# Mrs. Septimus has a cyst

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-septimus-has-a-cyst/595072>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [September 3, 2011, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-septimus-has-a-cyst/595072 "2011-09-03T17:00:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-septimus-has-a-cyst/595072/1 "2011-09-03T17:00:32Z")

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A few days ago my 39-year old wife noticed a lump in her breast. Naturally she and I became worried. She normally ignores me when I recommend consulting a physician, preferring to consult village old women for ancient herbal remedies! :dubious: But with the lump she plunged into action, visiting several doctors and eventually the two best private hospitals in our region.

She had an ultrasound and a mammogram and the diagnosis was … “just a cyst.” That was a happy day!

(I’m not specifically asking for medical advice, but good advice would still be appreciated. Would it be a wise precaution to show the US and Mammogram pictures to another doctor for 2nd opinion? Is there some complication or need for follow-up we should know about?)

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**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-septimus-has-a-cyst/595072/2 "2011-09-03T17:34:54Z")

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Depending on where breast cysts are located (i.e. how accessible they are), they can be aspirated with a syringe and small-caliber hypodermic needle. Any fluid contents are usually discarded but can be submitted to a pathology lab for cytologic evaluation. This procedure generally eliminates a lump if it’s just a simple cyst, but it’s possible it could recur.

Her doctor(s) can advise whether this is a good idea in her case.

Glad the imaging reports were reassuring.

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**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\
**Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mrs-septimus-has-a-cyst/595072/3 "2011-09-03T21:20:41Z")

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My mother has had such cysts before and aspiration took care of them.

If the doctors you already consulted gave you good news I’d go with it, but have a regular check up in a few months. And I imagine the Mrs. will be checking herself every time she bathes, always a good thing.