Answer: Ninety percent of women have fibrocystic changes in the breast and therefore it is not a disease. One theory is that the normal cyclic changes that the breast undergo on a monthly basis, for years, is responsible for the development of cysts. These changes generally resolve with increasing age as the breast tissue is replaced by fat.

The cause of ganglions is not always clear. Non-occupational factors or conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis have been associated with ganglion cysts. Occupational factors play also an important role in the development of ganglions. Those occupations that require workers to excessively overuse certain joints such as the wrist and fingers pose the risk for ganglion cysts.

Answer: Most women complain of "lumpy" breasts. Anatomically, the breast tissue is arranged in groups, called lobules (like the petals of a flower). These separations in the breast tissue can cause the breasts to feel lumpy. In addition, the breasts are quite nodular (lumpy) at the edges of the breast tissue. Comparing the breasts on self-examination, as well as examining in a radial or starburst pattern, should be similar.

Answer: No. While mammograms are not pleasant, they are effective in detecting 85% of breast cancer. Compression must be used to stabilize the breast, spread the internal structures, and allow the use of a lower dose of irradiation. Some tenderness may occur after mammography, which generally responds to Tylenol. To decrease the chance of discomfort, it is suggested to have mammograms after the onset of menses when your breasts are less tender.

A corpus luteum, or functional cyst, is simply a leftover follicle that has outstayed its normal lifespan. Sometimes, they continue to produce progesterone and estrogen, which may delay the arrival of the next period.

A functional ovarian cyst is caused by one or more slight changes in the way the ovary produces or releases an egg. If you are postmenopausal, you are not ovulating and rarely develop a functional ovarian cyst. But in the five years after menopause, some women still have functional ovarian cysts occasionally. It is also possible to have one that you developed when you were still ovulating.

Answer: Unfortunately, sonography does not replace mammography, even in dense breasts. Sonography cannot see microcalcifications, which is one of the findings that may be suspicious for breast cancer and can be seen only with mammography.

Answer: No. Ninety percent of women have fibrocystic changes yet only 13% of women develop breast cancer. Fibrocystic changes are considered the normal condition of the breast and therefore not predisposing to breast cancer.

Answer: In premenopausal patients, the breasts are hormonally responsive, like the uterus, and cycle on a monthly basis. The breasts increase in size and volume by 50% prior to the onset of menses. This increase in size and volume likely causes inflammatory changes causing the associated breast tenderness. Tenderness usually begins a week or two prior to the onset of menses and generally resolves within the week following menses.

Eggs grow, develop, and mature in the ovaries and then are released during ovulation, part of the monthly menstrual cycle that occurs during the childbearing years. Ovarian cysts are fluid-filled sacs that form on the ovaries when the follicles (sacs) on the ovary that contain the egg mature, but do not release the egg into the fallopian tube where it would be fertilized.

A cyst is a fluid-filled sac, and can be located anywhere in the body. On the ovary, different types of cysts can form. The most common type of ovarian cyst is called a functional cyst, which often forms during the normal menstrual cycle. Each month, a woman's ovaries grow tiny cysts that hold the eggs. When an egg is mature, the sac breaks open to release the egg, so it can travel through the fallopian tube for fertilization. Then the sac dissolves.

Watchful waiting. The patient waits and gets re-examined in one to three months to see if the cyst has changed in size. This is a common treatment option for women who are in their childbearing years, have no symptoms, and have a fluid-filled cyst. It also might be an option for postmenopausal women. Surgery.

No. A cyst is a collection of fluids. Gynecologic cysts are clinically known as Nabothian cysts and appear in the cervix. They occur when a cervical gland gets blocked and the secretions build up. These cysts are very common and don't usually cause any symptoms. Since they do not cause symptoms, they most often do not need to be treated.

Cysts are large (sometimes over 5mm in diameter), hard bumps below the skin surface. They are similar to nodules, with only one exception ? they are pus-filled. They can be painful and long-lasting. They may cause scars, especially if they are popped. In such situation they become more painful and the inflammation lasts longer than when they are left alone.

Yes. However, cysts in non-Persian cats are relatively rare, regardless of the cause. So the current theory is that almost all cysts found in Persians and related breeds will be PKD cysts. Dr. Biller will be conducting research to help establish exactly how frequently cysts are found in non-persian cats. This study should help us understand the frequency of non-PKD kidney cysts in Persians, and possibly even provide clues about how they can be differentiated from PKD cysts using ultrasound.

Cysts are just collections of fluid. They can be detected on physical examination or on ultrasound. Aspirating the fluid collapses the cyst and makes the lump go away. These simple cysts have no relationship to breast cancer that we know of. The crucial thing is to be certain that the lump is justa cyst. That is why confirming the diagnosis with ultrasound and aspiration is soimportant.

Many women have ovarian cysts without having any symptoms. Sometimes, though, a cyst will cause these problems:

Ovarian cysts cannot be prevented. Fortunately, the vast majority of cysts don’t cause any symptoms, are not related to cancer, and go away on their own. Talk to your doctor or nurse if you notice any changes in your period, pain in the pelvic area, or any of the major symptoms listed above. A pelvic exam, possibly with an ultrasound, can help determine if a cyst is causing the problem.

Functional ovarian cysts usually occur during the childbearing years. Most often, cysts in women of this age group are not cancerous. Women who are past menopause (ages 50-70) with ovarian cysts have a higher risk of ovarian cancer. At any age, if you think you have a cyst, it’s important to tell your doctor. You can find out more about ovarian cysts by contacting the National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC) at 800-994-9662 or the following organizations:

Cysts are very common and rarely turn into cancers. But it's extremely important to find out whether what you have is just a cyst or something else. If you feel a lump in your breast and you don't know what it is, have your doctor check it. Some women get what is called fibrocystic change: cyst-like changes that can appear before the start of the menstrual cycle and later shrink or disappear. These are generally harmless.

Ans. Stretch marks apparently are due to alterations in the elastic fibers of the Skin. Oddly enough, they do not occur in every one. Some women are susceptible to stretch marks with weight gain and pregnancy, while others are not.

A· Fortunately, in this surgery scars can be placed to be as inconspicuous as possible, which is very convenient in the first months. The following description of the several stages scars inevitably go through will help you gain a better understanding of the scarring process: IMMEDIATE STAGE: For the first 30 days, the scar has an inconspicuous appearance. In some cases, a mild reaction to the stitches and/or dressing may occur.

middot; A: Capsular contracture is an excessive tightening of the natural fibrous capsule (i.e. scar tissue) around the implant, causing the breast to feel hard to palpation. This problem occurs in some patients, requiring removal of the implants through the same incisions that had been made for their insertion. In the case of inflatable implants, some leakage may occur in a small number of cases, requiring their revision.