Breast Pain or Mass          [Return Home]

Breast Pain Names

Pain - breast; Mastalgia; Mastodynia; Breast tenderness

Breast Pain Definition

Breast pain involves any discomfort or pain in the breast, such as premenstrual tenderness.

Breast Pain Considerations

There are many possible causes for breast pain. For example, hormonal fluctuations related to menstruation or pregnancy are often responsible for breast tenderness. Some degree of swelling and tenderness just before your period is normal. The question is how tolerable (or intolerable) the discomfort is to you.

Although many women with pain in one or both breasts understandably fear breast cancer, breast pain is NOT a common symptom of cancer.

Boys and men have breast tissue. If a male has breast tissue that is visible, this is called gynecomastia. As a normal part of development, adolescent boys can have some breast swelling and tenderness. Like breast tenderness in women, this is due to hormonal changes.

Breast Pain Common Causes

Some degree of breast tenderness is normal, caused by hormonal fluctuations from:

	Menstruation
	Pregnancy -- tends to be more common during the first trimester and pregnancy at a young age
	Puberty -- in both girls and boys
	Breast feeding
	Approach of menopause (once your menstrual periods have stopped completely, breast tenderness often goes away unless you are taking hormone replacement therapy)

Soon after childbirth, your breasts may become engorged with milk. This can be very painful and is usually accompanied by swelling. If you also have an area of redness, call your health care provider.

Other common causes of breast pain include:

	Fibrocystic breast changes
	Mastitis -- a blocked and infected milk duct that may have some redness, usually associated with breastfeeding
	Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
	Alcoholism with liver damage
	Injury

Fibrocystic breast tissue is a common condition. It involves breast lumps and bumps throughout the breast tissue that tend to be more tender just before your menstrual period.

Certain medications may also cause breast pain, including digitalis preparations, aldomet, aldactone and other potassium-sparing diuretics, anadrol, and chlorpromazine.

Shingles can lead to pain felt in the breast if the painful blistering rash appears on the skin over one of your breasts.

Breast Pain Home Care

For tips on how to manage pain from fibrocystic breasts, see breast lumps.

Talk to your doctor about possibly taking birth control pills. These can help relieve pain.

If you have a breast infection, you will need antibiotics. Look for signs of infection like localized redness, nipple discharge, or fever. Contact your doctor if you have these signs.

Just after an injury to the breast occurs, apply a cold compress such as an ice pack (wrapped in a cloth -- don't apply directly to the skin) for 15 to 20 minutes. Take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen to reduce the likelihood of developing persistent breast pain or swelling.

Call your health care provider if

Call your doctor if you have:

	Discharge from your nipples, especially blood or pus
	Given birth within the last week and your breasts are swollen or hard
	Signs of a breast infection, including localized redness, pus, or fever
	Noticed a new lump associated with the pain that does not go away after your menstrual period
	Persistent, unexplained breast pain

What to expect at your health care provider's office

Your health care provider will perform a breast examination and ask questions about your breast pain, such as:

	How long have you had the symptoms?
	Are one or both of your breasts affected?
	Do you have any nipple discharge?
	Do you perform breast self-examination?
	Have you noticed any lumps or anything unusual when you examine your breasts?
	When was your last mammogram?
	What other symptoms are present? Do you have fever?
	What medication are you currently taking?

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include the following:

	Breast biopsy
	Culture of nipple discharge to test for infection
	Cytology (microscopic evaluation) of nipple discharge
	Mammography
	Fine needle aspiration -- a small needle is inserted into the breast to remove fluid that may have collected in a cyst (usually not cancerous)

Treatment may include the following:

	Pain relievers may be prescribed.
	Changes to your diet may be suggested.
	Certain medications may be changed or discontinued.

Your health care provider should schedule a follow-up visit in case the symptoms have not resolved in a given period of time. He or she may recommend consultation with a specialist if the symptoms do not go away or if you have a complicated condition.

Breast Pain Prevention

Wear a well-fitting brassiere for support, especially if your breasts are large.

Perform a monthly breast self-exam 3-5 days after your period (when the breast tissue is the least tender). This is important to feel for any changes in your breast tissue. If you detect any change from the previous month, it is important to notify your doctor.

Breast Pain Illustrations

Female Breast

The female breast is either of two mammary glands (organs of milk secretion) on the chest.

Breast Pain

Breast pain can be due to many possible causes. Most likely breast pain is from hormonal fluctuations from menstruation, pregnancy, puberty, menopause, and breast feeding. Breast pain can also be associated with fibrocystic breast disease, but it is a very unusual symptom of breast cancer.

Breast Lump Names

Breast mass

Breast Lump Definition

A breast lump is a swelling, protuberance, or lump in the breast.

Breast Lump Considerations

Normal breast tissue is present in both males and females of all ages. This tissue responds to hormonal changes and, therefore, certain lumps can come and go.

Breast lumps may appear at all ages:

	Infants may have breast lumps related to estrogen from the mother. The lump generally goes away on its own as the estrogen clears from the baby's body. It can happen to boys and girls.
	Young girls often develop "breast buds" that appear just before the beginning of puberty. These bumps may be tender. They are common around age 9, but may happen as early as age 6.
	Teenage boys may develop breast enlargement and lumps because of hormonal changes in mid-puberty. Although this may distress the teen, the lumps or enlargement generally go away on their own over a period of months.
	Breast lumps in an adult woman raises concern for breast cancer, even though most lumps turn out to be not cancerous.

Breast Lump Common Causes

Lumps in a woman are often caused by fibrocystic changes, fibroadenomas, and cysts.

