Finally got my mammogram and u/s! Info about cysts?

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Erinashley19
Erinashley19 Member Posts: 104
edited September 2018 in Benign Breast Conditions

Got my 3D mammogram today followed by an US. Mammo came back all clear (whew!) but u/s picked up several fluid filled cysts in the area of pain.

Quick back story I first came here because I had whacked myself pretty good in the breast and the pain that followed shortly after was sharp, focal and stabbing only when pressed. At first I thought it was a result of the whack but when it only got worse I thought perhaps not.. I started to get worried.. I never felt a lump, never had any outward changes, only the pain. After a month I went to my OB and she couldn’t find anything either but set up my appointments for imaging. Since then the pain has decreased significantly but is still there. The tech who performed my ultrasound was very confident that the cysts were nothing to worry about and said that if my pain had decreased that it was a good sign. Radiologist said to do a follow up in 6 months and they can drain them if why haven’t gone away.

So I guess I’m just looking for feedback from others who have dealt with cysts. I’ve done a few searches and I feel more confused because of the terminology (complex, micro, cluster, simple). I don’t have my report yet so perhaps there’a not much to learn until then. My cysts were just fluid filled. There’s about 3 or 4 in one area but they each looked separate on u/s. None of the edges were blended with each other if that makes sense.

Any info about causes for cysts? Can they pop up after trauma? Are they caused by hormones? Are they precursors to other things? I really don’t know anything about breast cysts and am reluctant to start googling. And lastly is there anything I can do to help reduce them? I’m already on EPO. In fact I started it about 3 weeks into this initial breast pain and am wondering if that’s what helped?

Anyways, thanks in advance!

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  • SpecialK
    SpecialK Member Posts: 16,486
    edited August 2018

    Here is a good link from Mayo on breast cysts. They are pretty common, some people have symptomatic ones, others may not know they have them depending on where they are. I had cysts from my 20’s until I had bi-lateral mastectomy at 55, I had several cysts in each breast at that time as described in the pathology report. I did spend a few years having my cysts drained with ultrasound guidance. This was helpful in relieving discomfort as many of mine tended to be close to the skin, large, and right at the bra band or underwire. The number and persistence of cysts meant that I was often on mammo every 6 month imaging - this meant more radiation than I might have liked, if you end up on this type of schedule you might ask for intermittent MRI or US with and without mammo. FWIW, my many cysts never showed up on mammo, but because they were palpable I always had US immediately after, which showed them clearly.

    https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/breast-cysts/symptoms-causes/syc-20370284

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  • Erinashley19
    Erinashley19 Member Posts: 104
    edited August 2018

    thanks specialk that helped some. The weird thing is my cysts are painful but not palpable. From everything I’ve read it seems to be that in most cases in only the larger ones that tend to become painful because of size. Honestly I was pretty surprised to see the cysts on US being as there were a few and sill no be able to feel it. Even the tech tried to feel them and couldn’t either.

    Does anyone know that if the cysts had any debris in them whatsoever would it have shown on the ultra sound? At this point that would be my only real concern. The cysts looked completely black to me but I’m wondering if it’s possible there was anything else to them that just simply can’t be seen on the image? Or would there be characteristics that would alert the radiologist to something more being there but a “wait and see” approach is standard regardless. I’m assuming that after 6 months if there are any changesto them that they would attempt to drain them and perhaps biopsy?

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  • legogram
    legogram Member Posts: 1
    edited September 2018

    I just got diagnosed with breast cyst. I was told we will check it again in next year's mamogram. Should I go for a second opinion?

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  • Erinashley19
    Erinashley19 Member Posts: 104
    edited September 2018

    legogram I don’t think so unless maybe they were more than just a simple cyst. I’m not yet 40 so I’m not in the normal routine for regular mammograms yet. According to others here some said the radiologist always checks on cysts after 6 months while others don’t do a follow up. Perhaps it just depends on the office.

    I’m not sure yet if mine were only simple cysts. Hopefully so.

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