Lots Of Breast Cysts! Very Scared
Lots Of Breast Cysts! Very Scared Hello.
I’ll just give you a bit of history before I explain what I have. I would like to know if anything I’ve done could have made my situation worse and what I could to maybe cope a bit better. I found my first small lump a few years ago when I was due my period and it went afterwards. Because of that I thought that it was nothing more than the normal lumpy feeling I had in them before and during my period anyway. That was about 2 and a half years ago. Around 6 months ago my breasts would get tender at any time of the month, sometimes all through and the lumps were more feelable, I also had a terribly painful shooting pain that went straight through my left breast but never in my right. I also noticed that my right breast was a different shape, it sagged a bit more and that it was noticeably bigger than my left. By that time I started getting scared and tried going to the doctors a few times but when it came down to it I was so scared I wouldn’t even bring it up during consultation. A few days ago I had the shooting pain in my right breast and it was so painful that it took the breath out of me. I finally decided to go to the doctors and I’ve been diagnosed with breast cysts…alot of them. I have lots of small ones in both of my breasts and one large, extremely painful one in my right breast which will need to be aspirated. Have they got so bad because I left them? or would they have gotten so bad anyway? When I do have the cyst aspirated will my breast look a wierd shape or will it just be smaller? Will the large cyst come back? I know I should have asked my doctor but I didn’t know what to say when she told me. I knew there was something wrong but I was too scared to have it confirmed. Whenever I am alone I think about it and I cry, I’m so scared even though they aren’t threatening it’s just knowing that there are so many things in them that shouldn’t be there. I know alot of women get them and probably have them so I was wondering is there any way I could possibly cope with this better because I can feel it bringing me down and the last thing I need is to be depressed and scared of having the aspiration. My doctor mentioned scans and tests I’ll need to have done, she said they may do a mammogram but she’s not sure because of my age, that’s scaring me alot too. I’m worried that they may find other problems or be looking for them. I know I may be making a big deal out of something that can be easily sorted but I’m more worried about them finding anything else in there. Any advice would really really be appreciated. Thanks for reading…I hope to hear from you soon.
Keri
For Keri Dear Keri
Hi, this must be worrying for you but you are doing the right thing by asking for information. As you have already found out breast cysts are a common and benign breast problem which many women have. If you would like more information on breast cysts and on any tests you are may be offered then we have a factsheet at breastcancercare.org.uk//docs/cysts_0.pdf.
Breast Cancer Care does offer some one-to-one advice services which I would encourage you to access as they will be able to talk through your various concerns one at a time.
You can call the helpline on 0808 800 6000
Monday to Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 9am-2pm.
If you would prefer to correspond by email you can contact our Ask the Nurse email service by going to
breastcancercare.org.uk/content.php?page_id=119 on the site.
Best Wishes
Moderator
Breast Cancer Care
Hello! Hi Keri
Join the party! We’ve all felt scared, weepy, depressed, confused… you name it and it must be doubly hard for you being so young. First of all, make yourself a brew, sit yourself down and do something nice for yourself. You are going through hell and the last thing you need to do right now is beat yourself up for not taking action sooner. We all do that. You are not alone.
Let’s see if anything can be done to put your mind at rest. I’ve got a history of cysts, single ones mostly and most of them big enough to need to be aspirated by needle. It has never hurt to have them drained, but we are all different. They use local anaesthetic these days if they think it might be difficult to reach them. One of mine was so large it filled two huge syringes and there was no breast distortion afterwards. I’ve currently got a cyst too small to drain. Nobody is bothered about it (except me!). I always get niggles even after I’ve been reassured by the medics. But that’s just me! None of my cysts have ever re-filled but it can happen and if it does they aspirate it again and if it still comes back you get offered the choice of surgical removal.They’ll want to send some of the liquid off to the lab for testing and you may have to wait a couple of weeks for those results.
My understanding of cysts is that they sometimes fill up and sometimes disappear. I don’t think anyone really knows why or if leaving them over time makes any difference to them.
Your problem is different from mine in that you have lots of small cysts at the same time. By the way, how did they diagnose that?
I assume you are being sent to a Breast Clinic for your tests? BCC do some helpful leaflets for you to send off for or download. At the breast clinic they are likely to do an ultrasound rather than a mammogram because in young people the breast tissue is too dense to show up much on Xray. Ultrasound involves lying on a couch top half of you undressed and they spead a gel over your breasts then pass a camera backwards amd forwards. It’s embarrassing rather than painful. They get a picture on a screenof the tissue beneath the skin and can take hard copies for your consultant to see.
