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Breast Symptoms

Causes of Breast Symptoms

  • Breast lump: may be a fibroadenoma (not cancer), fluid filled cyst (not cancer) or cancer
  • Nipple discharge: can be milk, blood, pus or clear fluid
  • Infection: short term breast pain with redness on one side
  • Pregnancy: short term breast pain and full-feeling without redness on both sides
  • Cyclic Mastalgia: repeat breast pain with menstrual cycles. See more info below.
  • Shingles(nerve pain from past chickenpox) in the upper chest area
  • Fibroadenoma, cyst or marijuana use: long-term breast pain on one side. Not related to menstrual periods.

Cyclical Breast Pain and Swelling(with menstrual cycles)

  • Caused by extra body fluid from female hormone cycles
  • Mainly noticed in the week before menstrual periods
  • Gets better during menstrual periods and goes away between periods
  • Often begins 2 years after periods start
  • Other symptoms are headache and swollen feet
  • Treatment:
    • Ibuprofen
    • Support bra
    • Exercise
    • Getting enough sleep
    • Birth control pills

Causes of Breast Lumps; Most are Not Dangerous

  • Cysts are round, smooth and hard lumps. Common in women older than 35 years. Less common after menopause. They can be different sizes and change size during your period. Most go away on their own. If they are large and/or painful, a doctor might be able to drain fluid from the cyst. Always see a doctor if you find a lump.
  • Fibroadenomas / Fibrocystic Breast Disease causes lumps in the breasts. These are not cancer. The lumps can be moved and do not hurt when touched. Common in young women in their early 20s. Always see a doctor if you find a lump.
  • Injury to the Breast can cause bad bruising that forms a lump.
  • Mastitis (breast infection) happens in a collection of fluid in the breast or in the breast tissue itself. It can cause an abscess (pocket of pus) to form. The area will likely be red, warm, swollen and painful to touch. Most common in breast-feeding women. You may have a fever, chills and feel sick. You do not need to stop breast feeding if you have this infection. Ask your doctor if an antibiotic is needed.
  • Breast Cancer can happen in men and women. Lumps may feel hard or different that the rest of the breast. They can be odd shaped, red or dimpled. Often not painful. Always see your doctor if you find a lump. Many breast cancers can be treated if found early. Common symptoms can include:
    • Lump in the breast or underarm
    • Dimpling or puckering of the skin
    • Thicker skin, like an orange peel texture
    • Rash around nipple
    • Hard nipple
    • Nipple that is pulled in
    • Nipple leaks fluid
    • Different looking breasts
  • Paget's Disease of the Breast is a rare form of breast cancer. Most common in women older than 50 years. Early signs are red, dry and flaky nipple. Nipple may leak bloody fluid. Nipple becomes flattened or drawn in. The area under the nipple may feel thick or lumpy. Cancer can spread to other parts of the breast.

Causes and Risk Factors of Breast Cancer

The causes of breast cancer are not fully known. These may raise your risk:

  • Older age
  • Someone in your family had breast cancer
  • You had breast cancer in the past
  • Having lumps that were not cancer in the past
  • Being tall or overweight
  • Drinking alcohol

Non-Cyclical Breast Pain

  • This pain is not related to periods
  • Infection / Mastitis in the breast tissue. It can occur within the breast or could follow an injury or insect bite. There may be redness and or a lump with the infection. An abscess may also form which need drainage.
  • Chest wall pain from the muscles, breastbone and ribs that lies beneath the breast tissue. The pain and tenderness may feel like breast pain.
  • Breast changes with pregnancy and breastfeeding
  • Shingles may cause breast pain, tingling and burning before the rash appears. The rash is also very painful.
  • Fluid filled cysts can cause breast pain, but it is unusual for breast cancer to cause pain without there being a lump.
  • Enlarged Breasts in Men is not serious and may go away on its own. One or both breasts may grow due to hormone changes, other health problems, street drugs or alcohol. It can affect the male breasts unevenly, so one breast can be larger than the other. The breast tissue may be painful. Can happen at any age.