The secret pain experienced by 7 out of 10 women is chest pain. 60-70% of premenopausal adult women experience breast pain, and about 20% of them experience severe pain.
Breast pain may occur on one or both sides of the breast, or in the armpit area. It may appear mild, but it may be severe enough to interfere with daily life.
The severity of pain varies, and the cause is often caused by a combination of factors. Most commonly, it is known to be related to the abnormal secretion of the female hormone estrogen and the hormone prolactin, which produces breast milk. In addition to hormones, coffee, tobacco, alcohol, excessive fat intake, and excessive stress can also cause breast pain.
Symptoms that differentiate between breast pain and breast cancer
When there is pain, it is easy to think that something is wrong, but if there is only breast pain, it is rare to be diagnosed with breast cancer. In general, less than 5% of breast cancer patients complain of breast pain as the main symptom. Nevertheless, if breast pain persists, it is important to always differentiate breast cancer. If you have breast cancer, you should pay attention to the complex symptoms rather than the pain itself.
▷ If a lump that has never been touched before
A lump is the most common symptom of breast cancer. Depending on the area, it may be hard or soft to the touch. There are cases where a hard area without abnormality is mistaken for a lump, or even if a lump is formed, it is considered to be normal breast tissue.
You should be suspicious if you feel or feel a new lump in your breast that you haven’t seen before. Especially, if it is a hard lump, there is no pain and the border is not smooth, you need to be careful. If only one breast is unusually painful and the lump is palpable, it cannot be relieved.
On the other hand, some breast cancers often appear as pain without lumps. In particular, inflammatory breast cancer with a low survival rate should be cautious. It is characterized by red and swollen skin that is not easily palpable. If there is pain but no lump, breast cancer should not be reassured.
▷ If you have abnormal brownish discharge
Not all secretions can be considered breast cancer. This is because nipple discharge is so common that it occurs in 50-80% of women of childbearing age.
It is known that about 7% of all breast disease patients have secretions, and hormonal abnormalities or drug use can also cause secretions. An increase in prolactin due to drugs, endocrine tumors, or various medical conditions may cause nipple discharge.
If you have breast cancer, secretions are mainly from one side, and even in one nipple, it comes from one specific duct rather than multiple ducts. At this point, you should check the color carefully. If you have a chocolatey brown or blood-colored discharge, you may have breast cancer.
▷ If you feel color saturation or rough touch
Skin changes caused by breast cancer are also signs that need to be checked. If you feel the coloration and rough touch of the breast, or if there is a sudden change in the shape or size of the breast, it can be regarded as a suspicious symptom. In addition, if one side of the breast appears red or the skin peels off, it is necessary to look for changes in breast curvature or sagging of one breast.
It is recommended to check for signs of lumps, size, and color changes, including breast pain, before or after 5 days after menstruation. If changes in shape, discharge, depression, swelling, redness, eczema, etc. appear even after menstruation, it is advisable to undergo a breast cancer checkup.