OK Keri?
Let me know if you have any more questions and I’ll try and help.
And do try the other parts of this forum - Chit Chat and Fun is good for a giggle and everyone is really friendly there.
Love and warm supporting cyberhugs fromP.xx And know that you’ve come to the right place and we’ll all be rooting for you.
Thanks! I read something another lady had submitted about a hot water bottle being able to relax your breasts but not take the pain away, I tried it and it does help. Helps me sleep too which is great. My doctor examined me by hand. I knew there was something wrong because she kept stopping and focusing on specific areas, especially the areas which were more painful 
then she got to the large one and spent at least a minute just examining it. When she finished she asked whether I had a family history of breast problems which I don’t. Then she told me what was wrong. I had alot of small ones which they probably won’t do anything about but the big one will have to be drained. I asked if there was anything I could do to perhaps stop or at least help with the pain and she told me to take normal paracetamol which did absolutely nothing. That’s when I invested in a hot water bottle which does help, plus the warmth makes me feel fuzzy lol.
Yeah I have to go to a breast clinic but my appointment is in May and the lady I spoke to said it would only be a consultation. That made me feel a bit better in the fact that they can’t be that bad or my appointment would have been alot sooner. I’m coming to terms with it now and the more I read about how common and easily treated they are the better I feel. At one point I couldn’t even look at my breasts without crying, plus I don’t know of any other 18 year old with breast cysts.
The pain has eased off a little today which I thank God for because for the last few days I couldn’t walk up and down stairs without feeling like they were hitting the floor and I couldn’t pick up or play with my daughter. I’m glad to hear there’s no disfiguration after the cysts are drained because that really scared me. I suppose I just have to come to terms with the needle now, I’ve always hated them.
Thanks for your help and advice I really do appreciate it you’ve made my day 
Love Keri xx
You’re back! Hi Keri
Glad to see your post - I always worry that I might have posted something off-putting if people disappear quietly without trace.
Have you checked out the other sites on this forum yet? You can post anywhere you like. Only there’s a 20 yr old posting on the “Have I Got Breast Cancer?” site who you might want to connect with. It can be very supportive to have someone looking at things from a similar perspective. And do join the crazy gang doing cyberspace holidays on Chit-Chat and Fun. It’s a great way to while away these winter days while you’re having to do all this waiting and waiting and waiting. May seems a helluva long way off…
The trouble with the layout of this site is that you can only read the actual posting you are replying to, so I’ve forgotten if your GP recommended you to try Evening Oil of Primrose which some people seem to find really helps - but you have to take a big enough dose on a daily basis for several months before deciding it isn’t working for you and you can’t get it on prescription as far as I know, so cost might be an issue? Boots do it in their 3 for the price of 2 range.
Another route is to try sitting quiety and using your imagination to bring the level of pain down. One way is to picture a thermometer-type machine on the wall in front of you connected to the centre of your pain and mentally let the mercury rise until it reaches your current level of pain. Then visualise a beautiful coloured liquid (turquoise is my favourite) entering the top of the thermometer and gently pushing the mercury back down until it sinks to a level at which you can tolerate the pain. Then continue until it has pushed the mercury right down to a painfree level. If you breathe easily and slowly while you are imagining this then at least it helps your body to relax and pain is much worse when you tense up. And never forget that if you are enjoying a really good giggle the only pain you’ll feel at the time is the ache in your sides!
If you switch to the Chit Chat site you’ll get lots of chances to laugh and loads more people to talk to.
Love, laughter and pain-free cyberhugs from P. xx
Hi Keri… I’m glad my suggestion of a hotwater bottle has helped…even if it just helps you get to sleep…it’s something soothing and comforting to cuddle even if it doesn’t take the pain away. I still use it especially first thing in the morning and it just helps me get started! It never ceases to amaze me why paracetamol is thought to be the answer for this sort of pain…it doesn’t go anywhere near touching it…waste of time. What helped ease my pain was something called Solpadeine Max. You can buy it over the counter, it’s not a prescription drug and it helped to take the edge off the pain. Just check with the Pharmacist when you buy it if you are on any other medication for anything else just to make sure it won’t react with anything . It has a small amount of codeine in it so make sure you don’t take more than the recommended amount in 24 hours.
