Breast Pain: What It May Tell YouBy Lillie Shockney, R.N., M.A.S
Women commonly complain of longstanding breast pain and worry what the cause may be. Cancer? Infection? Something Else? The fact is that most of the time breast pain is associated with a benign change. Only 10 percent of the time is breast pain associated with breast cancer.
The most common causes of breast pain are:
>Breast cysts
>Hormonal changes associated with the menstrual cycle
>A breast abscess
>A bra that is too tight or doesn't offer appropriate support
>Fibrocystic changes associated with dense breast tissue and hormonal changes. (Note that I said changes and did not use the word disease, because fibrocystic conditions of the breast are common and technically do not constitute a disease.)
Want relief from your breast pain?
First, see your gynecologist to ensure it isn't anything that warrants intervention, such as draining an abscess or aspirating the cyst during an ultrasound.>Breast cysts
>Hormonal changes associated with the menstrual cycle
>A breast abscess
>A bra that is too tight or doesn't offer appropriate support
>Fibrocystic changes associated with dense breast tissue and hormonal changes. (Note that I said changes and did not use the word disease, because fibrocystic conditions of the breast are common and technically do not constitute a disease.)
Want relief from your breast pain?
Then, inquire if vitamin E taken orally will help. You can also ask about reducing your caffeine intake, wearing a bra that really fits you (and provides adequate support), or possibly readjusting your dose of contraceptive pills if you happen to use that method of birth control.
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