9 Is it cancerous?

The cause of pain in the breast is often linked to signs of cancer. Many people also think that pain in their breasts is a symptom of a serious condition, such as breast cancer. However, is that assumption correct? What are other causes of breast pain? Check out the explanation below.

The cause of pain in the breast, is it always a sign of cancer?

It is unlikely that the pain in your breasts is a sign of cancer. Pain is not a common symptom of breast cancer. The pain that usually appears in your breasts is the result of the normal changes that are happening to your breasts.

Most cases of pain in the breasts are generally associated with symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, aka PMS. However, there are several other reasons why breasts feel sore.

What causes breast pain?

Generally, the pain you feel in your breasts is not a sign of cancer. Some of the causes that make you feel pain in your breasts include:

1. Large breast size

Often not realized, large breast size can actually be one of the causes of your breasts feeling sore. In fact, an internist, dr. Jomo James, said that this pain can spread to the back and neck area.

This radiating pain is caused by a sufficient amount of fat deposited in your upper body.

This buildup of weight in the chest area will also make the body tend to bend (lordosis) in order to hold that weight. A common symptom in people who have lordosis is muscle pain.

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, women with large breast sizes may experience breast pain related to their size. They may also experience other problems, such as back pain and shoulder pain.

2. Breast structure problems

Other causes of sore breasts are changes that occur in the milk ducts or mammary glands. Could be due to breast cysts, trauma before breast surgery, or other factors localized in the breast.

3. Menstruation

For most women, the menstrual cycle is the cause of a myriad of aches and pains in the breasts. This is a normal reaction to the hormonal fluctuations associated with menstruation. This type of pain is known as cyclic pain.

"Pain is a common condition during menstrual cycles and PMS, when hormone production — such as estrogen and progesterone — increases," says Karthik Ghosh, MD, director of the breast clinic at the Mayo Clinic Rochester, Minnesota.

The increase in the hormones estrogen and progesterone during menstruation and the early trimester of pregnancy often causes breast pain.

Reporting from Healthline, breast pain due to PMS will subside once menstruation is complete. Meanwhile, the pain in the breasts due to pregnancy can continue as long as the pregnancy hormone progesterone continues to increase in your pregnancy.

4. Menopause

Entering the age of menopause is also one of the causes for you to feel pain in your breasts. At this time, the hormones progesterone and estrogen continue to fluctuate.

When these hormones increase, breast tissue will undergo changes that can make your breasts feel sore. Breast pain may disappear after the hormones stabilize and go through menopause.

5. Drug side effects

Female fertility drugs and birth control pills can also cause breast pain. These side effects are also felt due to the use of SSRI antidepressant drugs (Selective S Erotonin Reuptake Inhibitor).

6. Fatty acid imbalance

An imbalance of fatty acids in the body's cells can affect the breast tissue to become more sensitive to the influence of hormones so that it can cause breast pain.

7. Exercising too hard

Maybe routine push-ups or lifting weights that you are doing is too heavy. As a result, it can be the cause of an uncomfortable sensation in the breasts, which is similar to pain.

In fact, the discomfort comes from the pectoral muscle under the breast being pulled. These muscles work to stretch and relax when you exercise too hard.

To overcome this, you can use patches or take pain relievers.

8. The activity of pulling or lifting something heavy

Just like the vigorous exercise above, the pectoral muscles under your breasts overwork when pulling or lifting anything heavy. Moving heavy utensils or furniture in your home can cause pain.

Try asking for help when lifting or moving heavy things. That way, muscle work can be lighter and save you from pain.

9. Wrong bra size

The wrong bra size can be the cause of serious problems with your breasts, which can cause pain.

If your everyday bra is too tight or cup your bra is too small, the straps may push against your chest further and cause pain.

Vice versa, if your breasts are not well supported, aka a sagging bra, gravity will affect your breasts as you walk.

This causes your breasts to bounce up and down, and pulls the pectoral muscles in as well.

A recent study found that one in three marathon runners complained of experiencing breast pain. To relieve this pain, choose a sports bra that fits your breast size.

When trying, do a few small hops or sprints in place and make sure none of your breasts sag down or stick out, aka not fit.

It is very important to choose a bra that provides proper support, especially when exercising, especially for those of you who have large breasts.

This will keep your breasts in place and avoid the risk of pulling on the pectoral muscle tissue.

If you experience breast pain that is concentrated in only one area and does not go away for a long time, or even gets worse, consult a doctor immediately.

When to see a doctor

Most breast pain will go away on its own, regardless of the cause. Pain in the breasts can also be treated easily with pain relievers.

However, if the pain in the breasts doesn't go away within a week or two, or if it gets worse, see a doctor immediately. Especially if the pain in the breast is accompanied by other symptoms, such as a lump in the nipple, or signs of infection such as redness and swelling.

The doctor will help to carry out a clinical examination to determine the cause of the pain in the breast you feel.