2019 Paint the Paper Pink

2019 Paint the Paper Pink Lincoln Daily News October 2019 Page 65 tender to the touch. They are most often found in women in their 40s, but they can occur in women of any age. Monthly hormone changes often cause cysts to get bigger and become painful and sometimes more noticeable just before the menstrual period. Cysts begin when fluid starts to build up inside the breast glands. Microcysts (tiny, microscopic cysts) are too small to feel and are found only when tissue is looked at under a microscope. If fluid continues to build up, macrocysts (large cysts) can form. These can be felt easily and can be as large as 1 or 2 inches across. Diagnosis Most often, fibrocystic changes are diagnosed based on symptoms, such as breast lumps, swelling, and/or tenderness or pain. These symptoms tend to be worse just before your menstrual period, and may change during different stages of your menstrual cycle. Your breasts may feel lumpy, and at times you may notice a clear or slightly cloudy nipple discharge. Sometimes, one of the lumps might feel firmer or have other features that lead to a concern about cancer. When this happens, an ultrasound may be done to see if the lump is solid or is just filled with fluid (called a simple cyst). Simple cysts are not usually a cause for concern. But if the ultrasound shows the lump is solid or if the cyst has both fluid and solid components (a complex cyst), a biopsy may be needed to make sure that it’s not cancer. How do fibrosis and simple cysts affect your risk for breast cancer? Neither fibrosis nor simple cysts increase your risk of later developing breast cancer. Complex cysts are more of a concern, as there is a small chance they might contain cancer or put you at risk of cancer later on, depending on what is found at the time of biopsy. Treatment Cyst fluid doesn’t need to be removed unless it’s causing discomfort. But it can be drained by putting a thin, hollow needle into the cyst, which might be done to confirm the diagnosis. Removing the fluid may reduce pressure and pain for some time. If removed, the fluid might come back later, but cysts may also go away over time. For cysts that continue to come back and cause symptoms, surgery to remove them might be an option. Most women with fibrocystic changes and without bothersome symptoms do not need Continued n