Fellow Boobie Bloggers (Blogathon #47)

Wanna see some other cool kids who are blogging for The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation? Give this link a click!

Cysts

Breast cysts are accumulations of fluid in the breast. Cysts are non-cancerous and typically present themselves in the form of smooth, rounded lumps. They are often moveable within the breast, although they can also appear deep within the breast tissue. While the cause of cysts is unknown, experts do know that cysts respond to the body’s hormone levels. For instance, cysts may appear a week or two before a woman’s menstrual period and disappear afterwards. Cysts are most common in pre-menopausal women, especially when they are approaching menopause. However, cysts can occur in women after menopause as well, especially if they are taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Existing cysts may also persist or enlarge in women on HRT. Some research has suggested that caffeine can cause breast cysts, although this is controversial among members of the medical community. Nevertheless, some women find that reducing caffeine consumption decreases breast discomfort.

Most women only develop one or two cysts at a time, but in some cases, multiple cysts may appear throughout the breast. Cysts are usually confirmed with mammography and ultrasound (sonogram). In particular, ultrasound is excellent at quickly identifying whether a breast abnormality is in fact a cyst or a solid mass. After the abnormality is found to be a cyst with ultrasound, it is usually left alone unless:

* The diagnosis is uncertain. Most “simple cysts” are well-defined, have distinct borders, and ultrasound signals are able to easily pass through them. However, some cysts contain low levels of internal echoes which makes it difficult for physicians to definitively diagnose them as cysts without draining their fluid. These types of cysts are called “complex cysts.” While complex cysts can appear similar to solid masses on ultrasound, they are non-cancerous.
* The cyst is causing discomfort. In some instances, cysts can be painful. Draining the cysts with a thin needle (fine needle aspiration) collapses them and reduces discomfort. Some radiologists inject air into the area after drainage to help minimize the chances that the cyst will return.

When cysts are drained, the fluid is usually discarded unless it is bloody or looks suspicious. In these cases, it is sent to a pathology laboratory for analysis under a microscope. Normal cystic fluid can be a number of colors including yellow, brown, green, black, amber, or milky.

This post is for the Blogathon 2006! I am blogging for The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. For more information about what I am doing, please click here!