Sebaceous Cyst on scalp

[DeeDeeMarie]

I am a 42 year old female who recently went for her physical and posted a question on here regarding breast cancer relating to thyroid cancer.  This is NOT my question.  Since I am now taking such an active part in my health (hopefully NOT too late), my question is this.  Approximately ten years ago I was diagnosed with a sebaceous cyst on my scalp.  I didnt give it much though since I trusted my doctor.  Over the past several years, I find it is getting larger and it does NOT seem to be mobile, which Im told sebaceous  cysts are.  Could this be cancer After all of these years?  I cant get an apt. with my dermatologist for two weeks so I thought that maybe til than someone can put my mind at ease.  Thank you in advance.

[tiffers777]

A related discussion, What is going on with my head? was started.

[S35]

A related discussion, Sebaceous Cyst Removal was started.

[larrykp]

A related discussion, cyst on the scalp was started.

[Jay200]

A related discussion, A Sebaceous Cysts Story was started.

[Keeski]

I have had Sebaceous Cysts on my scalp since I was a teenager.  Every 6 months or so, I go into my family physician and he makes a tiny incision w/ a scalpal after numbing the spots.  He usually gets a sac (hard formed) that is off white in color and shaped like a kidney bean.  They all have tested back from pathology as nothing and I keep getting them cut out.  My doctor does not have to shave the spot that he cuts, he usually puts two stitches in each one and then in 7-10 days I have him pull the stitches out.  Very simple.  

I have often wondered why I get them and no one else in my family?  Can I prevent them?  Tried to dig one out on my own one time... BAD IDEA!!!!

[BabbleMonkey3]

Hi, I am wondering about my sebaceous cyst as well.  It's buried under a lot of hair on my scalp.   I am concerned about a few things.  First of all, I want to know exactly how serious this is.  It doesn't hurt now, but I don't want it to continue to grow so that it will start causing me pain.  I can't see it, I can only feel it, but my mother has looked at it, and made me go see a doctor.  I have known about this for months, maybe even a year, but I didn't know what it was and just thought it would go away.  I am wondering if I need surgery for this.  If I do, I am nervous because I have slight paranoia about going through serious pain and infection during and post- surgery.  Also, do they have to shave a lot of my hair?  My bat mitzvah is in a few weeks and I would like to have all of my hair on my head.  But the cyst is starting to annoy me a little and may grow to hurt.  Please tell me, someone, how much it hurts and how much hair I would have to lose.

Thank you