Breast
pain ( mastalgia) is one of the commonest issues in women of all ages. It can
happen to anyone and at any age. It may or may not be associated with breast
tenderness: mastodynia ( pain on touching or palpating the breast).
Both these terms (mastalgia and mastodynia) are different,
but they address the same problem. Breast pain may or may not be associated
with a lump as well. It is important to note that breast pain is not
commonly associated with breast cancer.
If you have breast pain, a complete history and a thorough
clinical examination are important in diagnosing the cause and prescribing the
correct treatment.
Your doctor may want to know many details, which you may
feel awkward or unnecessary, but these are important nonetheless. Breast pain
is commonly seen in women aged 20-40 years, but as I stated before, no age is
exempt. The pain may be cyclical, ( waxing and waning in relation to the
menstrual cycle) or non cyclical. There may also be associated tenderness and
heaviness, especially with cyclical mastalgia. You may be asked to maintain a
breast pain diary, to record the intensity of the pain, your levels of stress
and your periods. This diary helps in analysing the pain better. Apart from
this, a mammogram and ultrasound of the breast may also be advised as part of
the evaluation.
Treatment:
The most important bit: treatment of breast pain is entirely
released to understanding the cause of the pain.
Most women will have normal examination and mammogram
findings. In such women, breast pain is commonly attributed to these causes:
- Stress
- Ill fitting bras
- Inadequate water intake
- Essential fatty acid deficiency
Important fact: breasts have a lot of sensory nerve endings,
hence they respond to stress…
Stress often triggers and worsens breast pain.
Stress is the most common underlying factor in most women
complaining of breast pain.
Meditation, deep breathing exercises, yoga are very helpful
in this regard.
Ill fitting bras are something a lot of women tend to
neglect.
A well fitting bra or a sports bra will often give dramatic
relief.
Plenty of oral fluids are recommended, as we do not realise
our dehydrated status because of working in closed environments.
Some women also benefit from intake of evening primrose oil,
which contains Gamma linolenic acid, an essential fatty acid.
Bottomline:
Most women with breast pain do not have cancer. But, a
thorough evaluation is required to rule out the possibly.
Most often, reassurance, a few lifestyle changes and very
rarely medicines are all that are required to treat the niggling problem.
#BreastCancerSurgeon
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#breastcancerssymptoms #causesofbreastcancer #Thane #kalwa #Dombivli
#Kalyan #Diva #Ambernath #Badlapur #Ulimhasnagar.
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