How do you do a self breast exam if you have cystic breasts?

Question

I have cystic breasts...and since this is breast cancer awareness month and I'm gettting older...I should really do one. My breasts have a whole bunch of hard lump like things called cysts. How do I distingush between them and something else? After I have a bunch of cysts and most of them are quite big. And they feel like what most would consider cancer/tumor. My doctor told me I have cystic breast a while back...so they aren't a whole bunch of tumors...but how do I distingush between the two? Or is the doctor the only one who can do that/ is she the only one who can proplerly do a breast exam on me or what? I forgot to ask her...anyone else know?

Answer 1

I also have fibrocystic breasts. The day I found out, the doctor actually found a lump that wasn't a fibrocyst (turned out to be nothing, thank goodness), so she showed me how to feel the difference. Fibrocysts change all the time and they feel kind of like they're suspended in fluid. Lumps you need to worry about are the ones that are stationary, they don't really move when you push on them, and the one I had was harder than the fibrocysts.

Answer 2

You will need to do exams regularly and become familiar with your own breasts. The cysts you have may fluctuate in size a little throughout your cycle (maybe do a few during the month to see how this changes for you) but would not have any major changes. They will remain in about the same place and feel about the same. You should contact your doctor if you feel a major change in your normal cysts or if you find a new one. And, of course, have your mammograms and other annual exams done regularly so the doctor can keep an eye on this situation, too. (If your doc has a picture of the normal cysts it would be easier for him to spot something out of the norm for you).

Answer 3

Women with fibrocystic tissue have an even more challenging time detecting suspicious breast lumps, because we always have lumps. The best thing is to keep checking your breasts monthly. Though there will always be benign cysts, they will usually be in the same place, and they tend to fluctuate with the monthly cycle. So do your monthly exam at the same time each month. If there are any changes, alert your doctor. Your OB/GYN should do a breast exam with your annual checkup. Also, get yearly mammograms if you are over 40, or earlier if there is a history of breast cancer in your family.

Answer 4

if it's been a while since your last exam...you should have your doctor check you again. Then ...if doc is not concerned... you can begin doing regular exams on your self. Start immediately after your appointment...really get a good sense of what normal is for you. That will make it easier for you to notice anything "new" or "different" in the future. Continue with the self exams once a month...preferably right after your period ends ( there is less swelling of the breasts and cysts at this time)
You need to know the feel of your breasts like the back of your hand.

Answer 5

Perform your self-exam a few days after your period. The fibrocystic changes in your breast should be smaller at this time due to the lower concentrations of hormones in your body.