Many women have encountered such a problem as a breast cyst. A photo of this neoplasm allows us to understand the reasons for the excitement about this disease of the weaker sex. Given the fact that this problem cannot be called very rare, it is worth paying attention to and understanding what the possible consequences are and what constitutes an actual treatment.
What is this about
Before talking in detail about the cyst, it makes sense to decide what it is. This term is used to describe a cavity that is located in the mammary gland and is filled with liquid contents. It can not cause inflammation, and, therefore, there is no discharge of pus in such a problem either.
The breast cyst often appears in young women and disappears after the completion of menopause. Such a pathology can be disturbing for a longer period of time in the case of hormone replacement therapy.
The size of the cyst can be completely different - from a few millimeters to 2 centimeters. During palpation, it manifests itself as a formation that has a flat surface and medium density. In relation to neighboring tissues, the cyst can be defined as inactive.
Sometimes the appearance of such a neoplasm in the mammary gland may not have obvious signs. Negative sensations will be reduced to soreness and a slight burning sensation in the chest area before the onset of menstruation.
Breast cyst - is it dangerous?
Such a question arises immediately after the discovery of such an entity. Fortunately, the answer does not carry extremely negative predictions: the cyst does not pose a threat to life. But this does not mean that this problem can be ignored.
It is worthwhile to understand that if the cavity formed is left unattended, then over time there will be a risk of infection entering the liquid. This, in turn, will lead to suppuration with all the ensuing consequences. It is necessary to take into account the possibility of overgrowth of the cyst, as a result of which the mammary gland can be deformed. We can not ignore the following information: according to some doctors, a cyst in the chest area can ultimately lead to the development of a cancerous tumor.
Therefore, trying to answer the question: “Is a cyst in the mammary glands dangerous?”, You need to understand that in the future you can encounter very unpleasant consequences if you do not affect this problem. But you should not be afraid, because with current technologies, such formations are detected at the earliest stages and are neutralized without any problems. The main thing is not to ignore professional diagnostics.
Reasons for the appearance
A breast cyst is a problem that occurs due to several factors. The most important of them is hormonal imbalance.
Here is the time to remember an increase in estrogen levels. This problem can occur for several reasons:
- constant stress and significant nervous tension;
- thyroid disease;
- inflammatory diseases related to the genitourinary system.
There is every reason to expect the appearance of a cyst when using hormonal contraceptives for a long period of time (with a large number of pregnancies, breast operations and mastitis).
As for the process by which a breast cyst is formed, then it has a fairly simple algorithm. The structure of the gland itself includes 15 lobes of glandular tissue. These shares are divided into smaller plots, responsible for the production of milk both during gestation and in the period after childbirth. Milk enters the nipple from a special "reservoir", and initially it enters through special channels. Sometimes some parts of the tissue can grow so much that the ducts are blocked. This moment is the beginning of the formation of a cyst in the mammary gland. The reasons for this proliferation were discussed above.
How are the symptoms manifested
Sensations can vary greatly, depending on where exactly the cyst is located and what dimensions it has. Small formations can actually not cause discomfort and are detected by the doctor during the next preventive examination. If there are several cysts, they grow and become a cause of deformation, then it will be difficult to not notice them, of course. In this case, the following complaints can be heard from patients:
- pains that were temporary turn into permanent (relevant for round cysts);
- deformation of the mammary gland ;
- heaviness in the chest and tightness are felt immediately before menstruation, in a few days.
It is also worth knowing the symptoms indicating inflammation and suppuration:
- change in the temperature of one breast, the appearance of heat in a particular place;
- general signs of intoxication (malaise, fever) make themselves known;
- pain appears in the sternum and spread beyond the breast;
- on the skin there is redness and cyanosis;
- axillary nodes increase.
Types of entities
It should be understood that a breast cyst can have several types. First of all, we are talking about single and multiple formations. Moreover, it is possible to enlarge several chambers, which divides the cysts into multi-chamber and single-chamber. Atypical formation is called if the capsule has proliferation from the inside. But this classification is not limited to. Other forms are possible:
- Solitary . This formation has an elastic consistency and a rounded shape.
- Fat . This species is fixed in the sebaceous glands and often becomes the cause of inflammatory processes. The positive side of this formation is that it does not affect the lactation process.
