at controlling hormones and stress, eliminating edema in the breast, and treating pain. In order to reduce the sensitivity of the surrounding tissue, anti-inflammatory nutrition, reducing excessive meat and carbohydrate consumption, reducing salt, increasing water, reducing caffeinated drinks, as well as chest muscle strengthening exercises such as pilates, using anti-inflammatory drugs, and antioxidant nutrition are recommended.

Breast Discharge: It is generally seen due to benign diseases. Green-blue discharges accompany the fibrocystic structure. Milky discharge is called galactorrhea and indicates hormone disorders. Treatment is determined according to the disease.

Lipoma: These are masses of fatty tissue under the skin and are felt as softer areas. As long as they don't grow they won't cause any problems.

Infections: Although it is more common during breastfeeding, it can also occur during periods when body resistance is weakened. If treated early, it can heal without leaving any problems. If delayed, stiffness and deformity may be permanent. Some rare infections, especially in the breast, can cause abscesses and severe stiffness in the body. This condition is called Granulomatous mastitis. Treatment is difficult and long-lasting.