Does Breast Cancer Hurt?

Breast cancer does not usually hurt. Research shows just 6% of people diagnosed with breast cancer report breast pain as a symptom. However, a rare type of cancer known as inflammatory breast cancer can cause breast pain.

Breast pain is more likely due to hormone fluctuations from puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause. Other reasons your breast may hurt include fibrocystic breast changes or medication side effects.  

This article discusses breast cancer and breast pain. It explains common symptoms of breast cancer and other reasons why your breasts hurt.

What Are the Symptoms of Breast Cancer?

Four out of five times, a breast lump is the primary symptom of breast cancer. Other symptoms of breast cancer include:

• A change in the size or shape of the breast
• Breast thickening or swelling in any one area
• Dimpling breast skin
• Discharge other than breastmilk, including blood
• New nipple retraction or inversion (a nipple that turns inward)
  
• New lump in armpit or breast
• Pain in the breast or nipple
• Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast.
• Skin irritation on the breast
• Thickening or swelling of part of the breast
  

Does Breast Cancer Cause Pain?

Breast pain is not typically a sign of breast cancer. In fact, one study found that only 6% of women reported breast pain as their main symptom.

A breast tumor is a hard clump of breast cancer cells that causes a lump in the breast. It does not usually cause pain unless the tumor is larger than 2 centimeters (almost 0.8 inches) in diameter. However, a tumor can be larger than 2 centimeters and still not cause pain.

A rare type of cancer known as inflammatory breast cancer can cause breast pain. This pain is usually unrelated to your menstrual cycle. Other signs of inflammatory breast cancer include redness, a rash, and severe itching. 

What Does Breast Cancer Feel Like?

Breast cancer commonly feels like a hard, painless lump in the breast or armpit. While breast cancer does not normally hurt, when it does, the pain can feel like it is:

• In only one breast
• Persistent
• Specific to one spot

Breast cancer can be present long before it causes pain. If you have other symptoms of breast cancer, consult your healthcare provider for a clinical breast exam.

Can Breast Cancer Pain Spread to Other Parts of the Body?

When breast cancer spreads to another part of the body, it is known as metastatic breast cancer. Metastatic breast cancer may also cause pain. 

Cancer pain can be from a larger tumor—these are often over 2 centimeters in diameter—or pain in other regions of the body due to the spread of cancer. These types of pain are associated with metastatic breast cancer:

• Back pain with leg weakness or bone pain can indicate breast cancer has spread to your bones.
• Dull back pain is a sign breast cancer spread to the adrenal glands.
• Headaches can occur if cancer spreads to your brain.
• Upper right abdomen pain can be a sign cancer spread to your liver. This may be accompanied by jaundice, a yellowing discoloration of the skin, and whites of the eyes.

What Other Conditions Cause Breast Pain?

Breast pain, or mastalgia, is uncommon with breast cancer. Most of the time, breast pain happens along with your menstrual cycle, but it can also be linked to benign nonhormonal causes.

Other benign conditions that can cause breast pain include:

• Blocked milk ducts
• Breast cysts 
• Fibroadenomas

And even though the pain with these conditions can be troubling, it is not usually dangerous.

Does Breast Cancer Hurt in Men?

As with breast cancer in women, breast cancer in men is often painless. That said, it tends to press on nearby structures sooner than a tumor would in most women.

In addition, hormone-induced breast pain is also less likely to occur in men. If you are a man experiencing breast pain, play it safe. 

Breast cancer does occur in men. In fact, 1 in every 100 breast cancer diagnoses in the United States is in a man.

When to See Your Healthcare Provider

It's important to talk to your healthcare provider if you have breast pain from any cause. Even if it's not due to cancer, many women find that breast pain decreases their quality of life.

In one study, 15% of women experienced breast pain at some time in their life that interfered with work and family activities.

Make sure to talk to your healthcare provider if you are experiencing any unusual discomfort.

Summary

Breast pain can be concerning, especially if it develops suddenly. While breast pain doesn't often mean breast cancer, sometimes it may signal that something is not quite right.

Even if the pain is not caused by breast cancer, the pain can negatively impact your quality of life. It is important to speak with your healthcare provider about your breast pain.