Breast Pain: Distinguishing Between Normal and Abnormal Causes

Hannah Perry, MD, UVM Assistant Professor and diagnostic radiologist at the UVM Medical Center

This educational video is content from the UVM Cancer Center's 23rd Annual Women's Health and Cancer Conference, held on Friday, October 2. 2020.

Breast pain is a common symptom experienced by many women. Fortunately, the majority of cases of breast pain are related to benign causes, such as hormonal variations. In this session, Dr. Perry reviews different causes of breast pain, including what is considered “normal” and “abnormal,” and discusses how abnormal breast pain is evaluated with mammography and/or ultrasound.

[Somegirl]

I wish there was someone to talk to about this.

[deepalikulkarni]

Hi, I have recently done mammography. My cyst size is reduced, but I have continuous pain in my left Breast. It is specifically, when I lay down at night. What is the reason? & what is the remedy ? My age is 70. I have thyroid from last 20 years, but it is totally controlled.

[mariakasevhumber]

I usually have breast pain few days before periods, for four months now no pain in the breast, is it normal?

[mvb]

I have sharp breast pain on my left breast and it’s awful ! Sometimes if i move in some way it makes it hard to breathe. I went on to get a sonogram and A cyst was found on my right breast and not the left so i was so confused.

What other test should i look into ?? I’m a young 28 year old female

[mamavictor]

What is i feel my breast is like burning sometime nipple pain some underpain am 28 yrs

[colleenreed]

Can weight gain contribute to breast pain?

[chanapajuloboun]

Please tell me, I feel lump in both nipple, abnormal or normal?

[fairygirl]

I have pain if I touched breast bilateral breast pain what it could be

[telisah]

Very helpful information as I am experiencing noncyclic related issues currently. I am 40 years old, eat healthy, but have been bodged down with different issues that leave me feeling fatigued and not able to workout for like 6 months now. And now I just started to have cycling symptoms is what doctors are telling me, but I have had an IUD inserted for 2 yrs now and the same type I had 6 yrs previous to that and had no period for my entire time of the device being used. I am going to do more research on the things discussed in this video because I am now experiencing breast inflammation and nipple tenderness. TMI my 1st day of cycle (as they want to seem it) was 31Dec2020, so how am I still having cramping, back pain, fatigue, and now breast swelling and pain and this is now the 21st or 22nd January 2021?? Anyway, please keep up the great content. We need it especially with Covid making doc appointments that much harder. Stay safe, stay blessed.

[nabukenyahaula]

My both breasts hurt alot and the skin changed but I can't feel any lump and the breasts feel heavy

[aSoldiersGirlieGirl]

I found a hard, non moveable lump in my right breast, on the inner part near cleavage, but it feels a fixed to my bone. It’s almost like I cut a golf ball in half. It hurts almost all the time-not coinciding with my cycle. I’ve noticed it for about 3 weeks now with no change. My breast is very sure, the area is very sure, it feels heavy, and slightly discolored over the area. I now have rib pain radiating to my back along the bra line, up into my chest and up my back into my neck. I get chills and the pain is an 8/10. Any ideas?

[jmyap]

my left breast hurts a lot i can feel it thicker and heavier.. its also solid rock. my left back also hurts. I put a cold compress and it softens right away

[africangirl]

Then mine is cyclical before menstruation I think

[babyJes]

*FOR STARTERS...RARE DOESNT MEAN IMPOSSIBLE! MY AUNT ALMOST DIED OF BREAST CANCER BECAUSE SHE WAS PASSED UP BY MANY DRS WHO LITERALLY TOLD HER "PAIN DOESNT EQUAL CANCER".*
*ALSO WHY NO TALK OF NIPPLE PAIN. I SEARCHED THIS VIDEO OUT BECAUSE I HAVE NIPPLE PAIN SPECIFICALLY, OUT OF NO WHERE. NO INJURY, NEVER FELT PAIN IN MY BREATS OR NIPPLES EVER BEFORE, NOT EVEN DURING MENSES! MY NIPPLE ONLY HURTS NOT BREAST, NOT AREOLA...NO SKIN CHANGES AND NO INJURY TO THE NIPPLE. I CANT SEE MY DOCTOR FOR A WHILE SO IM SEEKING OUT RESEARCH BUT CANT FIND MUCH ON NIPPLE PAIN ITSELF."*

[reneittagray]

Dr lump painful to touch but not painful??