I have a small cyst in my right breast which they are happy to leave be at the moment. The lump they removed just before xmas was benign and they don’t want to see me again for 6 months unless I notice any changes before then.
coming to terms with all this is the beginning of getting well. You learn to take one day at a time but it’s not easy in the beginning because you are scared, worried and want to know everything all at once! Keep cuddling that hotwater bottle , try the solpadeine max, if they agree with you and keep posting us all here as we are here for you and will support you every step of the way. If you want a bit of light relief from all this worry hop over the the Chit Chat & Fun page as you smile & laugh muscles will get a good workout !!! We are all a bit bonkers over ther but you won’t find a more wonderful group of people to help get you through the months ahead!
take care Keri and stay in touch. Ask anything you want as there is always someone here happy to help you with an answer…there is no such thing as a silly question here…just loads of cyberhugs and support!!
lol
Cathy xxxx
Hiii!! Yeah I do agree with what was said about the paracetamol, doctors say take it for almost anything and it doesn’t even do much good with headaches. I use the hot water bottle mainly in the morning and before I go to bed because I can’t wear bras to bed anymore even the net curtain type bras lol forgive my description. I’m okay with it now it’s just when the pain is at it’s worst, it really gets me down. I felt better than ever yesterday I was sooo happy I could get a bra on lol but I couldn’t even go out tonight because of how depressed I felt. My mum had a cyst when she was in her early 20’s only one small one, it went on its own and never came back but she understands how scary it is. She told meshe bruised her breast poking it and stuff because of how scared she was, always checking to see if it was bigger or smaller. My breasts aren’t that big and the large cyst I have goes more or less all the way down the side of it it’s about 4 cms long but the breast tissue will probably make it feel bigger, it’s just scary how big it feels. If I lift my arm up you can atually see it. The rest are tiny, I can feel where the big one starts and ends but the small ones are just like bumps, kinda like an orange skin or something similar lol. I’ll try the chit chat site if I can find it lol I hope so it sounds great in there. I’m really glad I came here for advice cos I made friends too so thanks to everyone who replied and I’ll make sure to keep you posted.
Love & Hugs
Keri x
Oh I Forgot! My mum told her friend about my cysts and apparently both my mums friend and her mum had them too. They told me to come off my BC pill and see if I can have a shot Depo-Provera or something because the estrogen levels are alot lower and when they were put on it their cysts went almost right away and they haven’t had them since, well not in their breasts. I didn’t realise at first that the pain did become alot worse when I started taking my pill about 5 or 6 months ago 2 months ago my right breast was twice as big as my left it wouldn’t even fit in my bra’s it was so embarrassing. I’ve read the side effects of the Depo shot and wow they’re so much worse than any other BC side effects i’ve read, it kinda scares me to be honest lol it took alot to get me on the pill i’m using now. I was wondering if anyone else who has got or has had cysts was taken off their BC. I don’t want to come off it but if I have to I suppose I have no choice. Also I was told that because I have cysts there, I may be prone to cysts anywhere else in my body! is that true? since I was told that, it’s made me almost paranoid about my boyfriend touching me If anyone knows anything bout either thing I’ve asked about I’d really love to know just to put my mind at ease.
More Love and Cuggles lol
Keri x
Another Night Owl? Hi Keri
Can’t you sleep for worrying? I do feel for you. I’m such a wimp when it comes to pain, I don’t know how you cope.
The advantage of sharing with others is that they can reassure you. The disadvantage is that they can scare the pants off you.
If I were in your shoes, I’d try and get more information from people who have a wider knowledge of cysts than just their own experience because we are all very different and our bodies behave individually. What’s relevant to them might not have any relevance to you. For example, regarding the pill, I never took it yet I have a long history of cysts. Also, incidently I’ve never had any cysts anywhere else in my body at any time - none that I know about, anyway!
Have you spoken to the nurses on this site, yet ,or emailed them? Can you go back to your doctor now that you have questions you want answers to? (Make a list first). And maybe you can push for an earlier clinic appointment? As I said before, it’s a long time to have to wait till May. You really don’t have to struggle with this on your own. Your doctor gets well-paid to look after you!
As for joining the other sites all you do is click on the name of the site in the full list provided on the screen and reply to whatever post interests you. If it makes it easier you can tell people that you are a first-time visitor to that part of the chatforum. People are so welcoming, you’ll soon feel that you’ve been here forever! I’ll post you a message on Chitchat and Fun and you can reply to that to get you started, if you like? You’ll have to do a bit of detective work because I plan to post your message attached to one of Cathy’s Tumour Humour jokes so you can get a giggle, too.
