Its a Cyst!

[Becky]

It’s a cyst. Nothing showed on mammogram and I have easy to do breasts (not dense). The radiologist on call is the one my surgeon says is the best and he told the ultra sounder that she wouldn’t find anything. I could still feel the cyst but I admit, it was considerably smaller than on Sunday. The ultrasound did show a 8mm cyst that even the radiologist was blown away that I could feel (but I am a good self examiner according to my surgeon). According to the radiologist and looking at all the old pix, that cyst has always been around but since I only examine once a month, it was probably never big enough to feel as they fill and deflate during other times. There is another 1mm one about ¼ inch from the one I felt. I see my onc Thursday morning (probably because he thinks he will be the one to tell me the good news – but I forced it out of the technicians and wanted to see the radiologist) so I already know. My big question to my onc (and I will let you know what he says - which will be more interesting to the ER+ women on the board than the ER- ones) is – cysts come and go due to fluctuating hormone levels in the body BUT I had my ovaries removed and I am on Arimidex so is the Arimidex really working? (I have occasionally had my estradiol run and it is fine but the lab uses a cut off of 30ug so I don’t know if it is 29 or 5 and it may move from high to low within this “postmenopausal range”. I might discuss a change to Femara or Aromosin because of this episode. If anyone out there has any ideas or info – especially Lani, I would be very interested in hearing it.

In the meantime, your prayers, thoughts and concerns about me meant more than you will ever know and the good karma worked! I love you all.

[hutchibk]

YIPPEE Skippy! Give it name and buy it a drink! LOL

[Carolyns]

Great news!!!

[Margerie]

Happy CystsDay to You!!!!!! So happy you got good news. And stop trying to feel the 1 mm one- because I know you are!

And let me know what your onc says about the fluctuating hormones. Sometimes I feel fluctuating, LOL. No breast tissue left, but I don't have many menopausal symptoms.

[RhondaH]

Now GO shopping and by you a "relief" present:) Take care and BIG huggs.

Rhonda

[Jean]

I am jumping for JOY for you!
Now do go shopping and you know what to buy.

Love Ya,
Jean

[Jean]

Brenda,
I love your humor - I needed a good chuckle.
Thanks,
Jean

[Sheila]

Becky
RELIEF........glad its nothing to worry about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CELEBRATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Joe]

FANTASTIC and then some !!!!

Joe and Christine

[PinkGirl]

YA WHO MOUNTAIN DEW..........

:) :) :) !!!!!!!!!!

[sarah]

Great news!
sarah

[Andrea Barnett Budin]

LET'S ALL CHEER FOR BECKY'S CYST! That's the best news! Filled w/fluid, no biggy. (I have one they keep visualizing in my R kidney, which gives me a gasping pain if I twist around in the car to talk to someone in the back seat.) Now, is that cyst hormonal, or only the breast cyst? Just wondering out loud...

When the 2nd and 3rd radiol read my scans back in '99 (w/the 1st giving exact dimensions of my ev 8 wk shrinkage of ea of my multiple tumors throughout my liver) #2 and #3 (independent of one another) said -- I'M NOT SURE WHAT I'M LOOKING AT ARE TUMORS. THEY APPEAR CYST-LIKE, FILLED W/FLUID! Yes, I am a big fan of CYSTS vs other unwanted *lesions*!

HURRAY, FOR YOU BECKY. Congratulations on your cyst(s). Way to go... Thanks for sharing your life w/us. I love your posts! And your attitude!
BIG HUGS,
Andi

[Mary Jo]

Not only did that news make your day HUGE it made mine HUGE as well. Couldn't think of much else today but you dear Becky and prayed through out the day. I am Praising The Lord as I type this note.

Hey Becky, I look at you and me kind of in the same boat - we're part of that early stagers group and wondering how we'll do with the herceptin we received. We are not getting this crap again - NO Way - No how - SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO - NO more scares like this - alright????? Only teasing ya - but of course you know that.


YAHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO YAHHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Mary Jo

[KRISS]

YEAAAAAHHH!!!! So glad to hear the good news. Rest easy.

[IRENE FROM TAMPA]

for that cysts....

I am so happy it is nothing more then a cysts Becky -

C E L L L L LAAAAA BRAY SHUN TIME IS HERE....

[Believe51]

Oh My Friend I have been thinking of you. I have been so busy I really miss the site. Yeahhooo!! Now you can rest a little easier, this will be today's joy for me and you too!! Let me know if you will be in town next month and not BUSY(yeah right) I would love to give you a giant hug... Love Ya Becky>>Believe51

[Cynthia]

Becky,

I am so happy for you and your "girls." Looks like they got a much needed reprieve.

Congratulations.

Cynthia

[Patb]

Congratulations Becky. Who knew one day we would all be so happy
to have a cyst. Go celebrate!!!!
patb

[Chelee]

Becky, Whooo Hooo girl...such WONDERFUL NEWS. You know we are one very select *special* group of women that could get so excited about the results of a cyst. :) Other women that haven't been through what we have would think we were all crazy. lol

I am SO HAPPY for YOU. On another note...I would LOVE to know your secret to getting the technicians to spill the results. I have tried every thing to get them to give me even a hint of what was found...but they always smile and say "You know I can't do that". I've made jokes and you name it trying to PRY it out of them...but it never works. So darn girl..your good! One very talented lady. Again...I am just thrilled you got such great news. I can only imagine your relief.

