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can a cyst be diagnosed by physical examination?
by erinnjohnson, Nov 04, 2009 11:04AM
Hello, just a quick question:
I am 26, healthy but my mom passed away from BC last year at the age of 47. I have been diagnosed with fibrocystic breasts and have had them monitored very closely. In June, I had an ultrasound done of my right breast as there was a lump in the upper, inner quadrant. The ultrasound found nothing and said I had just lots of fibroglandular tissue.
In July, I noticed the same breast was very sore, in the outter quadrant. I didn't really feel anything abnormal, just lots of lumps and bumps. I had my annual physical last month and mentioned it to the doctor. She said she felt a tiny cyst in that area. She also felt several others in both breasts. She said they were all soft and very mobile and the one I was worried about was also sore. Its always sore, but it does get way less sore after my period. She said because I had just had an ultrasound a couple of months before and the fact that I have fibrocystic breasts, she wasn't concerned and to just keep an eye on them as usual. She said to be on the lookout for hard, immobile, irregular, non tender lumps.
My question is, does it seem reasonable that she was able to diagnose a cyst from a physical exam? She has been my doctor for 10 years and has always been very diligent, and followed up with ultrasounds, etc., so I do trust her. If it is a cyst, is it safe to leave it in there? Is it always necessary to have an ultrasound done?
Thanks for your advice with this, I appreciate it!
I am 26, healthy but my mom passed away from BC last year at the age of 47. I have been diagnosed with fibrocystic breasts and have had them monitored very closely. In June, I had an ultrasound done of my right breast as there was a lump in the upper, inner quadrant. The ultrasound found nothing and said I had just lots of fibroglandular tissue.
In July, I noticed the same breast was very sore, in the outter quadrant. I didn't really feel anything abnormal, just lots of lumps and bumps. I had my annual physical last month and mentioned it to the doctor. She said she felt a tiny cyst in that area. She also felt several others in both breasts. She said they were all soft and very mobile and the one I was worried about was also sore. Its always sore, but it does get way less sore after my period. She said because I had just had an ultrasound a couple of months before and the fact that I have fibrocystic breasts, she wasn't concerned and to just keep an eye on them as usual. She said to be on the lookout for hard, immobile, irregular, non tender lumps.
My question is, does it seem reasonable that she was able to diagnose a cyst from a physical exam? She has been my doctor for 10 years and has always been very diligent, and followed up with ultrasounds, etc., so I do trust her. If it is a cyst, is it safe to leave it in there? Is it always necessary to have an ultrasound done?
Thanks for your advice with this, I appreciate it!
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would be more conclusive. But, since you just had the ultrasound; and, based on the physical exam that the doctor administered, her years of experience led her to the conclusion that she gave you.
Cysts aren't usually cancerous... but, they are an abnormality.
And, I think that your concerns are well founded, since you have Fibrocystic breasts, which is a lumpy fibrous density that can conceal abnormalities within the breast tissue, along with the fact that your mother recently passed away as a result of Breast Cancer... (my condolences to you).
I would suggest that you discuss this with your doctor in more detail and voice your concerns. You may want to consider having the cyst biopsied. It would be the sure way of knowing the nature of the cyst. Given your set of circumstances, it would be the direction that I would lean towards. Good luck!