I have a couple of cyst in my breast with a little leakage from the nipple, generally when i'm working is when i notice it. eight years ago i had a cyst that was drained and then grew, the doctor again tried to drain it but couldn't get anything to come o

A : A cyst in the same breast as your original cancer is of some concern. Are you still in contact with your original breast surgeon? Have you had any other studies done? I can sympathize with your desire to have this surgically resolved, but surgery in irradiated tissue has a higher risk of complications. I would contact a surgeon specializing in breast cancer.

Given : Given your past history, i can certainly understand your worries about simply draining these recurrent cysts. However, i suspect your doctor also has concerns, a principal one being the difficulty of performing surgery on a breast that has previously undergone radiation therapy and whose lymph nodes have been removed. (radiation and lymph node removal cause changes that interfere with wound healing, circulation, and immune function in your breast tissue). Even though this surgery could be performed if necessary, you might have some difficulty healing afterward, and your risk for a postoperative infection is higher. Talk to your doctor about your apprehension. A fuller explanation of his/her intentions and concerns could allay some of your fears. Weigh the options surrounding your situation (repeated cyst aspirations, surgical removal of the cysts, or even mastectomy). If you decide to drain the cyst, rather than remove it, your doctor can arrange a schedule of repeat ultrasounds, mammograms or even MRI to help reveal suspicious changes that would prompt more aggressive surgical management. I hope things go well for you.