Feeling for lumps? Learn more about breast cysts and what to do nex

Finding a lump in your breast is concerning, but it isn’t always a sign of cancer. A lump can also be a breast cyst, which is a fluid-filled sac that’s usually noncancerous.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, designed to increase awareness about breast cancer and the importance of breast cancer screenings. It’s also an excellent time to learn about other conditions that can affect the breasts.

Many different benign breast conditions cause sometimes alarming symptoms for women. Breast cysts are one example.

Why you need to know your breasts

Having a good understanding of what your breast tissue feels and looks like can help you alert your women’s health provider about potential signs of cancerous breast conditions. Familiarize yourself at different times of the month, and let your provider know if you spot anything outside that norm.

Notable differences can include changes in the size, shape or texture of your breasts. You should also check in with a medical provider if you experience:

• A lump or thickening in the breast or nipple
• An inverted nipple
• A rash on or around the nipple
• Breast pain or tenderness, or pain in the armpit
• Nipple discharge other than breast milk
• Skin changes on the breast, such as dimpling or puckering

Your West Jefferson Medical Center provider can perform a clinical breast exam and order tests as needed to determine the underlying cause of any changes and whether treatment is required.

The facts about breast cysts

Breast cysts are common in women in their 30s and 40s. While less likely among older women, cysts may also occur in women taking hormone therapy after menopause.

To the touch, a breast cyst can feel like a tender, painful lump under the skin. As your hormone levels change during your period and other parts of the menstrual cycle, the cyst may become more painful or even increase in size.

Some cysts are too small to feel, but you may be able to feel and move medium- to large-sized cysts under the skin. There are three primary types of breast cysts:

• Simple cysts are almost always noncancerous. This type of cyst is filled with fluid, has smooth and thin walls, and may be caused by fibrocystic breast changes.
• Complicated cysts have thin walls but contain a mix of fluid and solid material.
• Complex cysts have irregular, thickened walls and may contain solid material and fluid.

Of the three, complex cysts are the most likely to be cancerous, though it’s still rare.

What to do if you think you have a breast cyst

If you feel something in your breast that could be a cyst, let your provider know. A breast ultrasound can be used to verify whether what you’re feeling is a cyst and what type based on what the cyst contains.

If the cyst is fluid-filled, treatment is usually not necessary. Most simple cysts will disappear on their own, but if they cause you discomfort, your provider may recommend having them drained.

If you have a complex or complicated cyst, though, your medical provider may suggest having it drained and tested to ensure it’s benign. Fine-needle aspiration, a type of biopsy, may also be used to extract fluid and tissue from a breast cyst. The fluid and tissue are then tested to detect breast cancer cells.

Developing cysts does not increase your risk of breast cancer, though having cysts may sometimes indicate a higher risk when combined with other factors, such as a family history of breast cancer.

The bottom line? If you believe you have a breast cyst, your provider can use advanced tools to diagnose and treat the condition. It most likely isn’t cancer, but if it is, seeking medical attention is the first step to curing it.

We’re here to care for women at every age and stage of life. Find a provider to meet your needs.