Answer
Fibrocystic disease of the breast is a catch-all term which has been used to describe a variety of benign breast changes. Overall, the presence of benign fibrous and cystic changes of the breast without "hyperplastic" changes does not increase the cancer risk.
However, hyperplastic changes (which do increase cancer risk) occur more commonly in clinically "lumpy" breasts, so it is important to try and identify those women with potential hyperplastic diseases, versus those with completely non-risky fibrocystic changes.
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