# Boob pain - breast cancer symptom? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 20, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-pain-breast-cancer-symptom/486762 "2009-02-20T19:51:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amber_in_Treasury)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-pain-breast-cancer-symptom/486762/1 "2009-02-20T19:51:52Z")
Maybe I’m overreacting, but I’ve been having some pain in my boobs (especially the left one) pretty much on-and-off. It’s a “pulsating” kind of pain. It sometimes occurs when I’ve been in some stress, and/or haven’t had any decent sleep for some time. By the way: I’m 25 years old, I live in Luxembourg and have health insurance. I drink and smoke and I’m a bit overweight. Should I be worried? ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-pain-breast-cancer-symptom/486762/2 "2009-02-20T19:55:11Z")
Get to a doc. I’ve heard that pain is an uncommon symptom, but if you’re even slightly concerned about your boobs, you should get them looked at. No matter what’s going on with them. ---
**Author:** ![Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc79bd/32.png) [@Amber\_in\_Treasury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amber_in_Treasury)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-pain-breast-cancer-symptom/486762/3 "2009-02-20T20:41:14Z")
Thanks, **whiterabbit**. Yes, I will definitely get myself (and the ladies) checked out, but - sorry if this sounds ridiculous - I’m a bit scared. I first want to get some “Doper Knowledge” and be mentally prepared… So what are more common symptoms (of BC) then? ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-pain-breast-cancer-symptom/486762/4 "2009-02-20T21:09:54Z")
Other than cancer, you could have a cyst (a liquid-filled lump) or a fibroadenoma (a benign solid lump) both of which can be painful… either way, its something to get checked out. I went through this at 25, and they began with an breast ultrasound as at that age, the breast tissue is typically too dense for mammography. Then, because they found it was not fluid-filled, I had a biopsy with a fine needle (non surgical procedure) to determine that it was benign. BTW, this all happened in one crazy day, and in between all that I also experienced 4 or 5 particularly vigorous manual exams. It’s definitely scary but the statistics are on your side. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-pain-breast-cancer-symptom/486762/5 "2009-02-20T21:16:08Z")
I had a colleague who once piped up in the middle of the workplace: “My boobs are hurting. I must be pregnant again.” ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-pain-breast-cancer-symptom/486762/6 "2009-02-20T23:10:46Z")
No, it’s not ridiculous. I once had to get my left boob ultrasounded; it turned out to be nothing, just some excess scar tissue from surgery, but I was _scared_. (And also the youngest woman in that clinic that day by at least twenty years.) ---
**Author:** ![Risha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@Risha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Risha)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-pain-breast-cancer-symptom/486762/7 "2009-02-21T06:22:25Z")
Definitely get it checked out, but such breast pain can also be caused by pregnancy, hormones during ovulation, and certain medicines. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-pain-breast-cancer-symptom/486762/8 "2009-02-21T07:15:58Z")
If it’s not always during the same time during your cycle (not always right before/during your period or as Risha said when you ovulate), it’s worth having a doctor check it out. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-pain-breast-cancer-symptom/486762/9 "2009-02-21T07:17:26Z")
> **[Breast pain - Symptoms and causes](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/breast-pain/symptoms-causes/syc-20350423)** > > Learn about possible causes and treatments for breast pain, along with self-care remedies that may help keep you comfortable when breast pain flares. > [@](#): > > Breast pain (mastalgia) is a **common** type of discomfort among women — affecting as many as seven in 10 women at some point in their lives. > > About 10 percent of women have moderate to severe breast pain more than five days a month. In some cases, severe breast pain lasts throughout the menstrual cycles. Postmenopausal women can experience breast pain, **but the symptom occurs more frequently in younger, premenopausal women** and perimenopausal women. When it’s severe, breast pain can have a major impact on daily activities, work and relationships. > > **Breast pain alone rarely signifies breast cancer.** Still, if you have unexplained breast pain that persists, causes worry about breast cancer or otherwise disrupts your life, get checked by your doctor. Also, stop smoking. But you probably didn’t need me to tell you that. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![uglybeech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/82dd89/32.png) [@uglybeech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/uglybeech)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-pain-breast-cancer-symptom/486762/10 "2009-02-21T07:49:13Z")
I had breast pain on one side that came and went in the same place. Very localized. I saw the gynecologist - she said she wasn’t particularly worried, that breast cancer didn’t usually hurt, but she scheduled an immediate mammogram to be sure. I ended up needing an ultrasound of my breast on top of the mammogram and the radiologist who did it said basically the same thing - pain is probably not cancer (he thought in my case I should cut down the coffee) but it has to be investigated anyway. Between the mammogram and the ultrasound they didn’t see a thing that would explain it. Cutting down the coffee didn’t help. But it went away on its own within a few months. Mostly. Very rarely I still feel a twinge. So it sounds like to me - no you probably don’t need to freak out. Yes you absolutely should get it checked out anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2009, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boob-pain-breast-cancer-symptom/486762/11 "2009-02-21T15:55:38Z")
I had pretty bad pain once. My doctor told me to stop wearing underwire bras. That did it.