Why do I only have breast pain in one breast? There are many causes of pain in one breast and not the other. Usually, this type of pain is not associated with a menstrual cycle. If it is associated with a menstrual cycle, it is more likely to be caused by cyclical changes in breast tissue.
One breast may feel different from the other depending on how recently the person has expressed milk from each breast. As the breast fills with milk, some people may experience pain, swelling, or sensitivity.
Breast pain can be due to many possible causes. Most likely breast pain is from hormonal fluctuations from menstruation, pregnancy, puberty, menopause, and breastfeeding. Breast pain can also be associated with fibrocystic breast disease, but it is a very unusual symptom of breast cancer.
Although most cases of breast pain are minor problems, it's important to talk to your doctor about your concerns. “If you have persistent breast pain, you should be evaluated,” says Wright. “And anyone who has a lump — painful or not — should see their doctor for an exam to make sure there isn't a problem.”
However, if your pain is located in one breast — and especially in one specific spot on one breast — don't delay in getting it checked. This “focal” pain is more likely to be a sign of cancer than pain in both breasts, she says.
Typical breast cancer, when it is found, also doesn't cause pain. “If a tumor grows big enough that you can feel it, it will feel like a rock in your breast tissue.
Breast pain with no lump
Breast pain when there's no visible or physical lump may still cause concerns about breast cancer. Breast pain, also known as mastalgia, can be associated with many conditions, including: Hormonal changes during menstrual cycle. Water retention, which may also occur during menstruation.
Pain under or in the left breast could have many possible causes, such as injury, infection, hormones, and lung problems. Sometimes left breast pain can be related to your heart, so it's important to first rule this out before considering other causes.
Breast pain can increase or change its pattern with the hormone changes that occur during times of stress. Hormones may not provide the total answer to cyclical breast pain, since pain is often more severe in one breast than in the other (hormones would tend to affect both breasts equally).
Cyclical breast pain most often affects the upper outer quadrants of both breasts, though may be felt more strongly on one side. Typically occurring in the week leading up to each period, it normally settles down upon menstruation.
There are two basic types of breast pain – cyclic and non-cyclic.
Sleeping on your side or stomach.
“However, it's important to note that sleeping on your stomach—with your chest pressed against the mattress for hours—is tough on your breasts,” notes Dr. Miller. And let's not forget the effects of side sleeping as well, this can cause your breast ligaments to stretch over time.
Sensitivity can vary quite a bit from woman to woman, with smaller breasts on average being more sensitive than larger breasts.
Breasts can feel heavy and sore for many reasons. Menstruation, pregnancy, and breastfeeding are common reasons, but infections and cysts may also cause discomfort. Less commonly, pain may stem from cancer. Many different conditions can cause breast pain.
Non-Cyclic Mastalgia
These are generally described as a localized sharp, burning breast pain. They are unilateral, constant, or intermittent, affecting one breast with a pinpoint localized area of involvement. Most likely affect women in their 30s and 50s.
One may be more tender than the other, it's often both, but one may be much more tender. It can be tenderness around the nipple or mostly it's about the rest of the breast tissue often in the upper outer quadrant of the breast.
Stress and anxiety can also be linked to breast pain. Non-cyclical breast pain may be continuous or it may come and go. It can affect women before and after the menopause. The pain can be in one or both breasts and can affect the whole breast or a specific area.
Do breast cancer lumps hurt? Most breast cancer lumps don't cause pain when you touch them. However, a malignancy in the breast can cause pain, discomfort and swelling in surrounding tissues. Periodic breast pain is not unusual.
Certain types of benign breast disease, such as atypical hyperplasia, make you more prone to breast cancer. Sometimes, benign breast lumps hurt. Your healthcare provider may recommend surgery to remove painful lumps.
Lumps that are benign (not cancer) may be tender and feel smooth and mobile. A cancerous lump is more likely to feel hard, but some non-cancerous lumps can feel hard, too.
Breast pain is usually present to some degree with Inflammatory Breast Cancer which has other distinct symptoms as well. Rarely, a breast tumor may cause pain, but generally cancerous tumors are not reported as painful.
Breast tissue in and of itself can feel somewhat lumpy and sponge-like, so it can be hard to know if what you're feeling is an actual lump or just normal breast tissue. "A breast lump will feel like a distinct mass that's noticeably more solid than the rest of your breast tissue.
Make an appointment to have a breast lump checked, especially if: The lump is new and feels firm or fixed. The lump doesn't go away after 4 to 6 weeks. Or it has changed in size or in how it feels.