Cysts

Breast cysts are completely benign, in other words, not related to breast cancer. Think of them like little "water balloons" in the breast - they develop due to enlargement of an area of the milk duct that fills with fluid. They will often enlarge and may become painful right before the menstrual period, and then often decrease without any intervention. An ultrasound can be used to ensure that a lump is indeed a fluid filled cyst and not a solid tumor. "Simple" cysts, which have a thin wall and no solid growth associated with them can safely be observed, but sometimes fine needle aspiration is recommended if a cyst is large or painful.

There is another condition which is sometimes confused with cystic disease. These "cysts" are sometimes termed fibro-cystic disease. They are solid, painless, and do not typically enlarge or change with hormonal fluctuations. These growths can be andenopathic. These growths are typically easily distinguished from cancer by mamography or ultrasound. These adenopathies tend to signal the increased potential for breast cancer development later on.