Q.I suffer from cysts in my breasts. They are present all of the time but get larger and more painful right before my period. Do you have any recommendations?

A. It sounds like you may be suffering from fibrocystic breast disease (FBD), a benign condition—not even a disease, really—that causes lumps and cysts to develop in breast tissue. Cysts are fluid-filled pockets; lumps are solid masses. These developments can lead to inflammation, causing the breast to swell and become painful. The pain can range from mild to severe. FBD is very common, occurring in perhaps 20 to 40 percent of women prior to menopause.

Here are two recommendations that help most women: eliminate caffeine from the diet and take 400 to 800 IU of vitamin E per day. Caffeine stimulates overproduction of cellular products, such as fibrous tissue and cyst fluid. One study found that FBD symptoms improved in more than 97 percent of women who avoided caffeine entirely and in 75 percent of those who reduced their intake. Good results have also been reported with vitamin E supplementation.