cyst?

[shubunkin]

I posted about a week ago about a dime size lump that is about 2 inches below my breast. I have had it for around 7 years. It is semi-firm and very movable. My husband accidentally dug his finger into it about 2 weeks ago and it turned very sore to the touch and about a week later it had increased to about quarter size. It has remained at that size for a week and has a purplish red ring around it. Like bruising. It is squishy. Do you think this is a cyst and how long will it take to go down? It had done this exact thing before about 5 years ago when I was sqeezing around on it and irritated it. Thanks!

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear shubunkin, It sounds more like the area was bruised, it could be a lipoma (fatty tumor), or cyst that had some bleeding into it (hematoma) but I couldn't say for sure.  As it has been there all of this time, and injury has provoked the change it is less likely to be a serious problem.  However if it is not healing and you are concerned ask your doctor about it with your next appointment.

[surgeon]

it likely won't go down; it's most likely either a sebaceous cyst (oil gland cyst) or a lipoma (fatty tumor.) Neither would go away on their own. It's a very minor procedure to remove it under local anesthesia.