I had a mammogram and ultra sound as l have a lump, like a pea shape, they tell me it is a cyst, how do they really know this , l wasok with this info, but over the last few months l have started to worry again. am l being stupid.
No, you’re not being stupid.
I’ve had lots of them and asked the same question when being examined, and asked to look at the screen too because I was interested. They explained that cysts are very distinctive on ultrasound. They have a distinct outline that is of even thickness, and the inside is dark and a very even colour. They can also do something whizzy with the ultrasound machine that shows your pulse and in colour, and that’s also distinctive for a fluid-filled cyst, but I can’t remember what it looked like.
If it’s still there and you’re bothered by it, you might be able to ask if your GP can refer you back to the clinic and ask them to drain it, but be aware cysts can go away of their own accord, can refill after they’ve been drained and can appear pretty much overnight.
If you do get referred back it might take a while for your appointment as unless this is something new it probably won’t be treated as “urgent”. Urgent referrals have to be seen within 2 weeks but there isn’t the same haste for non-urgent referrals.