What does a cyst feel like compared to a cancerous mass?

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Kkeden
Kkeden Member Posts: 7
edited June 2018 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

I have had a bilateral mastectomy due to DCIS and BRCA2 positive. I have noticed a lump under the skin but not attached to the skin. It’s smooth and fairly round shaped. It does not move. I am sure it’s a cyst but would like to know what a cyst feels like as I’ve never had one before.

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  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited June 2018

    I think rather than trying to figure it out on your own you should see your breast surgeon. An ultrasound will be able to determine whether this is a simple cyst and what treatment you need, if any.

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  • edwards750
    edwards750 Member Posts: 3,761
    edited June 2018

    Agree with mustlove. Not a good idea to doctor yourself. I had a growth on my neck that was squishy and did move around. It turned out to be fatty tissue. My doctor said if it’s hard and stationary it’s more of a concern. I have had cysts. The doctor drained them. The nurse said if it didn’t drain it could be the C word.

    I would make an appointment as soon as you can.

    Diane

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  • djmammo
    djmammo Member Posts: 2,939
    edited June 2018

    Kkeden

    If you have had all your breast tissue removed via mastectomy, by definition you can no longer form cysts. Also breast cysts are not routinely fixed to adjacent tissue. I have run into this scenario a few times after mastectomy and they were small recurrent tumors.

    Have this lump evaluated. US would be the first step. Although we do not usually see a recurrence like this with pure DCIS, there may have been an occult, undetectible area of invasive disease somewhere in one of the mastectomy specimens.

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  • Kkeden
    Kkeden Member Posts: 7
    edited June 2018

    Thank you for responding. I have contacted my surgeon and he wants to do a round of antibiotic first.

    Woukd a recurrent tumor need to be fixed to the skin? I can pull my skin up off of it. Wouldn’t there just be alloderm underneath my skin? A tumor can’t grow in alloderm can it?

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