What does it mean to have a benign cyst?

Question

My mom just found out she has three benign cysts on her liver. What exactly does this mean? Could they turn malignant? What can she do about the pain that these cysts are causing her? She won't give me details because she's afraid to worry me, but I really want to know how bad this could get. Does anyone out there have experience with this? Any help would be very much appreciated.

Answer 1

Benign cysts are just that. Benign, as in friendly. They are not malignant, not cancerous. This is good news. They are unlikely to become malignant. There are several types of hepatic cysts and neoplastic cysts are rare. As far as her pain, she can request an analgesic from her doctor if she doesn't already have a prescription for one. A treatment approach depends entirely on the type of cysts she has.

Sit her down and tell her you're already worried. She needs to share this with you instead of keeping you in the dark about it. That causes more worry. I realize she's trying to protect you but you sound to me like you can take it. Tell her that and tell her you love her and want to help in any way you can.

Answer 2

Benign Meaning

Answer 3

Benign means not cancerous.
Malignant means cancerous.

A cyst is a non cancerous growth. They are usually fluid or fat filled 'lumps'. They can be painful or not. Liver cysts are sometimes called Hepatic Cysts and are quite common.

It depends on how much pain and other problems they are giving her as to whether they remove them. They may remove them as a precaution to ensure they are definitely not cancerous. Often they can tell by using a fine needle into the cyst to take a sample to test for cancerous cells.

She needs to talk to her doctor about her options in regard to pain relief and the plan for treatment.
As they are currently they will most likely not cause any further problems except pain. Sometimes they are treated by injecting them with a type of antibiotic substance (using an ultrasound to guide them) which causes them to shrink or disappear.

Hope this helps.

Answer 4

No they will not turn malignent...................... Cysts explained


A cyst is an abnormal pocket of fluid, like a blister, that can form in many different areas of the body including the skin, genitals and internal organs. A cyst can vary in size from a tiny sac right up to a heavy bag containing litres of fluid. The common symptom is localised swelling, but a cyst may or may not be painful. Sometimes, depending on the cause and location, a cyst contains semi-solid or solid material. The typical treatment for any cyst is surgical removal and a routine test for cancer, even though most cysts are benign. All unusual lumps need to be professionally investigated.

A range of causes
Most cysts form for no apparent reason. Some of the known causes of cysts include:

Blocked ducts, which cause a build-up of fluid
A cellular defect
An impact injury that pops a blood vessel
A parasite.
Different cysts
Some of the different types of cysts include:
Arachnoid cyst - the arachnoid membrane covers the brain. A baby may be born with an arachnoid cyst. It is caused by the arachnoid membrane doubling up or splitting to form an abnormal pocket of cerebrospinal fluid. This can be treated by surgical drainage if necessary.
Bartholin’s cyst - the Bartholin glands are situated inside the vagina. A cyst occurs if the ducts become blocked. Treatment includes surgery and antibiotics.
Breast cyst - these cysts are usually painful and need to be drained with a needle. There is some evidence that breast cysts might indicate an increased risk of breast cancer.
Cystic hygroma - occasionally, a baby is born with a small cyst or bursa. This birth defect can be corrected with surgery.
Hydatid disease - a small tapeworm forms cysts in the liver or lungs. The tapeworm eggs are spread by contact with infected dogs, their faeces or anything contaminated with faeces such as soil. Treatment includes surgery and drugs.
Ovarian cyst - most are benign, but can grow to such a size that the woman looks pregnant. In some cases, the cysts are cancerous. Treatment includes surgery.
Pilonidal disease - a cyst, sometimes containing an ingrown hair, forms in the skin of the lower back. Pilonidal cysts can grow in clusters and sometimes create a hole or cavity in the skin. Treatment includes draining the cyst or surgical removal.
Sebaceous cyst - the skin is lubricated by sebaceous fluid. This fluid can build up inside a pore or hair follicle and form a hard lump filled with thick, greasy matter. Treatment includes drugs, draining the cyst with a small needle, or surgical removal. Sebaceous cysts are common on the face, back, scalp and scrotum.
Medical diagnosis is important
All unusual lumps need to be investigated. Some cysts are cancerous and early treatment is vital. If left untreated, benign cysts can cause serious complications including:
Infection - the cyst fills with bacteria and pus, and becomes an abscess. If the abscess bursts inside the body, there is a risk of blood poisoning (septicaemia).
Peritonitis - if an internal cyst bursts, there is a risk of peritonitis, which is inflammation of the membrane lining the abdominal wall

Answer 5

Cyst/tumor are all the same, they differ form malignat to benign. Your mother is lucky to have the benign one, which grows but doesn't kill.

Benign cysts/tumors tend to grow or stop growing at all, aside from it overgrowing your insides, it shouldn't worry you at all.

Malignant are the killers, which your mother doesn't have, these cancers/cysts grows everywhere and it kills you.

In that case talk it up with your doctor, if it's operable then go operate it.

Sorry about your mother though

Answer 6

Get Ovarian Cyst Miracle!

Answer 7

A benign cyst just means that it is non-cancerous and probably quite harmless, filled with fluid or cells.

Answer 8

benign cyst means that it is easily treated. In other words no biggie. My cousin had them when she was 17, it's veryy easily treated but does cause discomfort.

Answer 9

Well, benign means non threatening or non harmful, but I'm not entirely sure if they could turn malignant, but if they cause her pain she should go to the doc where she could probably get a small dose of Vicodin or Morphine.

Answer 10

A benign tumor is a non cancerous tumor and they do not usually (if ever) turn into cancerous onces. Benign tumors are actually not that uncommon.