Breast Cyst Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Breast cyst are related to lumps that appear in the breast. A woman should be vigilant if she finds a lump in one or both breasts.
However, there is no need to worry too much. Most breast lumps experienced by women are generally benign, one of which is a breast cyst.
Breast cysts are lumps that are actually sac-shaped and filled with fluid. It is benign, will go away on its own and does not require special treatment.
In fact, all women can experience these breast cysts, but the risk increases at the age of 35–50 and menopausal women who receive hormonal therapy.
Symptom
Breast cysts can cause several symptoms, such as:
- A rubbery lump with a firm edge
- May be accompanied by clear or brown discharge from the nipples
- Breast pain around the lump
- The size is slightly enlarged and more painful closer to menstruation
- The size is reduced and the pain subsides after menstruation
Reason
Breast cysts are associated with the appearance of cystic sacs in the breast. When viewed further, the structure in the breast resembles a grape which has glandular sacs.
These sacs are partitions whose function is to produce breast milk when a woman is pregnant and breastfeeding. Breast cysts occur when these sacs are filled with anything other than breast milk.
Why can the filled bag be filled with liquid, until now there has been no definite explanation. Some experts speculate that cysts occur due to the influence of hormones that regulate menstruation. However, what is clear is that breast cysts are benign and do not increase a woman’s risk of developing cancer in the future.
Diagnosis
Roughly speaking, a lump in a breast cyst is similar to a lump due to other types of tumors. These lumps can be rubbery or solid. Therefore, further examination is needed to determine the diagnosis of breast cysts and rule out other possibilities such as breast ultrasound.
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Breast Ultrasound
On an ultrasound of the breast, it will be seen whether a palpable lump on physical examination is filled with fluid or a solid mass. If the contents are liquid, chances are that the lump is a breast cyst.
However, if it turns out that the lump contains a solid mass, the possibility of the diagnosis is not only a breast cyst. There is still the possibility of other tumors or it could be that the lump is cancer.
Therefore, for lumps that are solid in nature, doctors generally recommend a biopsy. A biopsy is done by taking a small amount of tissue and then examining it under a microscope.
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Cyst aspiration
Actually, breast cysts that are small and not bothersome do not require special therapy in their treatment. However, if the lump is large and gives complaints such as pain, then you can aspirate or remove the fluid in the cyst using a small needle. As soon as the fluid is successfully removed, the lump will disappear and the complaints will decrease.
Treatment
Breast cysts do not require special treatment. The lump will disappear and appear along with a woman’s menstrual cycle. However, if the lump is quite disturbing, breast cysts can be removed by aspiration or fluid collection and surgery.
Prevention
Although it cannot be prevented, breast cysts can be detected quickly through the BSE (Breast Self-Examination) method. This examination can be done at any time by touching both sides of the breast up to the armpit.
If a lump is found, immediately do a self-examination so that the cause of the lump is immediately identified and appropriate treatment is given.