What are the consequences of severe breast cysts?

If breast cysts are not discovered and treated in time, they may cause infection, enlargement or degeneration. In severe cases, they may damage the breast tissue structure and even significantly affect the quality of life. Serious consequences can be effectively avoided through regular examinations, early diagnosis and reasonable treatment.

1. Risk of infection

If a breast cyst is invaded by bacteria, it may become infected, which will manifest as local redness, swelling, increased pain, and even fever. In this case, antibiotic treatment may be needed to reduce inflammation. For example, commonly used antibiotics include amoxicillin, levofloxacin, or sensitive drugs selected for specific bacteria. If the infection forms an abscess, surgical incision and drainage may be required, and antibacterial treatment may be used to control the condition if necessary.

2. Cyst enlargement and compression symptoms

When breast cysts grow larger, they will compress surrounding tissues, which may cause persistent pain, breast deformation and other problems. Especially when the cyst is close to the nipple, it may interfere with the nipple's excretion function and even cause fluid overflow. In this regard, puncture and drainage can be used to extract cystic fluid to relieve pressure, and medication can be used according to individual conditions. Common medications include oral contraceptives (such as drospirenone and ethinyl estradiol combined tablets) to regulate hormone levels.

3. Potential pathological changes

Breast cysts are usually benign lesions, but some patients may have atypical hyperplasia of cyst wall cells, increasing the possibility of breast cancer. In this case, imaging examinations (such as breast ultrasound and mammography) are needed to monitor the nature of the cyst, and biopsy is performed to confirm the pathological results when necessary. If a malignant tendency is found, surgical removal of the lesion may be required, combined with radiotherapy or chemotherapy for further intervention.

4. Psychological stress and impact on quality of life

Long-term breast cysts may cause patients to feel anxious about their health, increase their psychological burden, and even affect their daily life and work. Patients are advised to relieve stress through psychological counseling and appropriate exercise (such as brisk walking or yoga), while maintaining a healthy lifestyle, avoiding staying up late and mood swings, and reducing factors that worsen breast cysts.

Regular physical examinations are the key to preventing and treating the serious consequences of breast cysts. When cysts develop symptoms or grow rapidly, you should immediately seek medical attention to assess the risks and develop a reasonable treatment plan. Through scientific treatment and management, the negative physical and psychological effects of breast cysts can be greatly reduced, and a healthy life can be better guaranteed.