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Need some advise / had mammogram
I am 42 yrs old and have been having mammograms done yearly since 2007. Everything has always been normal (the only thing is last year they found a small simple cyst on rt side) Nothing to worry about.
I had a routine mammogram on 3/11/11. I received a letter in the mail saying that they needed further imaging. I called my OB asking why and he said that the interim report stated that a small mass was found in the upper middle third of right breast. I went back today and they took two more images on right side and then an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed another "cyst", which to me looked black on the screen, smooth edges, oval/round. Except this time they said that this cyst shows a small amount of debris and they want to follow up in 6 months. The radiologist is the one who made this determination and decision. Should I be worried since there is a tiny bit of debris ---- should I insist on getting it aspirated and tested? Why wait for 6 months? I really need some advise.
By the way--No family history
I had a routine mammogram on 3/11/11. I received a letter in the mail saying that they needed further imaging. I called my OB asking why and he said that the interim report stated that a small mass was found in the upper middle third of right breast. I went back today and they took two more images on right side and then an ultrasound. The ultrasound showed another "cyst", which to me looked black on the screen, smooth edges, oval/round. Except this time they said that this cyst shows a small amount of debris and they want to follow up in 6 months. The radiologist is the one who made this determination and decision. Should I be worried since there is a tiny bit of debris ---- should I insist on getting it aspirated and tested? Why wait for 6 months? I really need some advise.
By the way--No family history
Sorry to hear you've been going through such a rough time!
Since the radiologist just recommended short follow-up, that should be fine. As zouzi indicated, cancer is rare in a complex cyst.
However, some people prefer a biopsy to be sure.I f you are concerned, it wouldn't hurt to consult a breast surgeon.
Regards,
bb
Since the radiologist just recommended short follow-up, that should be fine. As zouzi indicated, cancer is rare in a complex cyst.
However, some people prefer a biopsy to be sure.I f you are concerned, it wouldn't hurt to consult a breast surgeon.
Regards,
bb
UPDATE:
My OB just called me and said that he already received the report from the radiologist. Wow, I was impressed that they did the report on the same day. Anyways, the report says that the cyst that was there last year is still there and is a 9mm simple cyst with no change. Now there are 2 additional ones that are "complex" cysts, one is 4mm and the other is 5mm.
The report still says for follow-up in 6 months. I really am interested with anyone who has more expereince in this. Would you go to a breast specialist and get this followed up much sooner????? Please help. I am quite nervous. I have been through sooooo much the past 6 months. I'm getting over open heart surgery because I had to have a mitral valve repair. My emotions have been through some difficult times.
I thank you for answering my post.
My OB just called me and said that he already received the report from the radiologist. Wow, I was impressed that they did the report on the same day. Anyways, the report says that the cyst that was there last year is still there and is a 9mm simple cyst with no change. Now there are 2 additional ones that are "complex" cysts, one is 4mm and the other is 5mm.
The report still says for follow-up in 6 months. I really am interested with anyone who has more expereince in this. Would you go to a breast specialist and get this followed up much sooner????? Please help. I am quite nervous. I have been through sooooo much the past 6 months. I'm getting over open heart surgery because I had to have a mitral valve repair. My emotions have been through some difficult times.
I thank you for answering my post.
I would suggest you ask whether the radiologist diagnosed this as a complicated cyst or a complex cyst. (If it is actually a complex cyst, it may be difficult to aspirate fluid from it, and a biopsy or excision may be indicated.)
A SIMPLE cyst is never cancer and will never become cancer. It is just a water balloon filled with fluid.
A COMPLICATED cyst is never cancer and will never become cancer. It is a water balloon filled with gunk, sometimes old blood, sometimes just debris. These are usually followed for a while to make sure it's not changing. If it changes, then it wasn't a complicated cyst to begin with, but just looked like one. So if it changes, it was either solid, or a complex cyst.
A COMPLEX cyst is also fluid filled but has solid structures (walls or septations) within the cyst. They can be more difficult to aspirate since areas of fluid may be separated into compartments. The issue with a complex cyst is whether the solid components are of any concern. Often a complex cyst will be biopsied, because there can sometimes be an intracystic cancer.
A SIMPLE cyst is never cancer and will never become cancer. It is just a water balloon filled with fluid.
A COMPLICATED cyst is never cancer and will never become cancer. It is a water balloon filled with gunk, sometimes old blood, sometimes just debris. These are usually followed for a while to make sure it's not changing. If it changes, then it wasn't a complicated cyst to begin with, but just looked like one. So if it changes, it was either solid, or a complex cyst.
A COMPLEX cyst is also fluid filled but has solid structures (walls or septations) within the cyst. They can be more difficult to aspirate since areas of fluid may be separated into compartments. The issue with a complex cyst is whether the solid components are of any concern. Often a complex cyst will be biopsied, because there can sometimes be an intracystic cancer.
Hi,
In the vast majority of cases,a complex cyst is not of significance(Cyst with debris). It's highly rare to have cancer in a cyst, and in the cases that it occurs, the cyst walls tend to be thick and irregular, which can be noted on ultrasound. Also, there tends to be dense tissues surrounding the cysts. So when an otherwise normal-appearing cyst has debris, it's generally not something to get concerned about. The alternative to waiting for a followup in 6 months, is to have an ultrasound-guided aspiration -- meaning guiding a needle into the cyst and sampling the fluid. If it's going to make you worry too much for the next six months,I think you should consider it and talk to your doctor about it. The danger of waiting, statistically speaking, is extremely low. You could also ask your doctor to consult, preferably with a Breast Specialist.
Take care and best wishes...
In the vast majority of cases,a complex cyst is not of significance(Cyst with debris). It's highly rare to have cancer in a cyst, and in the cases that it occurs, the cyst walls tend to be thick and irregular, which can be noted on ultrasound. Also, there tends to be dense tissues surrounding the cysts. So when an otherwise normal-appearing cyst has debris, it's generally not something to get concerned about. The alternative to waiting for a followup in 6 months, is to have an ultrasound-guided aspiration -- meaning guiding a needle into the cyst and sampling the fluid. If it's going to make you worry too much for the next six months,I think you should consider it and talk to your doctor about it. The danger of waiting, statistically speaking, is extremely low. You could also ask your doctor to consult, preferably with a Breast Specialist.
Take care and best wishes...
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