Love, laughter and courage cyberhugs from P. xx
Hi xoho… You are not alone in your apprehensiveness.
Like you I was very scared, since I have had several lumpectomys on both breasts when I was 25 and 27, then over the next several years I then gathered more and more, till there were more lumps than breasts!
However, I did have some fibroidenomas also, and leaking nipples, some lumps were really tender, even when just the shower was on them, and some were hard, soft, and moveable. I guess what ever lump was going, I got them in both boobs!!! My family history was an aunt had BC, but most of my family were with cysts or fibroidenomas, all benign. My older sister has 3 lumps just now, and they are not giving her bother just now, but her doc and her have done the needle tests etc, and decided to leave them just now but to keep an eye on them, perhaps she maybe like me.
At the age of 35 my consultant advised that I had far too much lumps, and there were some abnormal ones showing up on the mammogram and scan, but in order for him to get to them to see what they were, he would have to chop away at the lumps in front of them, and because of the discharge in the nipples, so we took the decision to have a prophylactic mastectomy with immediate reconstruction,. I am now 41, and wear two breast prosthesis as my reconstruction implants had an infection and I had to get them urgently removed last year. My nipples got removed shortly after as there was infection still present and nerve damage.
It did take a bit of time to get used to the fact I dont have a cleavage and my nipples not being there. But I really enjoy wearing my new stick on boobs, my partner who has been with me through all my problems is great, he treats my stick on boobs like my own, and comments on them being like jordan as they are a cup size bigger than what I had,.
In December last year, I got a further lump removed, they did say that it was rare to get lumps when there is no breast tissue, but as it was about the size of a grape, and sore, it also made it uncomfortable when I wore my prosthesis, he removed it, and sent it to test, I havent got my results back yet, but then I have been on holiday and noone has contacted me.
I know I might get some more lumps, but I have to be positive about it.
However I have not had any lumps anywhere else on my body.
I am here to talk to if you need me, or you can contact the support team, and I am on the volunteer support team list.
There are loads of advice and help and even tips on this website, and if it isnt there then dont hesitate to ask or put it on the postings, and someone will respond with the answer you need, or a large ear to listen to you.
take care
carol xx
Hi Keri 
Sorry to hear of your troubles.
Couple of things that helped me with the pain were:
Gel hand warmer reusable pads (I know this sounds nuts!) - you click the metal disk inside them to activate the heat, and they last several hours. You can use them over and over again. I shove them down my bra (don’t tell anyone!) and they really help! I used hotties at first, but they kind of restrict your mobility, don’t they! lol …
I don’t know if I’m allowed to paste links on here to show you what I mean, but if you put ‘gel warmer reusable’ into Google images or a search engine, you’ll see them - mine are orange. I got a pack of two for next to nothing on eBay.
Like you, I find paracetamol worse than useless for the kind of stabbing pain I have. Ibuprofen is better for me, although everyone tends to find something different is of use.
Good luck, and hope you feel better soon,
Susie
Thanks for your replies! Hi!
Sorry i havent msged for a while ive been really busy. my boyfriend and i broke up last week because of the stress i’ve been under lately, i just felt he wasn’t as involved as he said he was. since xmas i thought i was pregnant, stopped and restarted my pill which caused unbearable sexual problems and then found out about the cysts i still have the support i need at home and from all you lovely people here so it’s all good.
since i started using the solpadiene and primrose oil the cysts have changed, i dont know if this is supposed to happen or not but my boobs are alot softer most of the time even though sometimes they are as solid as they were when i found out. the large cyst in my right breast has kind of moved…i checked them when they weren’t as sore all i could feel were the smaller less painful ones and i couldn’t find the big one so i assumed it had gone or at least lost its size but… i checked again when they were sore and thats when i figured out the large one had moved. when i went to the docs it was on a diagonal in the top right of the breast but now its almost vertical, starting at the edge of the breast under my armpit and ends close to my nipple. i havent had any nipple discharge or any other changes and all in all i can say they feel alot better than they did.
i have a heat patch thing that i bought when i bought the primrose and painkillers but as of yet i haven’t felt the need to use it. my clinic appt is the 5th march so only 2 weeks and a few days to wait. i’m getting more anxious as each day passes but i thank god i can actually wear a bra most days now lol!
i hope everyone is okay! and again thanks for your replies and all of your much needed support and advice 
x
Love & Hugs!
Keri x