Breast oncologist named 7 reasons why your breasts may hurt

surgeon, oncologist-mammologist at Yusupovskaya Hospital clinics

Pain in the breast is always an alarming sign. Someone immediately decides unequivocally that the matter is breast cancer, someone else puts himself a less terrible, but also quite serious diagnosis. I will tell you about the most common causes of pain in the breast and I urge you not to ignore them in any case.

Hormonal changes

The most common cause of breast pain is not cancer, as many people think. Although this does not mean that these unpleasant sensations should be ignored.

Most often, women are faced with soreness and hypersensitivity of the mammary glands shortly before the onset of menstruation.

Someone begins to experience pain five days before menstruation, someone – right before them. This discomfort is associated with the increasing concentrations of the hormones estrogen and progesterone during this period.

In most cases, the pains go away on their own along with the end of menstruation. But if they have not gone away, if it seems to you that your breasts hurt very badly, then consult a mammologist for advice.

In some cases, you may really need an examination and some treatment, in other cases, lifestyle changes will help to reduce discomfort: stop smoking, stop drinking coffee and other drinks with caffeine, reduce salt intake.

Injury or uncomfortable underwear

You may be experiencing chest pain because of an injury – a blow or severe compression. It’s hard enough to miss – you may have fallen, bumped, crashed into something, or injured yourself while playing sports. Think about whether you have been in such situations recently.

Even if there are no consequences of a bump, such as a bruise, there may be pain or a little swelling. The problem is likely to go away on its own, but keep an eye on your mammary glands.

If the pain gets worse, if there are lumps, if the temperature rises, if swelling develops, and if the spot is red – rush to the doctor for a checkup.

Traumatize or cause painful sensations can even not very well chosen underwear. Most often such problems arise when wearing underwear with bones, corsets, as well as in situations where the clothes do not match your size.

Breastfeeding or infection

Breastfeeding pain is a very common story, especially in the first weeks or months of breastfeeding when lactation is not yet established.

Pain can arise from excess milk: then it is accompanied by a flushing effect, and the breasts seem to increase by a couple of sizes. In addition, the nipples often hurt, especially if the baby does not grasp them correctly.

Unfortunately, another common problem that arises against the background of breastfeeding – mastitis, an infectious inflammation of the breast tissue. It, by the way, can develop not only in breastfeeding women.

In addition to pain in the breast, the development of mastitis is accompanied by redness of part of the mammary gland and fever. Coping with mastitis should be under the control of a doctor – most likely, a course of antibiotics will be needed.

Side effects of medications

In some cases, breast pain turns out to be a side effect of medications that women take for a completely different reason. So, soreness can develop against the background of taking diuretics, hormone therapy, drugs to reduce pressure.

In the event that therapy with this drug is necessary, it is necessary to contact a doctor and choose an adequate replacement – the drug that will help with the main disease, but at the same time will not cause pain and discomfort.

Spinal problems and intercostal neuralgia

Breast pain can be caused by reasons not related to the breast at all. For example, any spinal problems.

One of them is thoracic osteochondrosis, when due to the destruction of the intervertebral disk, the position of the vertebrae changes. Because of this, the nerve roots are compressed, which causes pain.

Intercostal neuralgia – pain in the chest, arising from nerve damage – can appear not only against the background of osteochondrosis. It can be caused by infections, intense physical activity and even hypothermia.

Benign formations

Pain due to cysts and other benign formations in the mammary gland is also found, and often enough. In the event that you have found in the breast some seals in the self-diagnosis – and it should be carried out every month – hurry to the doctor.

The specialist will conduct an examination – most likely, you will need an ultrasound or mammogram to understand the nature of this formation. Depending on whether it is benign or malignant, a decision will be made about what to do next. In some cases, the doctor will simply observe, but may recommend removal.

Malignant growths

Breast cancer is not always accompanied by painful sensations, although in some cases pain in the breast can really be present.

The algorithm of actions in this case is the same as in the detection of any other thickening – a visit to the doctor, examination, finding out the nature of the formation, and then determine the treatment strategy.

Despite the fact that not always pain in the breast is associated with life-threatening conditions, ignore it and tolerate discomfort is definitely not necessary, especially if you have not encountered such a problem before. A visit to a mammologist can help you understand the causes and prevent your condition from worsening.

Even if nothing bothers you, you should see a doctor once a year. If there are alarming symptoms – your mammary glands have changed their shape or size, become asymmetrical, the nipple suddenly became retracted or there is discharge – you should go to a specialist as soon as possible “off the schedule”.