I found a lump on my breast about a week ago and went to see my doctor about it. He said that it is a cyst and to come back in two weeks for another checkup to see if it's still there. If it still is there and it has to be drained or something, does that hurt? And will this someday turn into cancer?

--Mindy

A cyst is a fluid-filled mass, usually benign (noncancerous). Cysts are pretty common, especially right before a woman has her period. They often will go away on their own after a period, due to changing hormone levels. If the cyst is still present when you return, your doctor may want either to drain it or to get an ultrasound exam to confirm that it is just a cyst.

Aspirating -- draining -- a cyst is easy and only a little uncomfortable. The doctor will cleanse the skin over the cyst and may inject lidocaine to numb the area. A needle will be used to puncture your skin and the cyst, and the doctor will drain the fluid out through the needle. The entire procedure only takes a couple of minutes. A Band-aid is applied, and you are on our way. Sometimes, if the cyst is deep within your breast or more difficult to feel, the aspiration process may be done under the guidance of an ultrasound.

The doctor will look at the fluid that comes out during the aspiration. If the fluid is clear, yellow or dark green, it is most likely benign, but if the fluid is bloody, it should be sent to a lab for analysis to make sure there isn't any evidence of cancer.