Breast Pain
Breast pain (mastalgia) is a bad experience for 70% of women at some point in their lives. In other words, 7 out of every 10 women experience breast pain. However, a total of 15%, i.e. 1 in 5 women, experience enough breast pain to require treatment.
- Breast pain does not increase the risk of cancer. Patients whose examination and imaging findings do not reveal any special structure are not different from those who do not feel pain in terms of cancer risk.
- Breast pain can be periodic (associated with menstrual periods), non-periodic (not associated with menstrual periods) and non-breast related.
- Patients who experience periodic pain generally experience pain due to hormonal increases during the period of egg cell formation close to menstruation or 7-10 days after menstruation.
- Patients who experience non-periodic pain are mostly seen in patients with large and fatty breasts, people who consume excessive fatty diets or excessive caffeine.
- Non-breast pains are more common in cases such as compression at the exit points of the nerves from the spine, or a blow to the muscle tissue under the breast.
Periodic (associated with menstrual period) Pain
It constitutes 2/3 of breast pain patients. Since it is associated with hormonal imbalances, an increase in breast pain is also seen in the use of birth control pills. It usually causes conditions such as burning, stinging, squeezing sensation, palpable painful mass sensation in both breasts. Most of the time, it is seen in the part of the breast close to the armpit area.
Non-periodic (unrelated to menstrual period) pain
Breast pain accounts for 1/3 of patients. Large and fatty breasts are the most common group in which pain is seen, neck, back and shoulder pain may also be seen simultaneously. It is also associated with excessive consumption of fatty foods and excessive consumption of caffeine-containing beverages such as coffee and tea, although there is no definitive evidence. This type of pain is also seen in people with breast cysts and the pain may be unilateral or in both breasts depending on the area where the cysts are concentrated. This type of pain is also seen in cases such as ductal ectasia (milk duct dilatation) and some patients state that when they squeeze the nipple, a mild inflammatory fluid comes out and then they feel relieved. However, this is a practice that we do not recommend, there may be patients whose nipple discharge starts to disappear spontaneously for this reason alone. This kind of pain can also be caused by breast inflammation, hydradenitis, Mondor’s disease, medication.
Non-Breast Pain
Non-breast pain is mostly caused by nerve compression-hernias in the spine. The treatment is different compared to other breast pains and they benefit from physical therapy methods.
Treatment of Breast Pain
In true breast pain (periodic and non-periodic breast pain), the treatment is primarily lifestyle changes.
- The use of a tight-fitting bra (sports bras) restricts breast movements during the day and reduces the pain that increases in the evening.
- Hot or cold applications. Applying hot or cold compresses over clothing can provide relief. Although hot application provides relief at first, the effect wears off in a short time, while this effect is longer in cold application.
- Diet restriction; especially restriction of excessive fatty diet consumption and weight loss in overweight people give good results. Restricting caffeine consumption (caffeine-containing beverages and foods such as coffee, tea and chocolate) may also provide some relief. However, one should not be too insistent on dietary restrictions if it is not possible to achieve success in a certain period of time.
- Painkillers; you can use painkillers prescribed by your doctor.
- Hormone therapies; In patients who cannot find a solution, hormone therapies prescribed by your doctor can be started, but their use is very limited due to their high side effects.