Mammogram with 5inch mass?

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Nicole0810
Nicole0810 Member Posts: 2
edited January 2021 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

I am going to get a mammogram tomorrow to check out a mass in my left breast (what I thought was a cyst from a previous mammogram/ultrasound). It is very large, it grew rapidly over the last 6 months and is now so large it is visible from the outside of the breast. My doctor listed its size on my mammogram order as 5 inches, behind nipple.

My question is, how is the mammogram done with such a large mass? It is painful to the touch. I really am worried about the size of this and the pain. If it is just a cyst (I hope) it is so large I am afraid it will rupture. Has anyone gone though this?

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited January 2021

    Nicole, I've had some very large cysts in the past. Before doing anything else, my breast surgeon (I had a breast surgeon on speed dial because of all the problems I had over the years - and this was before I was diagnosed with breast cancer!) would attempt an aspiration. If the fine needle went in and retrieved fluid and the lump disappeared, it was done.

    Not sure that any doctor would want to do that with you, without doing imaging first. My doctor did it because I had a history of developing large cysts. But perhaps instead of a mammogram, you should request that the screening start with an ultrasound. Ultrasounds are much better at identifying cysts, so if the ultrasound shows the mass to be completely fluid filled, a mammogram may not be necessary at all and a fine needle aspiration can be done.


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  • LivinLife
    LivinLife Member Posts: 1,332
    edited January 2021

    I totally agree with Beesie! If for some reason they only want to proceed with the mammo then maybe give it a go. If you begin experience too much pain, either while they are positioning you or at some point along the way I would let them know you cannot proceed. I would hope at that point they would move to ultrasound.... Please check back in and let us know how things went...

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  • Nicole0810
    Nicole0810 Member Posts: 2
    edited January 2021

    Thank you so much for the replies! For anyone reading who may have the same question, we went ahead and tried to do the mammogram but couldn’t compress it down fully. It was painful but they only did two images before moving to ultrasound.


    The doctor did confirm it was a cyst and not a solid mass. She said it wasthe largest cyst that she had ever seen. However she saw an area on the wall of the cyst that was concerning— it was protruding and had “flow” (might be fluid producing). Now awaiting a breast MRI which will be in a few weeks.

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited January 2021

    Nicole, thanks for the update. Sounds like you have a complex cyst. Those do need more investigation than complicated or simple cysts but hopefully in the end this cyst is benign, just like most cysts.

    Good luck with the MRI!


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  • LivinLife
    LivinLife Member Posts: 1,332
    edited January 2021

    Yes, thanks for the update.... Hopefully issues are benign after MRi.... let us know...

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