• Breast pain can be associated with anything from Fibrocystic breast changes, menstruation related cyclic pain, pregnancy, breastfeeding, side effects of certain medications, infection such as mastitis to inflammatory breast cancer.

• Heaviness of breast is because of various reasons such as large breasts, breast cysts, mastitis, pain originating from chest wall or pectoral muscles but not related to breasts and in rare cases associated with Breast cancer.

Further investigation is required in your case so as to confirm the cause behind the breast pain which include:

 Mammogram - Mammogram may assist you in diagnosis where in case the doctor feels a breast lump or unusual thickening or detects a focused area of pain your breast tissue, an x-ray of breast will help in evaluating the area of concern.

 Breast examination - In which health care provider will examine your breasts as well as the lymph nodes in your lower neck and underarm for changes and will most likely listen to your heart and lungs and examine your chest and belly to see whether the discomfort is caused by another ailment. If your medical history, breast exam, and physical exam find nothing out of the ordinary, you may not require any extra testing.

 Ultrasound - An ultrasound exam, which employs sound waves to create pictures of your breasts, is frequently performed in conjunction with a mammogram. Even if the mammography seems normal, you may require an ultrasound to check a specific location of discomfort.

 Biopsy of the breast - Suspicious breast lumps, thickening regions, or unusual areas observed during imaging scans may require a biopsy before your doctor can establish a diagnosis. During a biopsy, your doctor collects a tiny sample of breast tissue from the affected region and sends it to a lab for investigation.

 

• Tamoxifen is usually prescribed in treatment of patients who have cancerous growth in the breast.

• Breast tenderness can be managed with application of warm or cold compresses, occasional use of pain killers, low fat and high complex carbohydrate involved diet and limiting the consumption of alcohol and caffeine.

Consult a Gynecologist for further investigations and treatment.

Dr. Sayalee Karve

Clinical Pharmacologist

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