If you are worried about breast pain, you should see your doctor. They will ask you questions about the pain and examine your breasts to make sure you don't also have signs of breast cancer.

The main signs of breast cancer are:

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Cancer Research UK.
NHS Cancer Screening Programmes 2003: Guidelines for referral of patients with breast problems.
Available at http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk (accessed on 22 January 2009).

 

 

 

 

 

¹

If your doctor thinks you may have breast cancer, they will order some tests.

But if your doctor does not suspect cancer, they may ask you to keep a "pain diary" to help them work out what type of breast pain you have and how bad it is.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Smith RL, Pruthi S, Fitzpatrick LA.
Evaluation and management of breast pain.
Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2004; 79: 353-372.

 

 

 

 

 

² Most women (more than 8 in 10) are happy with reassurance and don't want any treatment for their breast pain.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Smith RL, Pruthi S, Fitzpatrick LA.
Evaluation and management of breast pain.
Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2004; 79: 353-372.

 

 

 

 

 

²

You may find having a properly fitted bra or one with more support helps your breast pain. And if you exercise, wearing a sports bra may help.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
BeLieu RM.
Mastodynia.
Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America. 1994; 21: 461-477.

 

 

 

 

 

³ Out of the women who get breast pain linked to their periods (cyclical breast pain), about a third find that it goes away on its own within three months.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Pye JK, Mansel RE, Hughes LE.
Clinical experience of drug treatments for mastalgia.
Lancet. 1985; 1: 373-377.

 

 

 

 

 

⁴

Up to 2 in 10 women with breast pain opt for medical treatment.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Smith RL, Pruthi S, Fitzpatrick LA.
Evaluation and management of breast pain.
Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2004; 79: 353-372.

 

 

 

 

 

² Treatment may help for a while. But up to 6 in 10 women find that the pain comes back eventually.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Gately CA, Mansel RE.
Management of the painful and nodular breast.
British Medical Bulletin. 1991; 47: 284-294.

 

 

 

 

 

⁵

Treatment seems to work less well for breast pain not linked to periods (non-cyclical breast pain). But about half the women who get this type of breast pain find it goes away on its own.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Gately CA, Mansel RE.
Management of the painful and nodular breast.
British Medical Bulletin. 1991; 47: 284-294.

 

 

 

 

 

⁵

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