Where are breast cysts usually located?

Breast cysts may be found in one or both breasts. Signs and symptoms of a breast cyst include: A smooth, easily movable round or oval lump that may have smooth edges — which typically, though not always, indicates it’s benign.

Can you feel a breast cyst?

Cysts can feel either soft or hard. When close to the surface of the breast, cysts can feel like a large blister, smooth on the outside, but fluid-filled on the inside. When they are deep in breast tissue, cysts will feel like hard lumps because they are covered with tissue.

Do breast cysts go away on their own?

Simple breast cysts don’t cause any harm and sometimes even go away on their own. If the cyst is uncomfortable, your healthcare provider can drain the fluid from it with a needle biopsy. However, the fluid could come back. If it returns and continues to be painful, you may need surgery to remove it.

Can a doctor tell if a breast lump is a cyst?

A healthcare professional can determine whether a lump is a cyst or tumor. A simple ultrasound scan placed against the skin will allow the healthcare professional to see whether the lump appears solid or hollow and filled with fluid. If the lump is fluid-filled, it may require no treatment at all.

Are breast cysts painful to touch?

Cysts are fluid-filled, round or oval sacs within the breasts. They are often felt as a round, movable lump, which might also be tender to the touch.

How do I know if I have a cyst or a lymph node?

The difference between lymph nodes and lumps is that the lumps are typically movable, soft and feel sore and/or painful. You might even observe some skin reddening where the lumps originate. Swollen lymph nodes appear very fast, but breast cancer lumps grow a lot slower.

What causes breast cysts to hurt?

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.