Breast Cyst

What is Breast Cyst

Breast cyst is a sac in the breast that is filled with fluid. Breast cysts are usually noncancerous (benign). They are common among women, and they are most often located in the upper, outer portion of the breast.

One or more cysts may develop. They form when fluid builds up inside of the breast glands.

There are several types of breast cysts:

• Macrocyst. This is a cyst that is about 2 inches (5.1 cm) across (in diameter).
• Microcyst. This is a very small cyst that you cannot feel, but it can be seen with imaging tests such as an X-ray of the breast (mammogram) or ultrasound.
• Galactocele. This is a cyst that contains milk. It may develop if you suddenly stop breastfeeding.

Breast cysts do not increase your risk of breast cancer. They usually disappear after menopause, unless you take artificial hormones (are on hormone therapy).

What are the causes?

The exact cause of breast cysts is not known. Possible causes include:

• Blockage of tubes (ducts) in the breast glands, which leads to fluid buildup. Duct blockage may result from:
  • Fibrocystic breast changes. This is a common, benign condition that occurs when women go through hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle. This is a common cause of multiple breast cysts.
  • Overgrowth of breast tissue or breast glands.
  • Scar tissue in the breast from previous surgery.
• Changes in certain female hormones (estrogenand progesterone).

What increases the risk?

You may be more likely to develop breast cysts if you have not gone through menopause.

What are the signs or symptoms?

Symptoms of a breast cyst may include:

• Feeling one or more smooth, round, soft lumps (like grapes) in the breast that are easily moveable. The lump(s) may get bigger and more painful before your period and get smaller after your period.
• Breast discomfort or pain.

How is this diagnosed?

A cyst can be felt during a physical exam by your health care provider. A mammogram and ultrasound will be done to confirm the diagnosis. Fluid may be removed from the cyst with a needle (fine-needle aspiration) and tested to make sure the cyst is not cancerous.

How is this treated?

Treatment may not be necessary. Your health care provider may monitor the cyst to see if it goes away on its own. If the cyst is uncomfortable or gets bigger, or if you do not like how the cyst makes your breast look, you may need treatment. Treatment may include:

• Hormone treatment.
• Fine-needle aspiration, to drain fluid from the cyst. There is a chance of the cyst coming back (recurring) after aspiration.
• Surgery to remove the cyst.

Follow these instructions at home:

• See your health care provider regularly.
  • Get a yearly physical exam.
  • If you are 20–40 years old, get a clinical breast exam every 1–3 years. After age 40, get this exam every year.
  • Get mammograms as often as directed.
• Do a breast self-exam every month, or as often as directed. Having many breast cysts, or “lumpy” breasts, may make it harder to feel for new lumps. Understand how your breasts normally look and feel, and write down any changes in your breasts so you can tell your health care provider about the changes. A breast self-exam involves:
  • Comparing your breasts in the mirror.
  • Looking for visible changes in your skin or nipples.
  • Feeling for lumps or changes.
• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Wear a supportive bra, especially when exercising.
• Follow instructions from your health care provider about eating and drinking restrictions.
  • Avoid caffeine.
  • Cut down on salt (sodium) in what you eat and drink, especially before your menstrual period. Too much sodium can cause fluid buildup (retention), breast swelling, and discomfort.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You feel, or think you feel, a lump in your breast.
• You notice that both breasts look or feel different than usual.
• Your breast is still causing pain after your menstrual period is over.
• You find new lumps or bumps that were not there before.
• You feel lumps in your armpit (axilla).

Get help right away if:

• You have severe pain, tenderness, redness, or warmth in your breast.
• You have fluid or blood leaking from your nipple.
• Your breast lump becomes hard and painful.
• You notice dimpling or wrinkling of the breast or nipple.

Breast Cyst Drainage

Breast cyst drainage, also called fine-needle aspiration, is a procedure to remove fluid from a fluid-filled sac (cyst) n the breast. This procedure may be done to diagnose or treat a breast cyst, especially a breast cyst that keeps coming back (recurring).

During this procedure, a needle is used to remove some or all of the fluid from a breast cyst. After the fluid is removed, it may be sent to a lab for testing (biopsy).

Tell a health care provider about:

• Any allergies you have.
• All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
• Any problems you or family members have had with anesthetic medicines.
• Any blood disorders you have.
• Any surgeries you have had.
• Any medical conditions you have.
• Whether you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
• Any past breast cysts and problems that have occurred.
• Family history of breast cancer.

What are the risks?

Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems may occur, including:

• Infection.
• Bleeding.
• Allergic reactions to medicines.
• Damage to other structures or organs.
• Feeling pain during the procedure.
• Recurrence of the cyst.

What happens before the procedure?

• Follow instructions from your health care provider about eating or drinking restrictions.
• You may have an exam or imaging tests done.
• You may have a blood or urine sample taken.
• Ask your health care provider about:
  • Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
  • Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood.Do nottake these medicines before your procedure if your health care provider instructs you not to.
• Plan to have someone take you home from the hospital or clinic.

What happens during the procedure?

• The skin over the area of the cyst will be cleaned.
• A medicine will be injected to numb the skin over the area of the cyst (local anesthetic). You might feel a mild stinging during the injection, but you should not feel any pain during the rest of the procedure.
• A needle will be inserted through the numbed area of the breast into the cyst. An ultrasound may be done to help your health care provider guide the needle into the cyst.
• The fluid in the cyst will be drained through the needle.
• The needle will be removed, and a small bandage (dressing) may be placed over the area where the needle was inserted (needle insertion site).

The procedure may vary among health care providers and hospitals.

What happens after the procedure?

• Some bruises may develop around the needle insertion site.
• The needle insertion site will continue to be numb until the local anesthetic wears off.
• If the fluid in the cyst was sent for testing (biopsy), it is up to you to get your test results. Ask your health care provider, or the department performing the test, when your results will be ready.

Care After Breast Cyst Drainage

What can I expect after the procedure?

After the procedure, it is common to have:

• Numbness in the area where the needle was inserted (needle insertion site).
• Bruising around the needle insertion site. This should go away after a few days.

Follow these instructions at home:

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• If the fluid in the cyst was sent for testing (biopsy), it is up to you to get your test results. Ask your health care provider, or the department performing the test, when your results will be ready.
• If a bandage (dressing) was placed over your needle insertion site, keep it clean and dry. Remove it only as told by your health care provider.
  • Wash your hands with soap and water before you change or remove your dressing. If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
• Check your needle insertion site every day for signs of infection. Check for:
  • Redness, swelling, or pain.
  • Fluid or blood.
  • Warmth.
  • Pus or a bad smell.
• Return to your normal activities as told by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.

Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important. You may need to have your cyst checked 4–6 weeks after your procedure to make sure the cyst has not filled up with fluid again.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You have redness, swelling, or pain around your needle insertion site.
• You have fluid, blood, or cloudy discharge coming from your needle insertion site.
• Your needle insertion site feels unusually warm to the touch.
• You have pus or a bad smell coming from your needle insertion site.
• Your breast cyst changes in size or shape, or it comes back (recurs).
• You have a fever.

Get help right away if:

• You develop chest pain or tightness.
• You develop a rapid heart rate.
• You have shortness of breath.
• Your entire body feels very tired and weak.
• Your skin turns a bluish color.