mass or cyst?

[bevvzy61]

I am 54 years old. 10 years ago I found a small breast lump. I panicked. had an ultrasound and was told was a simple cyst. had heaps apparently. I asked what will be the point of breast examination then as I will always feel lumps. they told me that I should always report a lump anyway. I stopped self exams as was useless. I had an accident 4 years ago and am now a paraplegic.  as I can't stand at all I can't have a mammogram.  so it's been about 6 years since my last one. yesterday I accidently found this thing?? it's more like a large area/mass? it feels very different to the cysts I had. they would slip away from my fingers if I tried to find them  really round like peas. this is hard to tell how big as it doesn't feel round and is on an angle maybe as I can't find all the edges. my guess about 3cm but maybe larger.i am a bit worried as it doesn't move under my fingers like the cysts did but I don't want to make an idiot of myself. there is no discomfort at all. as said it was large enough to find by accident. how can you feel the difference between a cyst and a cancer?

[japdip]

First of all I must say that not having a mammogram because you have multiple cysts is VERY foolish indeed. Your excuse now about not being able to stand is not really valid either as there are other tests that are done every day to investigate questionable breast lumps that don't require standing.  I would advise you to see your Dr. or a Breast Specialist ASAP to have this new lump evaluated. To answer your question about how to tell the difference between a cyst and cancer is Biopsy and only Biopsy. I might add that there are other benign findings (masses) that occur in the breast in addition to cysts. Please see someone for the appropriate testing as soon as you can and in the future there is no reason that you can't have routine Ultrasounds to check on the status of the cysts or whatever may be new in the breast tissue.  Regards ..