Breast fibrosis, in the context of fibrocystic breasts, describes the presence of painful, lumpy breasts. It's important to understand that fibrocystic breasts, while sometimes previously referred to as a disease, are actually a common condition and normal breast changes that many women experience, particularly around their menstrual period. Fibrosis is part of the spectrum of these changes. Essentially, fibrosis in the breast refers to an area of the breast that feels thicker or more rope-like than the surrounding tissue.
While the provided reference does not provide an exact definition of the word "fibrosis", within the context of fibrocystic breasts, we can infer its meaning:
- Fibrosis in fibrocystic breasts: Represents areas of thickened or dense tissue within the breast, contributing to the lumpy texture.
Therefore, while the reference doesn't explicitly define "breast fibrosis" in isolation, it strongly suggests it's related to the palpable thickening and lumpiness associated with fibrocystic breast changes, which are considered a normal occurrence for many women.