Breast Pain: What To Do About It
If a woman gets a pain in her breast, she may become upset and jump to the conclusion that she has breast cancer. Breast pain is not necessarily a symptom of cancer so one should not assume anything. It is a good idea to see a doctor promptly so that you can have a mammogram performed. This diagnostic tool will help the doctor determine if there are any cysts or masses that might be problematic.
Breast pain can be a serious problem for 7 out of 10 women. It can happen at any point in a woman's life and the amount of pain experienced can vary in intensity. If you have even a mild amount of breast pain, it is crucial to let your doctor know. The greater amount of information you can provide, the more it helps your physician make an accurate diagnosis. This information can include when and how often the pain occurs, how hurtful it is, and the location of the pain.
According to scientific studies, nearly 10% of women complain of moderate to severe breast pain at least five days out of every month. Occasionally, the pain even lasts throughout the menstrual cycle. This type of pain is more frequently associated with younger or premenopausal women, although it can occur in women of any age.
It is very natural for any woman who feels pain in the breast, to get panicky. That is why it is very necessary to have checkup done regularly for breast cancer. There is a way to do self assessment breast examination. You can see it on various sites as to how it is to be done. They can be of great use in detection of cancer.
Usually simply having pain in your breast does not signify cancer. It can be caused by a number of things. The most common cause is reproductive hormones. Quite a few women experience tenderness or soreness in their breasts during their monthly menstrual cycle. Typically with this kind of pain it will affect both breasts.
There are numerous causes of breast pain or tenderness, and many methods for treating it. Over the counter medication may be prescribed by the physician to reduce swelling, inflammation, tenderness and pain. An ill-fitting bra without sufficient support is one benign cause of such pain. Although it's important to investigate everyday causes, one should not delay seeing their physician.
The first reaction of a woman who experiences breast pain is to suspect the pain to be the sign of breast cancer. The first thing to do here is to consult your doctor at the earliest opportunity and to allow her to perform a mammogram on you. Though all women may experience such pain, it is most common amongst the younger and premenopausal women. It's important to have regular breast exams. It's also possible to do self assessment breast exams. You can find a lot of information online that will give you exact steps to doing these exams yourself.
Published August 30th, 2008
Filed in Women
