Breast cysts

I just got home from taking care of my 49 year old daughter that had a breast cyst that was "sore" and after a lot of going back and forth between doctors, surgeons, radiologists, it was decided to remove it.  She is NOT yet on HRT, but the surgeon that finally removed it said pathology told her it was just about to turn cancerous and was very glad that she got it out before she starts HRT....so my opinion was if something is SORE, it should be your right as a patient to have it removed, cancer or not, you should not have to live with constant soreness.

I'm 76, Karen, and I took Premarin until I had a lumpectomy for "clustering of calcifications", the radiologist had been following me for 10 years,  The lumpectomy was such a huge area, I went to a plastic surgeon and had a bilateral breast reduction done so I would be "even".  The pathology came back LCIS, lobular carcinoma in situ, I was sent to an oncologist and she recommended I take a drug similar to Tamoxifen and of course, had to immediately stop HRT.  I declined the medication instead am just being monitored yearly with a 3D mammography, her opinion is it shows her as much as an MRI would. She said given my age, it reduces the chances of cancer spreading only 15% so I am just being "monitored".  I am not sorry I took HRT for the 20+ years that I did.  Since I stopped it, I have had depression, night sweats, and other symptoms of menopause, but I have no choice but to live with them given my diagnosis.  After 4 years, the symptoms of menopause are somewhat better...less night sweats and for awhile I took Celexa to battle the depression, but it is now under control so I no longer take that.  Anything with breast issues always seems scary but with the current treatment, I have confidence that the doctors are treating patients more aggressively than they use to.  I think to me, it sounds like your doctor is on top of your situation and would refer you to a surgeon if need be.  Breast cancer is not the scary diagnosis that it once was if a patient keeps up with their mammograms and I would suggest to everyone out there to find a hospital that has the 3D imagery equipment.  It saved my sister's life, she did have invasive cancer but was caught early thanks to the 3D Mammogram. 

I'm not advocating anyone stay or go on HRT if they aren't comfortable with that.  For me it was an easy decision because my mother, now age 97 took them for over 30 years and kept her healthy, I think,  Now been off of them for 10 years, but still alive and we're grateful...NOT saying the HRT was the reason she's still alive...but she did well on them with no side affects.  There is so much controversy about taking them, but a person has to do what they feel is right for them personally and be comfortable with their decision.  Just stay on top of your cysts with your doctor's guidance and keep up on your mammograms, like I said, I really do advocate for the 3D imagery if you have a hospital near you that offers that.  My daughter had the 3D image done in Seattle and it's a big city with lots of options for GOOD health care.  Her doctor finally recommended that she see a surgeon and have the cysts removed because they were so painful and afterward, the path report said they were they type of tissue that is "pre- cancer" and was happy that she had taken the cyst our for my daughter, who is 49 and not yet on HRT...but I am recommending she go on them for at least the first 10 years of post menopause...and then slowly wean off by taking the lowest dose possible every other day and then extending that to a longer time frame.  You really do have to find a doctor who will work with you on that because they seem to all have different opinions about it.  Good Luck and hope you have a successful outcome.