MY BREAST HEALTH
BREAST PAIN.
SHOULD I BE WORRIED?
If you have breast pain, you are not alone. Breast pain, also known as mastalgia, is common and accounts for 45-70% of breast-related health care visits. The good news is that most causes of breast pain are benign (non-cancerous) and usually related to hormonal changes in your body or something as simple as a poor fitting bra. Breast pain varies a lot from person to person and may feel like a dull ache, tenderness, burning sensation, sharp pain, or just a sense of uncomfortable fullness.
To understand what causes breast pain and what to do about it, it is important to understand a little bit about the different types of breast pain.
Types of breast pain
There are two main types of breast pain. Cyclical breast pain changes with your menstrual cycle and typically affects both breasts. It’s usually worse the week before your period and improves afterward. You may also notice your breasts feel lumpier during this time. This is the most common type and usually doesn’t require treatment.
Noncyclical breast pain affects only one breast and isn’t related to your menstrual cycle. It can be constant or intermittent with no particular pattern. Most causes are benign, with poor-fitting bras being the most common culprit. Other causes include pregnancy, trauma, muscle strain, and prior surgery.
Although breast cancer is usually not painful, it can occasionally cause noncyclical pain in one focal spot. Because of this, noncyclical breast pain may require evaluation to determine the cause.
DENSE BREASTS
Screening mammography enables early detection of breast cancer when it’s small and most treatable. It’s the only screening tool proven to reduce breast cancer deaths. Breast density describes how your breast appears on a mammogram and is determined by the radiologist. Breasts contain fibrous and glandular tissue (which appears white) and fatty tissue (which appears black).
Dense breasts contain mostly white fibrous and glandular tissue. Mammograms are categorized into four density levels: almost entirely fatty, scattered fibroglandular density, heterogeneously dense, and extremely dense. Women with heterogeneously or extremely dense breasts are considered to have dense breasts. This is normal and common, affecting about half of all women. While breast density may decrease with age, most women see little change.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, breast pain is very common. It accounts for 45-70% of breast-related health care visits. The good news is that most causes of breast pain are benign (non-cancerous) and usually related to hormonal changes in your body or something as simple as a poor-fitting bra.
Breast pain varies a lot from person to person. It may feel like a dull ache, tenderness, burning sensation, sharp pain, or just a sense of uncomfortable fullness. The type and intensity can differ based on the underlying cause.
Cyclical breast pain is the most common type and changes with hormonal fluctuations in your body. It typically involves both breasts, affects either the entire breast or the upper outer portion, and may radiate to the armpit. Most importantly, it varies with your menstrual cycle—usually worsening during the week before your period and improving after your period starts.
Cyclical breast pain is the most common type and usually does not require any treatment or medical evaluation. However, if the pain is severe, interferes with daily activities, or concerns you, it’s always appropriate to discuss it with your healthcare provider.
Noncyclical breast pain usually involves only one breast and is not related to your menstrual cycle. It can be constant or intermittent, but it’s not associated with any particular pattern. Common causes include a poor-fitting bra, pregnancy, trauma, muscle strain, and prior surgery.
Although breast cancer is usually not painful, when it does cause pain, the pain tends to be noncyclical and usually just in one focal spot. If you experience persistent, localized breast pain, you should have it evaluated by your healthcare provider.
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