Call your healthcare provider as soon as you notice any unusual lump. Also, consult your doctor if you observe a significant change during your monthly breast self-exam.
Breast lumps should ideally be checked about one week after your menstrual period begins. Fibrocystic breast changes are usually irregular and mobile, and you may find multiple lumps. Cancerous tumors are typically hard and immobile.
Contact your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following:
Or if you have any other concerning symptoms. It's important to see a doctor if you notice any changes in your breasts.
If you are breastfeeding, contact your doctor if you develop any symptoms of a breast infection to initiate prompt treatment.
Breast changes are common and often improve without any treatment. However, you may be able to alleviate or manage pain associated with fibrocystic or cyclic breast pain. Initially, consider non-medical treatment options:
Keep a pain diary, documenting the frequency and severity of pain for at least two months. This can help you and your doctor determine if the pain is cyclic and if medication with potential side effects is necessary.
Injury: If you experience a breast injury, apply an ice pack for 20 minutes, just as you would for any other bruise. Ensure the ice doesn't touch your skin directly; you can use a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel. You may take a pain reliever like ibuprofen.
Mastitis: Breast infections require medical treatment. After seeing a doctor, consider pain medication, frequent feedings for your infant, and warm compresses.
Avoid using home remedies or herbal remedies without discussing with your healthcare provider. One study in England found positive effects with evening primrose oil in 44% of women with cyclical pain, although danazol was more effective (70% benefitted).
Recommended mammograms should be part of your routine health screening. Keep track of when your last mammogram was done and inform your doctor when you are due for another, based on your doctor's recommendations. Be aware of your body and the changes you notice when examining yourself. Report any mass to your healthcare provider. Follow-up care depends on the cause of your breast pain, symptom severity, and treatment strategy. Discuss a follow-up plan with your doctor. Regular mammograms are an excellent investment in your long-term well-being.
If you have a breast infection, you will usually have a recheck in 24-48 hours. Take all prescribed antibiotics.
Close follow-up for any breast lump or infection is crucial to rule out breast cancer. Mastitis does not cause cancer, but cancer can mimic mastitis. If a breast infection persists, your healthcare provider may recommend a mammogram or other tests to rule out cancer.
Begin doing a monthly breast self-exam once you reach age 20. The best time to examine yourself is around seven to eight days after your period starts. If you have entered menopause, perform the exam at the same time each month. If you find any suspicious masses, report them promptly to your healthcare provider for testing. Tumors discovered during your monthly breast self-exam are typically in an early stage, leading to better outcomes and long-term survival. Most lumps are not cancer.
Regular breast self-exams will familiarize you with your body and alert you to changes in your breast tissue.
Repeating the breast exam and maintaining a pain diary for multiple menstrual cycles can help determine if your breast pain is cyclic or not.
The American Cancer Society recommends yearly mammograms starting at age 40. Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam (CBE) as part of a periodic health exam by a healthcare professional, preferably every three years. After age 40, women should have a breast exam by a healthcare professional every year. If you are younger than 40 and at high risk (e.g., many family members with breast cancer), consult your doctor about the timing of your first mammogram.
Sometimes mastitis is unavoidable, especially for first-time breastfeeding women.