Breast Cancer

Breast pain (mastalgia) — a common complaint among women — can include breast tenderness, sharp burning pain or tightness in your breast tissue. The pain may be constant or it may occur only occasionally.

Breast pain can range from mild to severe. It may occur:
Just a few days a month, in the two to three days leading up to your period. This normal, mild-to-moderate pain affects both breasts.
A week or longer each month, starting before your period and sometimes continuing through your menstrual cycle. The pain may be moderate or severe, and affects both breasts.
Throughout the month, not related to your menstrual cycle.
Postmenopausal women sometimes have breast pain, but breast pain is more common in younger women who haven't completed menopause.

Symptoms

Most cases of breast pain are classified as either cyclic or noncyclic. Each type of breast pain has distinct characteristics.


Cyclic breast pain

  • Clearly related to the menstrual cycle
  • Described as dull, heavy or aching
  • Often accompanied by breast swelling or lumpiness
  • Usually affects both breasts, particularly the upper, outer portions, and can radiate to the underarm
  • Intensifies during the two weeks leading up to the start of your period, then eases up afterward
  • More likely to affect women in their 20s and 30s before menopause as well as women in their 40s who are transitioning to menopause

Noncyclic breast pain

  • Unrelated to the menstrual cycle
  • Described as tight, burning or sore
  • Constant or intermittent
  • Usually affects one breast, in a localized area, but may spread more diffusely across the breast
  • Most likely to affect women after menopause