Is Breast Pain a Sign of Breast Cancer?

Posted by vaee @vaee, Jul 29, 2012

What factors can cause breast pain? Is it the omen of breast cancer?

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Hi vaee,
I sorry I didn't see this sooner...I wish others would have responded, too.
NO...breast pain is NOT necessarily a sign of breast cancer... what CAN cause pain in breasts can be things like cysts, calcium deposits, muscle strain (yes, it can affect the breasts)...and sometimes they just seem to develope pain which comes and goes. There is a form of mastaitis that can also cause breast pain. I would Google "causes of non-cancerous breast pain" ...for a more complete list..

The sneaky thing about breast cancer is that it may have no warning signs such as pain. If you are at all worried, however, please do go in for a check up. Good luck to you!

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@bettyann

Hi vaee,
I sorry I didn't see this sooner...I wish others would have responded, too.
NO...breast pain is NOT necessarily a sign of breast cancer... what CAN cause pain in breasts can be things like cysts, calcium deposits, muscle strain (yes, it can affect the breasts)...and sometimes they just seem to develope pain which comes and goes. There is a form of mastaitis that can also cause breast pain. I would Google "causes of non-cancerous breast pain" ...for a more complete list..

The sneaky thing about breast cancer is that it may have no warning signs such as pain. If you are at all worried, however, please do go in for a check up. Good luck to you!

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Hi vaee, Betty is so right with what she has stated. There are many reasons why we can experience breast pain. Sometimes it can also be hormonally related. I too would look into this more if you are at all concerned to put your self at ease Take care Piglit

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@bettyann

Hi vaee,
I sorry I didn't see this sooner...I wish others would have responded, too.
NO...breast pain is NOT necessarily a sign of breast cancer... what CAN cause pain in breasts can be things like cysts, calcium deposits, muscle strain (yes, it can affect the breasts)...and sometimes they just seem to develope pain which comes and goes. There is a form of mastaitis that can also cause breast pain. I would Google "causes of non-cancerous breast pain" ...for a more complete list..

The sneaky thing about breast cancer is that it may have no warning signs such as pain. If you are at all worried, however, please do go in for a check up. Good luck to you!

Jump to this post

I started having fullness and breast pain as well as itching of breast and nipple about three months before I actually noticed the lump. The pain may be from all the fullness and lump, however.

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My breast cancer was completely symptomless the first time. No pain, no lump (microcalcifications showed up on my mammogram). The second time around during a six month checkup I had a lump, that was quite obviously a cyst, that was hurting. The doctor dismissed it and said, 'just keep an eye on it', as it was a cyst but I became concerned, it was causing more pain a couple months later and............it was a cyst and under the cyst was invasive breast cancer. My advice to anyone who has concerns if they find pain or unusual symptoms in their breast is to have it checked out and keep an eye on it. Not to say every woman should panic each time her breasts hurt (mine hurt all the time when I was young and it was hormones, etc) but better safe than sorry. I was lucky I persued that cyst and the pain because my breast cancer, although invasive, was caught early.

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@cindylb

My breast cancer was completely symptomless the first time. No pain, no lump (microcalcifications showed up on my mammogram). The second time around during a six month checkup I had a lump, that was quite obviously a cyst, that was hurting. The doctor dismissed it and said, 'just keep an eye on it', as it was a cyst but I became concerned, it was causing more pain a couple months later and............it was a cyst and under the cyst was invasive breast cancer. My advice to anyone who has concerns if they find pain or unusual symptoms in their breast is to have it checked out and keep an eye on it. Not to say every woman should panic each time her breasts hurt (mine hurt all the time when I was young and it was hormones, etc) but better safe than sorry. I was lucky I persued that cyst and the pain because my breast cancer, although invasive, was caught early.

