Question:

Hello. My question is about breast pain I have been having in my right breast. I have been having on and off pain in this breast for a while, so the other night I did an exam on it. There were spots that were tender when I pressed on them, and now I`m having pain in the right upper part of my back and also my shoulder. I am a 27 year old female and my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 44. So now I am very worried that this could be cancer. Can cysts cause this kind of pain or should I be worried more about the possibility of cancer?

Answer:

Breast pain is usually due to noncancerous problems like cysts, benign fibroadenomas, or fibrocystic tissue.  Cancer is usually painless but it can rarely hurt.

It is very likely that the pain that you are experiencing is benign.  Pain is more common from the middle of your menstrual cycle through the end of your period.  It is also more common in women who drink a lot of caffeinated beverages like coffee, tea, and cola.

If you continue to have pain, I would suggest that you see your doctor to have an exam.

For more information:

Go to the Breast Cancer health topic.