Breast Cyst

What is a breast cyst?

A breast cyst is a round or oval fluid-filled sac (like a tiny balloon) inside the breast. Breast cysts are common in women. They can be painless or they may cause a little pain, but they are usually benign (not cancerous). Cysts tend to get bigger and more painful just before the start of your menstrual period. Some women are more likely to have cysts than others. It’s important to get new cysts checked out by a doctor to make sure they’re not cancerous.

Breast Cysts and Cancer Risk

While breast cysts can be concerning, it's important to understand their relationship to breast cancer. Most breast cysts are benign, meaning they are not cancerous and do not increase your risk of developing breast cancer. These benign cysts are typically filled with fluid and do not contain any cancerous cells.

However, in rare cases, some cysts may be more complex and require further investigation. Complex cysts, which have both fluid and solid components, have a small chance (about 0.3% to 1.6%) of being cancerous. If a complex cyst is found, your doctor may recommend additional tests to rule out cancer.

It's worth noting that breast cysts are not typically associated with specific types of breast cancer. When breast cancer does occur, it usually develops in the breast tissue surrounding the cysts, not within the cysts themselves.

Understanding breast cancer stages is separate from cyst diagnosis. Breast cancer staging refers to how far the cancer has spread and is only relevant if cancer is detected. The presence of cysts does not affect cancer staging.

If you have breast cysts, your doctor will monitor them closely. While most cysts are harmless, any changes in your breasts should be reported to your healthcare provider to ensure proper evaluation and peace of mind.

Top symptoms

• Breast pain
• Breast lump
• Movable breast lump

Treatment

You should see a doctor within the next few days to evaluate the lump. Your doctor will do a physical breast exam, and may recommend an ultrasound or mammogram. Sometimes a biopsy is needed to rule out other causes. If the cyst is uncomfortable, the fluid can be removed (aspirated) with a fine needle. The fluid might come back and some cysts just go away over time. If a cyst continues to bother you, it can be surgically removed.