Is Breast Pain a Sign of Breast Cancer?
According to Doctor Monica Morrow from the Northwestern University Medical School, most women who complain of breast pain suffer from benign breast disorders. While most breast pain is not a sign of breast cancer, this concern cannot be easily overruled.
Statistics
The only type of breast cancer that causes pain is called inflammatory breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, this accounts for only 1 to 3 percent of all breast cancer cases or about one in 1,000 women.
Breast Cancer
If breast pain exists, check for solid breast masses, dimpling of the breast skin or nipple discharge. These symptoms may point to breast cancer and should be assessed.
Breast Pain
Before the cause of breast pain is known it is referred to as mastalgia. According to the Mayo Clinic, 70 percent of all women experience mastalgia at some point in their lives.
Conditions
Breast cysts, infection and hormonal changes related to menstruation, pregnancy and menopause are the most common causes of breast pain. Often hormonal pain will diminish over time while cysts and infection should be checked by a doctor.
Tests
A mammogram, ultrasound, discharge culture, biopsy or MRI may be used to diagnose possible causes of breast pain.
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