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I also had fibrocystic and very dense breasts younger. I was hesitant to go back in because I was always told it's just normal for me. However, when I felt the lump, got to thinking along with the fullness and pain, that this should be looked into. So glad I took the initiative. Your advice is excellent, Cindy. Mine also is an early invasive stage. I am leaning toward IORT (intra-operative radiation therapy) at this time and hoping when they do lumpectomy that the margins are wide and no nodes, but time will tell. All the best to you.

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@cindylb

My breast cancer was completely symptomless the first time. No pain, no lump (microcalcifications showed up on my mammogram). The second time around during a six month checkup I had a lump, that was quite obviously a cyst, that was hurting. The doctor dismissed it and said, 'just keep an eye on it', as it was a cyst but I became concerned, it was causing more pain a couple months later and............it was a cyst and under the cyst was invasive breast cancer. My advice to anyone who has concerns if they find pain or unusual symptoms in their breast is to have it checked out and keep an eye on it. Not to say every woman should panic each time her breasts hurt (mine hurt all the time when I was young and it was hormones, etc) but better safe than sorry. I was lucky I persued that cyst and the pain because my breast cancer, although invasive, was caught early.

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Good luck Trixie1313 with your 'journey'. It is scary and there are so many decisions you must make when you are first diagnosed. But, take your time, do your research and proceed with your doctors knowing you've explored all your options. I sincerely hope you've found the cancer early. I am so lucky I did. But also, several of my friends and many people on this support site have done quite well even if there cancer has spread. They are doing remarkable things in the treatment of breast cancer now.

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I too had itching of nipple for 1 year before lump appeared. Turned out the invasive BC was under the large cyst I felt first. It was caught early & after lumpectomy & 15 Rads I am feeling great & breast looks great. I had opted for mastectomy but surgeon said unnecessary & after listening to recovery time of lumpectomy, chose the lumpectomy & glad I did. I feel actually more healthy 4 months after diagnosis & treatment than I have for years.

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@cindylb

My breast cancer was completely symptomless the first time. No pain, no lump (microcalcifications showed up on my mammogram). The second time around during a six month checkup I had a lump, that was quite obviously a cyst, that was hurting. The doctor dismissed it and said, 'just keep an eye on it', as it was a cyst but I became concerned, it was causing more pain a couple months later and............it was a cyst and under the cyst was invasive breast cancer. My advice to anyone who has concerns if they find pain or unusual symptoms in their breast is to have it checked out and keep an eye on it. Not to say every woman should panic each time her breasts hurt (mine hurt all the time when I was young and it was hormones, etc) but better safe than sorry. I was lucky I persued that cyst and the pain because my breast cancer, although invasive, was caught early.

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Thank you Cindy - if the Tumor Board accepts me, I'm pretty sure I'll do the IORT so the radiation doesn't go into axilla or lung area as much. We'll get through this....sure is nice to have this board to see how all are doing.

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@cindylb

My breast cancer was completely symptomless the first time. No pain, no lump (microcalcifications showed up on my mammogram). The second time around during a six month checkup I had a lump, that was quite obviously a cyst, that was hurting. The doctor dismissed it and said, 'just keep an eye on it', as it was a cyst but I became concerned, it was causing more pain a couple months later and............it was a cyst and under the cyst was invasive breast cancer. My advice to anyone who has concerns if they find pain or unusual symptoms in their breast is to have it checked out and keep an eye on it. Not to say every woman should panic each time her breasts hurt (mine hurt all the time when I was young and it was hormones, etc) but better safe than sorry. I was lucky I persued that cyst and the pain because my breast cancer, although invasive, was caught early.

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Sounds like a plan! I only opted for the bi lateral mastectomy because my Stage 0 cancer was in my left breast and my Stage 1 was in my right. It looked like I'd be in 'lumpectomy land' for years picking out the bad parts. The mastectomy is not so bad but if you don't have to do it, they now say lumpectomies and follow up are just as effective in most cases to get you healthy again.

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I had a pulling or tugging feeling at the mass, while checking for lumbs my nipple enverted, once the nipple enverted I knew I had A Lump! One other symptom I noticed tiny pen size red dots appearing on my chest and body! Hope this helps!

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