Watch and Wait cyst?

ShellLouise

Hi,

Recent ultrasound found a small 5x8mm cyst that isn't completely simple and is uneven (not smooth) with some questionable shadowing.

Breast specialist says to wait 3 months and ultrasound it again.

It's a difficult time, trying not to think about it potentially growing and changing to something sinister.

Can this happen in 3 months- the cells change into cancer?

I'm just being positive and telling myself it'll be fine and go away.

Beesie

Sounds like a "complicated cyst" (sometimes incorrectly called complex cysts, but those are actually a different category which is higher risk because there is a solid mass within the cyst). Complicated cysts are rated BIRADs3. BIRADs3 means less than a 2% chance of cancer. A short-term follow-up screening (in 3 months or 6 months) is what's recommended for BIRADs3.

It's not that the cells might change into cancer during this time - it's that they are either cancer or they are not. The follow-up is looking for stability, no change in the size or shape; even better is if the mass shrinks. A cancerous mass will grow and change.

The thing to understand is that most cancers have been in the breast for many years (3-5 years, by most accounts) before they become large enough to be seen on imaging. So 3-6 months is not concerning. And the odds are greater than 98% that this isn't cancer.

I've had several complicated cysts, lots of BIRADs3 and more short-term follow-ups than I can remember. None ever turned out to be cancer.

This study found the malignancy rate for complicated cysts to be well under 2%, at 0.4%: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18423318

ShellLouise

Thanks Beesie, that's very reassuring information.

Yes, it was described as a complex cyst by the radiologist, but the breast specialist said she wouldn't have described it as that. (Not such a high risk and yes, as you say, a complicated cyst).

I feel better - thanks!