Breast pain is a very common condition, affecting up to 70% of women at some time in their lives. In fact, it is so common that it is considered to be a normal condition of the breasts rather than a disease. It can be accompanied by tenderness, lumpiness, fullness, heaviness or a noticeable change in breast size. It is commonly associated with fibrocystic change. Reassuringly it is rarely a sign of breast cancer. Only 5% of breast cancers present with pain.
Cyclical breast pain occurs in premenopausal women and is pain fluctuating with the menstrual cycle. It can also occur in postmenopausal women on hormone replacement therapy. Discomfort tends to increase from the middle of the cycle, peaks in the week prior to menstruating and is then relieved when the period begins. It tends to be worse in the upper outer parts of the breast and may affect both or only one breast.
Breast pain can also affect postmenopausal women. It tends to occur in one part of the breast, particularly the upper outer breast and can have a burning, stabbing or throbbing quality. It can be intermittent or constant.
If you suffer from breast discomfort it is very useful for your surgeon if you document your pain in a diary to determine whether it is cyclical in nature.
Breast pain can be difficult to manage. Your surgeon will assess you and review your breast imaging to exclude other causes of your pain or discomfort and will then discuss management with you.