This module discusses the etiology, epidemiology, and treatments for multiple causes of breast pain.
Breast pain topics covered in this module:
Anatomy and Physiology of Normal Breasts
- Mastalgia (General Breast Pain)
- Age Related Breast Pain
- Child Bearing Breast Pain
- Benign Breast Disease
- Cancer Related Breast Disease
Breast Pain Epidemiology
Breast pain is common. It is rarely a symptom of breast cancer.
| Breast Pain | Epidemiology |
|---|---|
| Mastalgia (general breast pain) | Up to 70% of women experience in their life |
| Cyclic | Account for 67% of all breast pain |
| Cyclic Menopausal | ~40% experience cyclic mastalgia during premenopausal |
| Non Cyclic | Less common than cyclic breast pain |
| Nipple Pain | 80%-90% of breastfeeding mothers |
| Traumatic Nipple | 29%-76% of breastfeeding mothers |
| Nipple pain develop into nipple fissure | 26% of breastfeeding mothers |
| Breastfeeding problems from short frenulum | 12.8%-44% |
| Engorgement | 36.6% of women postpartum (1st 2 weeks) |
| Mastitis and breast abcess | 3-33% of breastfeeding women |
| Physical problems post breast cancer surgery | 90% of breast cancer survivors |
| Post Mastectomy Pain Syndrome |
Mastalgia (Breast Pain)
- Anatomy and Physiology of Normal Breasts
- Age Related
- Menopause
- Non-Cyclical Pain
- Cyclical Pain
- Menstruation
- Non-Cyclical Pain
- Cyclical Pain
- Menopause
- Age Related
- Child Bearing
- Pain During Pregnancy
- Lactation
- Plugged Ducts/Engorgement (can lead to Mastitis)
- Abscess
- Sore Nipples
- Vasopasm / Raynauds Phenomenon
- Short Frenulum
- Inefficient Attachment
- Yeast
- Benign Disease Related
- Mastitis
- Fibrocystic Disease
- Cancer Related Breast Pain
- Postmastectomy syndrome (PMPS)/Persistent Pain After Breast Cancer Surgery (PPBCS)
Normal Anatomy of the Breast
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Sharon has Pain with Breastfeeding
Sharon and Diane Spatz, PhD, RN-BC, FAAN talk about her pain with breastfeeding.
Shanita Has Mastitis
Shanita and Diane Spatz, PhD, RN-BC, FAAN talk about her pain from mastitis.