Chelee

[Lolly]

Whew! Big, big sigh of relief! So happy for you, but I don't have any wisdom to offer re the hormone thing, as am er/pr- myself. But great, great news!

<3 Lolly

[Brenda_D]

I'm so happy for you. :)

I know I had my GP feel every little lump and bump in each breast, a couple months back. I understand the anxiety.

[DonnaD]

Becky,
What great news. You have made my day. Can't wait to meet you in San Antonio.
Donna

[kareneg]

Amen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[caya]

Becky - I am so happy for you! Great news, go celebrate for sure... I think some kind of chocolate is in order for sure!!

all the best
caya

[Barbara2]

That's great news, Becky!! It sure seemed that it was likely a cyst, but we all know how scary and worrysome something like this can be until we find out for sure. What a relief...Congrats!

[Mary Anne in TX]

Another well deserved VICTORY! Love that!!!!!! Congratulations!

[lilyecuadorian]

Becky I was thinking about you the whole day ..and said to myself as soon I get home I got to check her2 quicky I need to know about Becky ...waht a relief thanks God ...is just a cyst

[Linda]

YES!!!
Linda

[Barbara H.]

I love to hear news like this. I am so happy for you.
Barbara H.

[dhealey]

Wonderful news. Great to hear good news once in a while!

[chrisy]

That's the price of being so diligent - sometimes you get false alarms. SOOOO glad to hear it was nothing!

[tricia keegan]

Becky I can't imagine happier news to get in that scenario and big congrats and phew's to you!!

[Vanessa]

So glad to know it is just a cyst!!!! Great news.

[fullofbeans]

Really happy for you too!! I cannot help regarding the significance of actually still having a cyst ( I am Er-) but your questionning of your current Er blockers sounds well founded.

[Liz J.]

Hey Becky,

I knew you would be OK. Thank God.

Sincerely,

Liz J.

[Grace]

Becky,

So happy for you! Great relief for you, and for all of us.

[SusieQ]

I have been thinking about you! Thank you for the update. Great news!!!!

[Soccermom]

Wooo hooooieee doing a happy dance for you Becky!

BIG hugs,marcia

[sassy]

Yea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Patricia]

Great news Becky!!! I am sure you are feeling much relieved!

Celebrate and enjoy the day!!!

Hugs, Patricia

[Esther]

Woohoo!!! What great news! Nice when it turns out to be something benign and not cancer related.

[Karen W]

Great news!!!!! Celebrate!

Karen

[Leslie's sister]

congratulations Becky!
I think the entire Her2 support group is celebrating with you!!!

[Lani]

my first impression was that hormones other than estrogen can influence cysts and my second was that aromatase is only one of 3 enzymes responsible for turning androgen like substances into estrogen like substances

(the other two seem to be inhibited by tibolone, a drug used to treat menopausal symptoms in Europe, which is not available in the US)

A quick check of PUBMED affirmed my impression--here are a few of the abstracts listed:

