Difference Between Lumps that Identify Breast Cancer and a Cyst

By Dr. Kathleen Ruddy

Doctors suggest that each woman examine her own breasts regularly, checking for lumps and abnormalities. It can sometimes be difficult to make the distinction between breast cancer vs. a cyst. Your doctor is the one best qualified to make a correct diagnosis. However, if you understand the differences between breast cancer lumps and breast cysts, you are less likely to be concerned over any mass that you find within your breast tissue.

What is a Cyst?

A breast cyst is a small pocket of fluid within the breast, caused by normal hormonal changes in your body. Its position and size may cause you some pain or soreness, but otherwise it should have no ill effects on your breast or the rest of your body. Some women may have more than one cyst in their breast.

What are the Qualities of Lumps from Breast Cancer vs. Cysts?

You should be able to feel the edges of a cyst and move it around within the tissue. Cancer lumps are usually fixed to one place in the breast. Harmless cysts may feel squishy, like a grape or a tiny water balloon while cancer lumps are harder and firmer. Cysts often change size, swelling around the time of your period and then shrinking afterward. In contrast, cancer lumps remain the same size or grow steadily.

BY THE NUMBERS

Of women who live to age 80, one in every eight will have breast cancer at some point. In 2010, doctors predicted that 200,000 women and 2,000 men would learn that they had breast cancer. It is vital that women over 40 receive annual mammograms so that doctors can catch the cancer early enough to treat it.

How is a Diagnosis Reached?

As soon as you find a lump in your breast, contact your doctor. The doctor will perform a physical exam to locate the lump. However, a positive diagnosis is not usually possible without an ultrasound. The ultrasound shows the doctor the exact size, edges, and consistency of the mass. If the lump appears clear or mostly clear, it is usually a cyst. If it is solid and dark, it may be something more harmful. If the lump is potentially cancerous, the next step may be to insert a needle into it and remove a sample for a biopsy. The doctor might also advise immediate surgery to remove the lump, with a biopsy following the procedure to determine if the mass is benign or otherwise.

How are Breast Cancer and Cysts Treated?

A breast cyst should not pose any threat to your body. If there are too many of them, your doctor may check you for fibrocystic disease. A single cyst that causes no pain is typically left alone and may dissipate on its own over time. If the cyst is causing significant pain and discomfort, you can request to have it drained via needle or removed surgically. Breast cancer treatments are typically more aggressive and invasive in order to remove the damaged tissues.

The threat of cancer looms over each person in today’s society. Regular breast self-exams and physical checkups can help you detect problems early enough to combat any cancerous cells in your body. If you find a cyst, take a deep breath and understand that it is probably harmless. A quick consultation with your doctor and a brief ultrasound should calm any fears that you have and confirm that the cyst is a normal part of the hormonal changes within your body.

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