Just as there is a popular misconception that a painful lump can't be breast cancer, there are many misunderstandings surrounding breast conditions and their symptoms, as well as breast cancer. If you have concern over any breast changes or pain, trust your instincts and call your healthcare provider. Listen to your body.
Find a healthcare provider who carefully listens to your concerns. If you are not taken seriously, find another provider. It can be for some people, but not always. Breast cancer can be painless, and breast pain can have different underlying causes, many of which are not cancer. While back pain is not typically a symptom of breast cancer, if breast cancer metastasizes spreads , it can cause back pain. A common site of breast cancer metastasis is the bones. If this occurs, it may cause back pain due to cancer in the spine or lower pelvis.
The only way to find out whether your breast pain is a result of something serious is to see your healthcare provider. Your doctor will perform a clinical breast exam, order imaging tests, if necessary, and determine what may be causing the pain. Breast pain can have lots of different causes, many of them being benign and temporary. Yes, anxiety and stress can cause painful breasts.
Talk with your healthcare provider if you suspect stress or anxiety may be playing a role in your breast pain. Get honest information, the latest research, and support for you or a loved one with breast cancer right to your inbox. National Breast Cancer Foundation. Breast Pain. Typical and atypical presenting symptoms of breast cancer and their associations with diagnostic intervals: Evidence from a national audit of cancer diagnosis.
Cancer Epidemiol. My Breast Hurt. Should I be Worried? Society of Breast Imaging. Approach to inflammatory breast cancer. Can Fam Physician. Pain management in metastatic breast cancer. Brain metastasis in breast cancer: a comprehensive literature review. J Neurooncol. Cingam SR, Karanchi H. Cancer, Adrenal Metastasis. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Male breast cancer, clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment: Twenty years of experience in our Breast Unit.
Int J Surg Case Rep. J Breast Health. Published Apr 1. Relation between mastalgia and anxiety in a region with high frequency of posttraumatic stress disorder. Breast tenderness and breast cancer risk in the estrogen plus progestin and estrogen-alone women's health initiative clinical trials.
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment. Associations between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine genes and breast pain in women prior to breast cancer surgery. The Journal of Pain. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. Most are benign, or noncancerous. Even though the majority of breast lumps are caused by less severe conditions, new, painless lumps are still the most common symptom of breast cancer.
We often associate pain with something wrong, so when people feel tenderness or pain in their breast, they often think of breast cancer. But breast pain is rarely the first noticeable symptom of breast cancer. Several other factors can cause the pain. Clinically known as mastalgia , breast pain can also be caused by the following:. There are two categories that reflect the nature of breast cancer:. When you visit your doctor with concerns about breast pain, tenderness, or a lump, there are common tests they might perform.
Your doctor will examine your breasts and the skin on your breasts, as well as check for nipple problems and discharge.
They may also feel your breasts and armpits to look for lumps. Your doctor will ask you questions about your health history, including any medications you might be taking, as well as the medical history of immediate family members. Your doctor will also ask you about your symptoms, including when you first noticed them. Your doctor may request a mammogram , which is an X-ray of the breast, to help distinguish between a benign and malignant mass. Ultrasonic sound waves can be used to produce an image of breast tissue.
Your doctor may suggest an MRI scan in conjunction with other tests. This is another noninvasive imaging test used to examine breast tissue. This involves removing a small amount of breast tissue to be used for testing. Learn more about breast cancer tests. Depending on the type and stage of cancer, treatments can vary. But there are some common practices doctors and specialists use to combat breast cancer:. Despite initial treatment and success, breast cancer can sometimes come back.
This is called recurrence. Recurrence happens when a small number of cells escape the initial treatment. Symptoms of a recurrence in the same place as the first breast cancer are very similar to symptoms of the first breast cancer. For those who do experience symptoms related to this type of cancer, the following may be common:. Another rare form of breast cancer , angiosarcoma forms inside the lymph and blood vessels. Only a biopsy may definitively diagnose this type of cancer.
Angiosarcoma can cause changes to the skin of your breast, such as the development of purple-colored nodules that resemble a bruise. These nodules, if bumped or scratched, may bleed. Over time, these discolored areas may expand, making your skin appear swollen in that area. You may or may not have breast lumps with angiosarcoma. If you also have lymphedema , which is swelling caused by a buildup of lymphatic fluid, angiosarcoma may occur in the affected arm.
Cancer treatment sometimes damages the lymph vessels, which may lead to lymphedema. Most phyllodes tumors are benign, but one in four is considered cancerous, according to the ACS.
This rare type of cancer is found in the connective tissues of the breast. Because these tumors may grow quickly, causing the skin to stretch, they need to be surgically removed. Your care team also may include a breast surgeon, radiation oncologist, radiologist, pathologist and a plastic and reconstructive surgeon with advanced training in helping patients restore function and appearance.
Fertility preservation and genetic testing are also available for qualifying patients who need them. Our pathologists and oncologists are experienced and trained in tools designed to diagnose, stage and treat different types of breast cancer, from early-stage ductal carcinoma in situ to complex diseases such as triple-negative and inflammatory breast cancer. As part of our patient-centered care model, which is designed to help you keep strong during treatment, your multidisciplinary care team may recommend various evidence-informed supportive therapies , such as naturopathic support , psychosocial support , nutritional support , physical and occupational therapy and pain management.
Make a difference in the fight against cancer by donating to cancer research. Call us anytime. What are the signs and symptoms of breast cancer? This page was updated on November 9, A visual guide to early signs and symptoms of breast cancer. Early warning signs of breast cancer The most common sign of breast cancer that you may notice is a painless lump in your breast, potentially indicating a tumor. Non-invasive breast cancer symptoms Non-invasive breast cancer is sometimes called stage 0 cancer.
Lobular carcinoma symptoms Lobular carcinoma in situ LCIS does not cause symptoms and cannot be seen with a mammogram. Invasive breast cancer symptoms Most breast cancers start in the ducts, or the tubes that carry milk to the nipple, or in the lobules, the little clusters of sacs where breast milk is made.
Invasive breast cancer symptoms may include: A lump or mass in the breast Swelling of all or part of the breast, even if no lump is felt Skin irritation or dimpling Breast or nipple pain Nipple retraction turning inward The nipple or breast skin appears red, scaly, or thickened Nipple discharge A lump or swelling in the underarm lymph nodes. Inflammatory breast cancer symptoms Unlike other breast cancers, inflammatory breast cancer IBC rarely causes breast lumps and may not appear on a mammogram.
Metastatic breast cancer symptoms Metastatic breast cancer symptoms depend on the part of the body to which the cancer has spread and its stage. If the breast or chest wall is affected, symptoms may include pain, nipple discharge, or a lump or thickening in the breast or underarm. If the bones are affected, symptoms may include pain, fractures, constipation or decreased alertness due to high calcium levels.
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