Breast Pain: Cancer Council Victoria: NEVDGP

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( www.cancervic.org.au ) - Copy with permission 2005

This information has been prepared to help you understand more about common breast problems. We can't advise you about the best treatment for you. You need to discuss this with your own doctors. However, we hope this information will answer some of the questions you may have.

Breast Pain
Breast pain is very common and is sometimes called mastalgia. As mentioned before, your breasts respond to the changes linked with the menstrual cycle. Many women experience some degree of tenderness and/or pain before or during their periods. This is quite normal but sometimes the pain or tenderness can be rather severe and interfere with your normal routine.
Often, all that you need is a visit to the doctor so that you can be reassured that your pain is not cancer. For some women, though, the pain may be severe enough to require some form of treatment.

Hints to help you relieve breast pain
There are some simple things you may try if you suffer from breast pain. You may need to try several of these ideas before finding what works for you.
Some women find that wearing a supportive bra at all times, even when they are in bed, helps by reducing breast movement. However, other women choose not to wear a bra at all or choose to wear a loose fitting one.
You could also try holding a hot water bottle to your breasts or having a hot bath or shower. Alternatively, you might find that having a cold shower or holding an ice-pack over your breasts is more effective. Reducing your caffeine intake or cutting it out altogether can help to relieve breast pain. Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, cola and chocolate. Cutting down on the amount of salt and fat in your diet may also help.

Some women have also found that Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) and Vitamin B1 (thiamine) relieves their breast pain. The normal dose of Vitamin B6 is up to 200 mgm per day. Higher doses are not recommended. Check with your doctor or pharmacist about the appropriate dose.
Other women have found that Evening Primrose Oil, taken in tablet or liquid form, can help to relieve pain or premenstrual symptoms. Because Evening Primrose Oil acts on the pituitary gland in the brain, it is not advised for women with epilepsy. Evening Primrose Oil is available without prescription from chemists, health food stores and supermarkets that have a 'health' section. As Evening Primrose Oil is expensive, you might like to try Vitamin B first.

Your doctor may sometimes prescribe a diuretic to relieve your breast pain. A diuretic is a substance which removes excess fluid from the body in the form of urine. As a result you need to go to the toilet more often. This release of fluid may then decrease your breast swelling and pain. Because some diuretics may reduce the level of potassium in the body, you may need to include an extra banana or orange juice in your diet to replace it. Check with your doctor to see if this is necessary for you.
If none of these medications help, you may need to see a breast specialist.

More complex treatments using hormones may be advised. You may wish to contact the Cancer Information Service, on 13 11 20 for more information about this.