Does Breast Pain Mean Cancer?
IF YOU’RE THE type who’s prone to worrywarting (hi!), it’s easy to go to the worst-case scenario when a mysterious ache appears
— like, say, a pain in your breast that you never experienced before. Right away your mind flashes: CANCER and you hit the doc on speed dial. But know this, you’re not alone. Breast pain is a super-common complaint for which patients seek out medical attention: In fact, studies show 70% to 80% of breast issues that women seek their doctor's advice on are related to pain.
But before you call the oncologist in a panic, slow your roll. That discomfort you feel is a) likely notcancer and b) could be caused by something fleeting or harmless. The reality is, breast pain can be caused by so many factors—your period, a bra that’s too small or too big, even the type of medication you’re taking—and the good news is most of them are generally nothing to worry about.
Unbeknownst to you, the meds you’re taking could be the culprit. “There are three major categories of medications that may cause breast pain,” says Monisha Bhanote, M.D., a triple board-certified physician with expertise in integrative medicine, internal medicine, and anatomic/clinical pathology in Jacksonville Beach, FL. “These include hormonal agents such as oral contraceptives and estrogen replacement therapy, psychiatric medications such as SSRIs and antipsychotics, and cardiovascular drugs such as spironolactone (which sometimes is prescribed for acne), and digoxin,” she says.