- The duct . Often faced with such a diagnosis are women who are in the premenopausal period. If the ductal cyst is not understood, then there is a risk that over time it will develop into a tumor, moreover, malignant.
Diagnostic Methods
Obviously, it is a bad idea to ignore a problem like a cyst in the mammary glands. It is dangerous to leave a potential cause of suppuration or a malignant tumor in the body. Therefore, with the first symptoms, you need to be diagnosed.
The first and simplest technique is professional palpation. An experienced doctor will be able to detect small formations. Breast ultrasound or mammography will help clarify the situation.
In the event that the accuracy of the diagnosis is still doubtful, it is worth doing an MRI of the breast. If necessary, the doctor can take a biopsy. A test fence is necessary in order to accurately determine the nature of education.
Breast cyst: treatment
It is possible to effectively influence this problem if the patient's condition is completely clear to the doctor. Therefore, before prescribing specific procedures, the endocrinologist and gynecologist jointly determine whether the patient has a violation of the endocrine glands and genitals. Correction is made only after the cause of the hormonal imbalance is clarified.
If the education is small, then the choice can be made towards conservative therapy.
The essence of the traditional treatment of cysts is to use a fine-needle puncture, through which a cavity is punctured, followed by fluid extraction. As the next stage, sclerotherapy can be called: in the cavity of the mammary gland, which is already freed from the fluid, funds are introduced that contribute to the obliteration of the cyst.
After all the procedures are completed, the patient will have to observe a mammologist and constantly examine her breasts. For these purposes, as a rule, ultrasound is used. Such measures avoid re-formation of the cavity with the liquid inside.
Surgical intervention
Surgery is a method of acting on a cyst that is used when absolutely necessary. Surgical treatment may be relevant if the formation contains bloody forms of fluid or is large.
Multiple or multi-chamber cysts are also sufficient reason to recall a scalpel. There are other reasons why surgery may be prescribed:
- the presence of an atypical type of epithelium in the growth cavity;
- a cancer that has been recorded earlier in history.
With these two factors, a sectorial breast resection is performed, as a result of which the cyst is completely removed. At the end of the operation, the surgeon imposes a cosmetic suture, which after the rehabilitation period will be virtually invisible. The fact of the operation will not adversely affect breast-feeding and milk production.
Alternative techniques
If a cyst was detected in the mammary glands, folk remedies should not be taken as a full-fledged treatment. Initially, it is better to abandon the idea of solving a similar problem yourself. But in addition to the prescribed treatment, with the permission of a qualified doctor, you can pay attention to several proven recipes.
- You need to take a few pieces of beets, boil them, peel, and then chop, using a coarse grater. After taking 200 g of still warm slurry, add 2 tbsp. l vinegar (9% will do). Compresses are made from the resulting mixture, which must be used for two weeks.
- Attention should also be paid to melted butter and celandine. They must be mixed in a 1: 1 ratio and rubbed on the area of the breast that bothers. This ointment is left on the body for 3-4 hours, after which it is washed off.
- Hypericum infusion. Another good way to influence education in the area of the breast. Dried St. John's wort (25 g) is poured with hot water (0.2 l) and then cooled to a warm state. Next, you need to dip a swab in this decoction and attach it to the problem area of the chest.
Do not forget that the treatment of breast cysts with folk remedies is a method that makes sense to use in the absence of access to professional medical care. In addition, effective treatment is possible only with proper diagnosis.
Contraindications
There are things that in the presence of cysts are strictly prohibited. For example, you do not need to try to massage the area where the formation appeared in order to squeeze the fluid through the nipple. It is also worth protecting the chest from any damage and hard exposure, so it is better to refuse linen with bones for a while.
The limitations do not end there. If a cyst was discovered in the mammary glands, the symptoms of which are quite obvious, then so far you have to bypass saunas, solariums and beaches.
The essence of the prohibitions is that significant thermal exposure increases the risk of a cyst becoming a malignant tumor. This principle is also relevant for thermal physiotherapeutic procedures.
Conclusion
As a result, it is worth recalling that the cyst itself is not dangerous. But if you ignore and eventually launch this problem, you can encounter extremely unpleasant and even serious complications. Therefore, if obvious symptoms of formation in the area of the mammary gland become noticeable, you should immediately go to the doctor.