Fibrocystic changes can occur in either or both breasts. These changes occur in many women (especially during the reproductive years) and are considered a normal variation of breast tissue. Having fibrocystic breasts does not increase your risk for breast cancer. It does, however, make it more difficult to interpret lumps that you or your doctor find on exam. Many women feel tenderness in addition to the lumps and bumps associated with fibrocystic breasts.

Fibroadenomas are non-cancerous lumps that feel rubbery and are easily moveable within the breast tissue. Like fibrocystic changes, they occur most often during the reproductive years. Usually, they are not tender and, except in rare cases, do not become cancerous later. A doctor may feel fairly certain from an exam that a particular lump is a fibroadenoma. The only way to be sure, however, is to remove or biopsy them.

Cysts are fluid-filled sacs that often feel like soft grapes. These can sometimes be tender, especially just before your menstrual period. Cysts may be drained in the doctor's office. If the fluid removed is clear or greenish, and the lump disappears completely after it is drained, no further treatment is needed. If the fluid is bloody, it is sent to the lab to look for cancer cells. If the lump doesn't disappear, or recurs, it is usually removed surgically.

Other causes of breast lumps include:

	Milk cysts (sacs filled with milk) and infections (mastitis), which may turn into an abscess. These typically occur if you are breastfeeding or have recently given birth.
	Breast cancer , detectable by mammogram or ultrasound, then a biopsy. Men can get breast cancer.
	Injury -- sometimes if your breast is badly bruised, there will be a collection of blood that feels like a lump. These tend to resolve on their own in a matter of days or weeks. If not, the blood may have to be drained by your doctor.
	Lipoma -- a collection of fatty tissue.
	Intraductal papilloma -- a small growth inside a milk duct of the breast. Often occurs near the areola, the colored part of the breast surrounding the nipple, in women between the ages of 35 and 55. It is harmless and frequently cannot be felt. In some cases the only symptom is a watery, pink discharge from the nipple. Since a watery or bloody discharge can be seen in cases of breast cancer, this must be evaluated by your doctor.

Breast Lump Home Care

Treatment of a breast lump depends on the cause. Solid breast lumps are often removed surgically, or at least a biopsy is taken. The biopsy is to check whether it is cancerous or not. Cysts can be drained. Breast infections require antibiotics.

For fibrocystic changes, birth control pills are often helpful. Other women are helped by:

	Avoiding caffeine and chocolate.
	Taking vitamin E, vitamin B complex, or evening primrose oil supplements.
	Limiting fat and increasing fiber in the diet.

If breast cancer is diagnosed, most women receive a combination of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy. These options would be carefully assessed and thoroughly discussed with your doctor.

Call your health care provider if

Call your doctor if:

	You find a new breast lump during your monthly self-exam.
	You have bruising on your breast but did not experience any injury.
	You have nipple discharge, especially if bloody or pinkish (blood tinged).
	The skin on your breast appears dimpled or wrinkled (like the peel of an orange).
	Your nipple is inverted (turned inward) but normally is not inverted.

Also call if:

	You are a woman, 20 years or older, and want guidance on how to perform a breast self-examination.
	You are a woman 40-50 years old and have not had a mammogram in the past two years, or over age 50 and have not had a mammogram in the past year.

What to expect at your health care provider's office

Your doctor will obtain a complete history from you, with special attention to factors that may increase your risk of breast cancer. A thorough breast examination will be performed. If you don't know how to perform breast self-examination, ask your health care provider to teach you the proper method.

Medical history questions regarding breast lumps include:

	When and how did you first notice the lump?
	Do you have other symptoms such as pain, nipple discharge, or fever?
	Where is the lump located?
	Do you do self-breast exams and is this lump a recent change?
	Have you had any type of injury to your breast?
	Are you taking any hormones, medications, or supplements?

Tests that may be performed include:

	Study of nipple discharge under the microscope
	Needle aspiration of a cyst with examination of the fluid under a microscope
	Biopsy of the lump
	Ultrasound to see if the lump is solid or cystic
	Mammogram

If you have a family history of breast cancer, your doctor may also suggest testing for genes that predispose you to breast cancer.

Breast Lump Prevention

Breast cancer screening is an important way to find breast cancer early, when it is most easily treated and cured:

	If you are over age 20, consider doing a monthly breast self-exam. See breast self-exam. Talk to your provider about the pros and cons.
	If you are over age 20, have a complete breast exam by your provider at least every 3 years -- every year if you are over 40.
	If you are over age 50, get a yearly screening mammogram. Women between ages 40 and 50 should have a mammogram at least every other year.

The American Cancer Society distributes a booklet demonstrating how to do self-breast exams.

Having fibrocystic breast tissue, mastitis, or breast tenderness related to PMS does NOT put you at greater risk for breast cancer. Having fibrocystic breasts does, however, make your self-exam more confusing since there are many lumps and bumps.

To prevent breast cancer:

	Exercise regularly
	Reduce fat intake
	Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and other high fiber foods
	Limit alcoholic beverages to no more than 1 to 1.5 per day.

Breast Lump Consultation

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Breast Lump Illustrations

Breast Lumps

Less than one-fourth of all breast lumps are found to be cancerous, but benign breast disease can be difficult to distinguish from cancer. Consequently, all breast lumps should be checked by a health care professional.

Fibrocystic Breast Disease

Fibrocystic breast disease is a common and benign change within the breast characterized by a dense irregular and bumpy consistency in the breast tissue. Mammography or biopsy may be needed to rule out other disorders.

Fibroadenoma

A fibroadenoma is a non-cancerous benign lump that is found in breast tissue. When felt under the skin, the lump may feel rubbery and easily moveable within the breast tissue.

 Fibroadenomas are commonly found in young women during their reproductive years.