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Breast pain and lumps can occur together or separately. But what exactly qualifies as breast pain or lumps? A breast lump is any swelling, growth, or mass in the breast, while breast pain is any tenderness, throbbing, sharpness, or burning in the breast tissue. Either of these issues can occur in both men and women, and while these symptoms can be concerning, most often, the cause is not serious.
Breast Pain and Lump Symptoms
Breast Lumps
More often than not, a breast lump is benign or noncancerous. By familiarizing yourself with the way your breasts look and feel, you’re more likely to notice changes, so if there is an issue, it can be found early and treated if necessary. For breast lumps, it’s essential to know what to look out for. Changes in the breast can include:
- Round, smooth, and firm breast lump.
- Firm, movable lumps
- Hard breast lump with irregular edges.
- Skin dimpling
- Soft, round breast lumps
Breast Pain
Breast pain can range from mild to severe and can either be cyclic or noncyclic. Cyclic pain occurs regularly, usually related to your menstrual cycle or changing hormone levels. Noncyclic breast pain is constant and unrelated to your menstrual cycle.
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Diagnosing Breast Pain and Lumps
Diagnosis of a breast lump and/or breast pain typically starts by getting an exam and possible testing. During your exam, Dr. Wolowick or Dr. Mitchell will check your breasts, underarms, neck, and chest. As for testing, they may also recommend one of the following tests:
- Mammogram: This is an X-ray of your breasts. During a mammogram, your breasts are compressed between two firm surfaces, and an X-ray takes black-and-white images so your provider can see what could be causing your breast concern.
- Focused or directed ultrasound: This test uses sound waves to make images of the inside of your breasts.
- Biopsy: If one of the above tests isn’t conclusive, a biopsy of the breast or lump may be taken for further testing.
- Fine-needle aspiration: With this procedure, a small amount of breast tissue or fluid is removed with a thin needle. It can be used to check a complex cyst or drain fluid from a painful cyst.
- Core needle biopsy: With a core needle biopsy, ultrasound is used to guide a needle into the breast lump and take a sample. Often, a tiny clip that you can’t see or feel is placed into the biopsied area. It serves as a marker that lets your healthcare professional find the area again during future checkups.
What Causes Breast Pain and Lumps
The causes of breast pain and lumps are as varied as the people experiencing them. Lumps and pain can occur for a variety of different reasons, including the following:
- Fibrocystic breast changes: painful, lumpy breasts that often become worse right before your period and improve after your period. They are noncancerous and typically move easily inside the breast tissue.
- Fibroadenomas: solid, non-cancerous breast tumors that are smooth and move easily under the skin when touched
- Simple cysts: sacs filled with fluid that may go away on their own and are not cancerous.
- Complicated cyst: Little bits of debris in the fluid inside the cyst that are not cancerous
- Blood may collect and feel like a lump if the breast is badly injured. These lumps typically get better as you heal.
- Lipoma: A collection of fatty tissue.
- Milk cysts: These cysts can occur with breastfeeding.
- Infections: Infected fluid can form an abscess in the breast tissue and can come with pain, redness, and swelling.
- Intraductal papilloma: This skin tag-like growth in a milk duct and can cause the nipple to leak clear or bloody fluid
- Breast cancer. A breast lump that’s painless, hard, has irregular edges, or is different from the breast tissue around it might be breast cancer. The skin covering the lump may thicken and change color.
- Changing hormone levels: Hormone changes in the milk ducts or glands from menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause can cause breast cysts, which can be painful.
- Certain medications: Some medications can also cause breast pain, including birth control pills, hormone therapies, antidepressants, and high blood pressure medicine.
Breast Pain and Lumps Treatment Options
The right treatment for you depends on the cause of the breast pain or lump and what diagnostic testing finds.
Solid breast lumps may be removed surgically or monitored over time to see if there are any changes. Cysts can be drained and then monitored to see if they return. Breast infections are most often treated with antibiotics.
If you’re experiencing pain from fibrocystic breasts, over-the-counter pain medication can often be enough. Birth control pills can also be used to control the pain as well. Fibroadenomas often go away on their own without any treatment, but if they continue to grow, further testing may be needed.
With lipomas, there is often no need for treatment unless they are causing pain. Then, they can be removed surgically.
As for breast cancer, the type of treatment needed depends on the type of cancer and if it has spread. Surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and radiation are all effective options.
Schedule A Consultation
Take control of your breast health and schedule a consultation with Dr. Wolowick or Dr. Mitchell at MAIA today! We happily serve the Naperville, Downers Grove, Aurora, and Chicago, IL areas. If you’re in need of a check-up, are experiencing breast pain, or found a lump, don’t hesitate to call our Downers Grove, IL office at 630-320-6703 or fill out our online contact form.
