DR said cyst but no US.

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Lauraabk
Lauraabk Member Posts: 5
edited February 2021 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

hello - wondering if anyone has a similar experience or has any input. I’m 45 and family hx of breast cancer ( sister ). Few years ago I had breast pain and after a biopsy was found to have cysts and it was benign. My last mammogram was august cleared. Then ultrasound in December and cleared. The end of Jan I noticed a little lump on bottom of armpit area. I had one similar over the summer and was given ointment and it went away after a few weeks. This one has stayed longer. I went to Dr and said it looks superficial and a cyst but to keep eye on it.
after a month it’s still here. I tried tee tree oil and it just irritates the area. I’m scheduling another follow up exam. Am I being paranoid ? I never know what it means if a lump is soft or hard or movable. I mean it feels hard but doesn’t bother me. I have high anxiety and worry all the time.

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited February 2021

    It sounds like you are talking about cysts in your skin, not your breast tissue, (the armpit you used cream on and the current one the doctor says is superficial), correct? If it is in your skin soft or hard or immoveable doesn’t really enter in to it, and even if it were your breast women are wrong on those assessments a lot. Since it sounds like you have a skin issue and not a breast issue, why don’t you try a dermatologist

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  • Lauraabk
    Lauraabk Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2021

    thank you so much for your input. I hadn’t really thought of seeing a dermatologist. I had just worried that can they tell it’s superficial just by looking and not US. I really appreciate you taking the time to read and respond!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited February 2021

    Dear Lauraabk,

    Keep us posted on what you learn and how things go for you.

    The MOds

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  • sasamat
    sasamat Member Posts: 53
    edited February 2021

    I've had various lumps and symptoms appear then fade, very slowly (in my case after biopsies). (And also big cysts found on US that I don't feel!) The most calming advice I got was from friends who are also doctors, reminding me that symptoms due to breast cancer are not likely to appear then disappear. It's really great that you are scheduling follow-up, but maybe this mindset can help you manage your thoughts in the meantime.

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  • Lauraabk
    Lauraabk Member Posts: 5
    edited February 2021

    thank you. I appreciate that! I should clarify the lumps have been in different areas of the underarm but just similar feeling. The first one went away pretty quickly with medicine and the current one has not and been with me for about a month. Like many of us, with my family history I just get so nervous!

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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited February 2021

    But “superficial" means skin. Any competent doctor can tell that it is on the surface and not within your breast tissue just by appearance and feel. No ultrasound required for that. Folliculitis bumps from shaving (ingrown hairs), stopped up sweat glands and sebaceous cysts in your axilla are really common. I used to get sebaceous cysts when I was using those occlusivecreamy stick antiperspirant/deodorants. When I stopped and went back to using good old Ban roll-on they stopped. Sebaceous cysts are nothing but “cheesy" zits, although they may be hard to get rid of

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