1:
Burch JB, Walling M, Rush A, Hennesey M, Craven W, Finlayson C, Anderson BO, Cosma G, Wells RL.
Related Articles, Links
Melatonin and estrogen in breast cyst fluids.
Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2007 Jul;103(3):331-41. Epub 2006 Oct 24.
PMID: 17061046 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
2:
Stricker T, Navratil F, Forster I, Hurlimann R, Sennhauser FH.
Related Articles, Links
Nonpuerperal mastitis in adolescents.
J Pediatr. 2006 Feb;148(2):278-81.
PMID: 16492444 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
3:
Enriori PJ, Vazquez SM, Chiauzzi V, Perez C, Fischer CR, Gori JR, Etkin AE, Charreau E, Calandra RS, Luthy IA.
Related Articles, Links
Breast cyst fluids increase the proliferation of breast cell lines in correlation with their hormone and growth factor concentration.
Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2006 Jan;64(1):20-8.
PMID: 16402924 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
4:
Bellemare V, Faucher F, Breton R, Luu-The V.
Related Articles, Links
Characterization of 17alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity (17alpha-HSD) and its involvement in the biosynthesis of epitestosterone.
BMC Biochem. 2005 Jul 14;6:12.
PMID: 16018803 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
5:
Rahman N, Davenport M, Buchanan C.
Related Articles, Links
Galactocele in a male infant with congenital hypopituitarism.
J Pediatr Endocrinol Metab. 2004 Oct;17(10):1451-3.
PMID: 15526725 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
6:
Boccardo F, Lunardi GL, Petti AR, Rubagotti A.
Related Articles, Links
Enterolactone in breast cyst fluid: correlation with EGF and breast cancer risk.
Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2003 May;79(1):17-23.
PMID: 12779078 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
7:
Costarelli V, Sanders TA.
Related Articles, Links
Plasma deoxycholic acid concentration is elevated in postmenopausal women with newly diagnosed breast cancer.
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2002 Sep;56(9):925-7.
PMID: 12209383 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
8:
Stanosz S, Blicharczyk-Zalewska B, Wilk G, Kubisa M.
Related Articles, Links
[Relationship between estrogen, progesterone, total testosterone, androstenedione, and epidural growth factor in blood and breast cyst fluid]
Ginekol Pol. 2002 Jun;73(6):523-8. Polish.
PMID: 12185717 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
9:
Maeda Y, Tanaka E, Fujiwara M, Watanabe R, Furusawa H, Matsu T, Nakahara H, Nanba K, Higashi S, Setoguchi T.
Related Articles, Links
Accumulation of 4- and 5-ene steroid sulfates in human breast cyst fluids.
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2002 Jul;81(3):249-53.
PMID: 12163136 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
10:
Maeda Y, Kamimura R, Higashi S, Namba K, Tanaka E, Iwamura T, Setoguchi T.
Related Articles, Links
A simple, accurate, and sensitive assay method of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate: application for quantitative determination in human breast cyst and duct fluids.
Steroids. 2002 Apr;67(5):333-8.
PMID: 11958788 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
11:
Gizienski TA, Harvey JA, Sobel AH.
Related Articles, Links
Breast cyst recurrence after postaspiration injection of air.
Breast J. 2002 Jan-Feb;8(1):34-7.
PMID: 11856159 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
12:
Elsadig RE, Reimann K, Yip CH, Lai LC.
Related Articles, Links
Inhibition of oestrone sulphatase activity in the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line by breast cyst fluid from Malaysian women.
Anticancer Res. 2001 Jul-Aug;21(4A):2693-6.
PMID: 11724341 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
13:
Ruibal A, Nunez MJ, Piqueras V, Rabadan F, Lapena G, Schneider J, Tejerina A.
Related Articles, Links
[Human gonadotrophic hormone (HCG) in benign breast cyst fluid. Association between type I and type II biological activities]
Rev Esp Med Nucl. 2001 Apr;20(2):156-8. Spanish. No abstract available.
PMID: 11333827 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
14:
Budai B, Szamel I, Sulyok Z, Nemet M, Bak M, Otto S, Reed MJ, Purohit A, Parish DC, Kralovanszky J.
Related Articles, Links
Characteristics of cystic breast disease with special regard to breast cancer development.
Anticancer Res. 2001 Jan-Feb;21(1B):749-52.
PMID: 11299838 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
15:
Budai B, Szamel I, Sulyok Z, Nemeth M, Bak M, Kralovanszky J, Otto S, Besznyak I, Purohit A, Parish DC, Reed MJ.
Related Articles, Links
Influence of hormonal status of patients with cystic disease on the composition of cyst fluid and breast cancer risk.
Anticancer Res. 2000 Sep-Oct;20(5C):3879-86.
PMID: 11268470 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
16:
Bicikova M, Szamel I, Hill M, Tallova J, Starka L.
Related Articles, Links
Allopregnanolone, pregnenolone sulfate, and epitestosterone in breast cyst fluid.
Steroids. 2001 Jan;66(1):55-7.
PMID: 11090659 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
17:
Raju U, Sepkovic DW, Miller WR, Dixon JM, Bradlow HL, Levitz M.
Related Articles, Links
Estrone and estradiol metabolism in vivo in human breast cysts.
Steroids. 2000 Dec;65(12):883-8.
PMID: 11077086 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
18:
Erbas H, Lai LC.
Related Articles, Links
Effect of transforming growth factor beta 2 on oestrogen metabolism in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line.
J Clin Pathol. 2000 Apr;53(4):322-4.
PMID: 10823131 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
19:
Enriori PJ, Hirsig RJ, Vico CM, Etkin AE, Negri JC, Enriori CL.
Related Articles, Links
Effect of natural "micronized" progesterone on the chorionic gonadotropin concentrations in cyst fluids of women with gross cystic breast disease.
J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2000 May;73(1-2):67-70.
PMID: 10822026 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
20:
^^^^^^


17 HSD is one of those two other enzymes, the other is a steroid sulfatase
Progesterone may be responsible for your cysts

I am hanging on on very few hours sleep...so sorry I didn't make more sense, or add more to the discussion

Will see when I next have a chance to pursue this further

Hope this helps!

[hutchibk]

Even when traveling, Lani keeps us informed and educated! Her work is never done! Awesome.

[KellyA]

Becky,

I am so happy for you. What terrific news, and what a relief!! I hope that your week finishes even better and with far less stress. YEA!!!!!!!!

Love, Kelly

[tousled1]

Becky,

What wonderful news! Just goes to reinforce how imortant it is to do self exams!

[MCS]

I could not check site yesterday ,so today I am so relieved to hear the news. I can see your smile from here.

XOXO

MCS maria

[MJo]

This is great news. Now have some fun.

[Emelie]

Soo glad it is just a Cyst! Made my day.
Emelie

[Catherine]

Becky,

So happy for the good news.

Catherine

[Debra]

Very Relieved As Well Becky!!!