I recently found a huge area of thickening in my right breast at 11 o'clock. My doctor did an ultrasound and he found four cysts, too small to aspirate. He didn't seem too concerned about the area of thickening. He told me to follow up in one month and keep checking it. I had a great-grandmother who had breast cancer. Should I be more concerned about the thickened area in my breast?

--Angela

If the ultrasound was normal and the doctor did not feel anything worrisome on exam, you may rest easier. However, as I always say, if you are really worried, get a second opinion. In this case I would recommend seeing a breast surgeon.

Having a great-grandmother with breast cancer does not increase your risk of getting breast cancer. For women who have no other risk factors, the lifetime chance of developing breast cancer is one to eight. By the way, lifetime risk means that if there are eight 95-year-old women in a room, theoretically one will have breast cancer.