Breasts absolutely full of cysts (and extremely dense)

[BitterlyLemon]

I’m 52 (53 this year) and have very dense breasts (category D on the scale).

I had a mammogram which was followed by an ultrasound and an MRI as there were so many lumps, they wanted to get a better picture of them. They’ve drained some cysts but they will come back.

All the doctor can say is that in their opinion, I should have the checks every 18 months because my risk of cancer is high mainly because it’s harder to detect. I was fairly relaxed about it all till I googled and can now see that having this dense breasts gives the same risk as having a first degree relative with breast cancer! And 4-6 times the risk of those with less dense breasts.

Is anyone else in this situation? I have so many lumps, I genuinely can’t tell by feel whether they are suspicious or not and whether they are new as I have so many.

I have been permanently baffled by this, because my breasts are super lumpy. They have fat round the outsides but the middle is all lump. I have always just assumed I'll somehow notice something different or that it will be a smoother lump rather than a lumpier lump or something. Definitely a bit of a mystery to me. I also had no idea that that meant I had a higher risk of breast cancer but I'm not old enough to be in mammogram territory yet.

I have dense breasts and lots of lumps. My consultant told me I don’t have a higher risk of cancer but I should have an ultrasound and mammogram every year or so because dense breasts can make it harder to identify lumps.

So my experience is that ultrasounds can detect the type of bump to the millimetre even in very dense breast.. If you have had an ultrasound are you worried they will miss something?

Same here OP. I also have a genetic predisposition to breast cancer so I have annual MRIs and mammograms. My best advice is to check your breasts regularly so you know which lumps are new.
Over the years I've been told evening primrose oil and cutting out caffeine helps but not sure if it's true.

I have breasts like this as well, have a diagnosis but can’t remember the exact term. I’ve had two ultrasounds in last decade for suspicious lumps but they have always been cysts or fibrous cysts. Last time the consultant tried to explain how cancerous ones would be different- he said they would be fixed instead of movable under the skin and that they would be a different texture? I still can’t really get my head around it. I have one large fibroid on one breast that was checked out twice and found to be fine but it is large at the moment. I also have a new one in my other breast but it is painful to touch and goes up and down with my cycle so fairly confident it is a cyst. I have been thinking I should probably get checked out again however as it has been a few years. If you are getting regular mammograms now I think they will be able to pick anything up that is concerning. The risk is probably higher before you reach that regular check stage as it’s hard to tell what is normal and what is a cancerous lump.

Watching as i'm in a similar situation! I have mentioned to a doctor relative and they've just said I should flag lumps for mammograms as much as I want to be extra cautious

I am the same, had first mammogram last week and awaiting the inevitable call back. Also have family history alas

I suppose it’s just the worry that I won’t find the suspicious lump because I wont be able to find it amongst all the other lumps. I need to pay for the checks in between the NHS ones but I’m fine with that.

@Hiptothisjiveit was more because even after the ultrasound they wanted to do the MRI as they weren’t 100% confident they had identified all the lumps. I guess it is better to be safe than sorry!