Breast Cysts Symptoms & Diagnosis

Symptoms

• Multiple lumps (cysts) in both breasts that cycle with menstrual periods
• Cysts may produce no symptoms or cause pain (mastalgia) and tenderness
• Although at any given time a fibrocystic lump may be difficult to tell apart from a cancerous mass, its rapid disappearance and reappearance helps distinguish this condition from breast cancer

Diagnosis

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. There are generally only two concerns that arise from these symptoms:

• Are you uncomfortable?
• Do you have breast cancer?

Tests may include the following:

• Mammogram (x-ray of the breasts)
• Needle aspiration of a lump
• Excisional biopsy of a suspicious area

It is important to note that mammograms alone cannot reliably distinguish between a benign cyst and a cancer. A lump that does not show significant monthly changes must be evaluated by other means. One of these means is aspiration (see below).