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A phyllodes tumour is a hard lump of tissue that can appear anywhere in the breast. It’s thought that it develops naturally as the breast ages and changes.
Once formed a phyllodes tumour may grow quite large, quite quickly.
Although they can affect a woman at any time in her life, phyllodes tumours are most common in women between 40 and 50 who haven’t yet been through the menopause. It’s unlikely that more than one will develop at a time, though it is possible.
Phyllodes tumours are most commonly benign. Sometimes, however, they can be malignant. They are grouped into three types: benign, borderline malignant and malignant. A phyllodes tumour is a complex condition that can be hard to diagnose.
A benign phyllodes tumour can come back after it’s been removed, although this is unusual. When a benign phyllodes tumour comes back, in rare cases it can change to being borderline malignant or malignant.
A phyllodes tumour usually becomes noticeable as a lump in the breast. Your GP is likely to refer you to a breast clinic where you’ll undergo a triple assessment, so a definite diagnosis can be made.
Your doctor may also suggest you have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan which uses magnetic radio waves to produce detailed pictures of the inside of the breast.
Sometimes a triple assessment won’t be able to confirm that you have a phyllodes tumour, and so you’ll need an operation to remove the lump to find out what it is.
Surgery
Phyllodes tumours are always treated with surgery. This may be a mastectomy or wide local excision.
The aim of the surgery is to remove all of the tumour and an area of healthy tissue around it, known as clear margins. This is because it's important to have a clear margin of healthy tissue when the lump is removed to reduce the risk of it coming back.
Your specialist will discuss with you the type of surgery you need.
You may feel anxious about having a benign phyllodes tumour. Even though you may feel relieved that it’s a benign condition, you may still worry about it coming back. This is rare, but it’s important to go to any follow-up appointments you’re offered.
It’s also important to continue to be breast aware and go back to your GP if you notice any other changes.