•	About Breast Cancer
•	Breast Self Exam
•	Breast Lumps
•	Breast Cysts
•	Breast Pain & Injury
•	Caffeine
•	Hormone Replacement
•	Nipple Discharge
•	Local Support Groups

Breast Cysts

In some women the female hormones can cause balloon-like pockets of fluid to be trapped in the breast tissue. This is sometimes referred to as fibrocystic disease, or cysts. These can be felt as lumps, which do not turn into cancer, but which can sometimes feel like a lump formed by cancer. This makes BSE and your doctor's examination more difficult. Cancer can develop elsewhere in the cystic breast, just as it can develop in any woman. Since the lumps caused by cysts make it difficult to perform physical examination, your doctor may order mammography if you have cystic disease, to see if a cancer is hiding behind some cysts.

Often, your doctor can extract the fluid from these cysts with a small needle. Surgery isn't necessary in most cases, but sometimes needs to be performed in order to be certain that a small cancer is not also present nearby. The cysts tend to get worse as you approach menopause, particularly if you skip periods. Fortunately, after menopause, when there are fewer female hormones, fibrocystic disease should stop and the breasts will become easier to examine. However, certain medications prescribed by your doctor may cause the cysts to continue.

Cysts are most likely to occur between the ages of 40-50, but can occur at other ages. Also, mental stress and worrying can make the fluid retention worse. Discontinuing coffee, tea, cola and chocolate can sometimes cause these lumps to disappear. Although caffeine should be stopped for at least two months to be fully effective, improvement in breast pain and lumps is sometimes noted in as few as two or three days. Stopping caffeine may not get rid of fibrocystic disease entirely, since irregular periods and mental stress can also be associated with cysts, but it usually takes the edge off the worst of the cystic activities. If the cysts are unusually lumpy and painful, it's sometimes necessary to stop drinking even decaffeinated coffee and tea, because the decaffeinating process can't eliminate all the caffeine without removing the flavor. About 10% of the caffeine remains. It may be necessary to use caffeine-free substances such as herbal teas, or caffeine-free colas, which have no caffeine at all.

This page is intended as an educational resource only. It is not a substitute for professional care. Please see your physician if you have any concerns about your own health.

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