Many times when you go for an annual physical exam and the doctor informs you that you have a breast cyst, or sometimes you feel a lump in your breast and get a Breast Ultrasound, the doctor says it is a breast cyst, not a tumor. So, what exactly are these cysts?
Getting to Know Breast Cysts
Breast cysts (Breast Cyst) occur because, during each menstrual cycle, the hormones estrogen and progesterone are produced to prepare the body for pregnancy. Besides ovulation and the thickening of the uterine lining, the breasts also undergo changes such as the growth and expansion of milk ducts and milk glands. This causes the milk ducts in the breast to swell and expand, secreting clear fluid to lubricate the ducts without producing milk. When fertilization does not occur, hormone levels drop, the uterine lining sheds as menstruation, and the milk ducts and glands in the breast shrink. The main causes of breast cysts are:
- The milk ducts do not fully shrink, for example, the front and back of the duct shrink but the middle remains swollen and expanded, forming a cyst.
- The milk glands stimulated to grow near menstruation produce some fluid that becomes trapped inside the gland, forming a breast cyst.
3 Types of Breast Cysts Identified by Breast Ultrasound
- Simple Cyst
- Complicated Cyst
- Complex Cyst
3 Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do breast cysts have a chance of becoming cancerous?
A: Breast cysts, or cysts, if they are simple cysts containing fluid, mostly do not become cancerous. If there are no symptoms, no treatment is necessary.
Q: Is it true that being over 40 years old increases the risk?
A: The exact cause of cyst formation is unclear, but hormonal changes are believed to contribute to an increased number of cysts, especially after the age of 40. The number and size of cysts tend to increase and then decrease until they disappear several years after menopause.
Q: If I have a cyst, do I need treatment?
A: Cysts can cause pain, but if there is no pain or symptoms, no treatment is necessary. However, if the cyst is symptomatic and large, such as causing breast pain, it is often drained by aspiration, which usually improves symptoms. About 50% of cysts disappear completely after aspiration and do not recur, but the other 50% may return. If symptoms persist, aspiration can be repeated 1-2 times. If pain or lumps continue or if there is concern, doctors generally recommend surgical removal. There is also another type of cyst called a Complicated Cyst or Complex Cyst, which means the cyst contains not only fluid but also solid tissue inside. These cysts require tissue examination to determine whether they are cancerous or not.
