Breasts full of “complex cysts” or solid appearing masses

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920fall
920fall Member Posts: 9
edited October 2021 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

43 y/o and I started 2 years ago adding an ultrasound to my yearly 3d mammo bc I have extremely dense breasts (basically bags of skin at this point!). July 2020 my ultrasound showed a 5-7 bilateral “complex cysts” - birads 3 with 6 month follow up. Everything was stable the following January. This past July 2021, the lesions were stable but I developed more in both breasts. The radiologist came in and said everything looked benign and the more we look the more we will find. But I should continue to follow up every 6 months. Everything measured about 4-5 mm. Again birads 3. Last night I felt a distinct lump. I am lumpy but this felt like a distinct hard round smooth pea or smaller that corresponds to the area where one of the new complex cysts showed up at the last ultrasound in July. Can’t quite tell if it’s mobile. But it’s very small. I’d guess 5-6mm. But also quite firm and smooth. I’m trying to hold it together but I’m freaking out a little bc I don’t remember feeling it before. I’ve been reading forums and it seems like many women have a single complex cysts and opt to biopsy. I have two breasts full of them. Should I be pushing for biopsy? For the lump I can feel, is it possible that I could feel something that is less than 1 cm? I will note that I have lost 7 lbs or so since July (with hard work!) and I definitely lost whatever little heft I still had in my floppy breasts (I nursed extensively for years). I will obviously call my breast specialist first thing Monday.

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  • bcincolorado
    bcincolorado Member Posts: 5,758
    edited October 2021

    I am so sorry you are going through this.

    I too nursed my kids and had dense tissues. I know the waiting is hard and try to relax until Monday when you can call and see if you can get in right away for a consult. Right now I am on a 6 month follow up for similar issues with mamo on my non-cancer side with a 3D mamo and US. With my history of cancer my center reads it and does tell me at least when I am there so I know before I leave if they see anything.

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  • Rah2464
    Rah2464 Member Posts: 1,647
    edited October 2021

    Please speak to your doctor about getting a breast MRI. Extremely dense breast tissue is very hard to image and you should add this to your arsenal, especially with you feeling a distinct lump. My cancer was undetectable by 3D mammo and ultrasound due to my small but very dense breasts. Be aware that an MRI will show everything, so there may be more investigation due to it but that is why we want it.

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

    I think Rah made a great suggestion about MRI.... Glad you're calling your breast surgeon tomorrow. Maybe even request the MRI via that phone call (or message) until you can actually talk with someone about all of this in person....

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  • 920fall
    920fall Member Posts: 9
    edited October 2021

    update: I had an ultrasound today and then saw my breast specialist. The radiologist called it a complex cyst and said it was unchanged from July. He was unconcerned and told me to follow up in 3 months with my next 6 month interval. Saw my breast specialist in the afternoon and she is sending me for a biopsy. She was concerned that I couldn’t feel it previously and questioned whether it is truly a cyst. She also suggested that a biopsy would give us a better understanding of my tissue composition to assess my risk.

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