At 57, breast pain is often a normal part of the menopausal transition, typically caused by fluctuating hormone levels, or other benign (non-cancerous) conditions. It is rarely a sign of breast cancer.
You should worry about breast pain if it's accompanied by a new lump, skin changes (dimpling, redness, rash), nipple changes (inversion, discharge, scaling), swelling, or pain that's severe, persistent (not linked to your cycle), or interferes with daily activities, as these can signal issues like infection, inflammation, or, rarely, cancer, warranting an immediate doctor visit.
Breast/nipple tenderness is very common on the approach to the menopause, even if you are still getting regular periods. This is often caused by fluctuating oestrogen.
Signs and symptoms of breast cancer include feeling pain in the area of the tumor, or in other parts of the breast and armpit. Sometimes a mass or lump can be felt, but not always. If pain is felt, it might be described as feeling soreness or tightness, burning, prickling, or a stabbing sensation in a specific area.
The duration of breast tenderness during menopause varies; it can be a transient symptom for some, while others may experience it intermittently for years throughout the menopausal transition.
Hot flashes or flushes are, by far, the most common symptom of menopause. About 75% of all women have these sudden, brief, periodic increases in their body temperature.
Hormones are making your breasts sore.
Breasts become sore three to five days prior to the beginning of a menstrual period and stop hurting after it starts. This is due to a rise in estrogen and progesterone right before your period. These hormones cause your breasts to swell and can lead to tenderness.
Symptoms
Other studies have found that an abnormality in the hormone prolactin may affect breast pain. Hormones can also affect cyclical breast pain due to stress. Breast pain can increase or change its pattern with the hormone changes that happen during times of stress.
The most common sign of breast cancer is a lump or mass. It is usually hard, painless, and has uneven edges. Some lumps, however, can be soft and rounded. If you find one we recommend you contact your physician — a primary care doctor or a gynecologist — to have the lump evaluated.
Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is more common in women with fibrocystic breast disease and may play a role in the development of the disease.
Here are the top five vitamins essential for female wellness during menopause.
Five Signs That Menopause Is Ending
Persistent pain: Constant pain that doesn't subside within two to three days, even with the use of anti-inflammatories or a better supportive bra. Lumps or masses: You feel a distinct, new mass or lump that's different from your normal breast tissue. Signs of infection: The breast has redness, warmth or drainage.
The "three-finger test" for breasts refers to the technique used in a breast self-exam (BSE) where you use the pads of your three middle fingers (index, middle, ring) to feel for lumps or changes, applying light, medium, and firm pressure to cover all breast tissue and the armpit, moving in circular or vertical patterns to detect new lumps or thickening. This method, often done while lying down or showering, helps you become familiar with your normal breast texture, but it's a supplement to, not a replacement for, regular clinical exams and mammograms for early detection.
Changing hormone levels can cause changes in the milk ducts or milk glands. These changes in the ducts and glands can cause breast cysts, which can be painful and are a common cause of cyclic breast pain. Noncyclic breast pain may be caused by trauma, prior breast surgery or other factors.
Always make sure to see your doctor if you have abnormal breast pain, specifically if it lasts longer than a few weeks, worsens over time, occurs in only one area of your breast or interferes with your daily activities and sleep patterns.
Since cyclic breast pain is a regular part of your menstrual cycle, you can't exactly prevent it. But there are certain lifestyle changes you can make to ensure that your symptoms won't be as bad. This could include wearing a supportive bra, reducing caffeine intake and quitting smoking.
Several internal organs can also cause pain that radiates to the left breast, including the heart, lungs, stomach, and pancreas. In some cases, sudden sharp pain under the left breast can be a sign of a life-threatening condition, such as a heart attack, pulmonary embolism, or cancer.
Redness, rash or blotchiness of the breast. Some women report that it looks like a bug bite. Pain and/or soreness of the breast. Lump, thickening or dimpling of the skin of the breast.
Breast cancer statistics by age
The average age of U.S. women diagnosed with breast cancer is 62 years old. Half of U.S. women who develop breast cancer are 62 years of age or younger when they are diagnosed. About 9% of all new breast cancer cases in the U.S. are diagnosed in women younger than 45 years old.
These lifestyle choices, including smoking, drinking alcohol, and eating poorly may all raise your risk. Regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight are effective methods to lower your risk. This disease may also arise as a result of certain birth control methods and hormone replacement therapy.
Chest wall pain (also called musculoskeletal pain) can often be mistaken for breast pain. Chest wall pain affects the muscles and soft tissues of the chest after a lot of exercise, an injury, or if the area between the ribs and breastbone gets inflamed.
With age, a woman's breasts lose fat, tissue, and mammary glands. Many of these changes are due to the decrease in the body's production of estrogen that occurs at menopause. Without estrogen, the gland tissue shrinks, making the breasts smaller and less full.
Early studies showed a possible beneficial effect of vitamin E on breast pain in premenstrual women who experience breast pain that fluctuates during the menstrual cycle. In one study, 200 international units (IU) of vitamin E taken twice daily for two months improved symptoms in women with cyclic breast pain.