Breast cancer or cyst? How to know what you have

Women deal with several health issues. Some benign, while others can cause life-threatening complications. Breasts are an integral part of a woman's body, with many functions. But it is also prone to illnesses. Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in women worldwide. However, it is mostly asymptomatic or can be mistaken for other non-cancerous conditions, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment. So how do we know what we have? Is it cancer of the breast or just benign cysts?

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Breast cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the breast. It occurs when cells in the breast grow uncontrollably and form a mass or a tumour. While breast cancer is most common in women, it can also occur in men, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Early diagnosis plays an important role in cutting down mortality rate. Breast cancer can spread when the cancer cells get into the blood or lymph system and then are carried to other parts of the body, explains ACS.

According to the Mayo Clinic, breast cysts are fluid-filled sacs inside the breast. They are hormone-driven and often occur because of normal hormonal fluctuations that take place in a woman’s body during her menstrual cycle.

As opposed to breast cancer, breast cysts are non-cancerous and benign. It may often feel like a grape or a water-filled balloon. It can also feel firm. Most breast cysts do not require treatment and go away on their own. Only when the cyst becomes large and painful, it needs to be examined and treated.

Most cases of breast cancer are asymptomatic. This means that it does not cause any pain or discomfort. As compared to breast cysts, breast cancer lumps are usually painless. Breast cysts on the other hand develop fast and can cause pain. Certain symptoms may also help differ between the two.

In case of breast cyst, lumps can increase in size especially before a period, the lumps are usually soft, your breasts may be sore and the symptoms will lessen or go away entirely.

Breast cancer symptoms can lead to changes in the nipple, dimpling of the skin on the breast, changes in shape and size of the breast, firm breast lumps, skin changes on the breast or nipple, such as redness, dryness, or flaking.

A sudden lump in the breast can alarm anyone. But it is crucial to know what it is. A misdiagnosis can lead to wrong treatment, which might not work very well for the patient. This is why an imaging test or a breast ultrasound can help diagnose your condition. While breast cancer should be treated as early as possible, breast cysts need treatment only if they are large and painful. In this case, aspiration with a needle to drain the fluid can relieve symptoms.