120424 When should I talk to my doctor? 2 of 4

120424 When should I talk to my doctor?

All of the following is taken from a pamphlet published by Inland Imaging.[1]

www.inlandimaging.com/locations with the source cited as:[2]

If you have breast pain, you are not alone. Breast pain, also known as mastalgia, Is common and accounts for 45 to 70% of breast related health care visits. The good news is that most causes of breast pain are benign (non cancerous) and usually related to hormonal changes in your body or something as simple as a poor fitting bra. You have a lump in the area of pain that does not go away after your period.

• You have redness, swelling or drainage from the area (signs of infection).
• You have nipple discharge.
• Your breast pain is not clearly associated with your menstrual cycle or lasts more than two weeks.
• Your breast pain is just in one spot and does not involve the whole breast.
• Your breast pain keeps getting worse.
• Even if you do not fit into any of these categories, if you are worried, it is always a safe bet to talk to your doctor about your symptoms.

What will my doctor do?

Your doctor will probably ask you questions about your breast pain. These may include: How long has it been there? Is the pain associated with any other change in your lifestyle or body? Have you noticed a lump or any other changes to your breast? How bad is the pain? What does the pain feel like? Do you have any family history of breast cancer?

Your doctor will likely examine your breasts for lumps, skin changes, focal tenderness or nipple discharge. Depending on the exam and your answers to the questions, your doctor may order imaging tests.

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[1] At inland imaging, our specialty trained radiologists, nurses, and technologists make sure that you get detailed answers quickly and accurately. Because when it comes to your health, better answers can lead to better outcomes.

Scheduling: (509) 455. 4455.

[2] The Society of Breast Imaging. SBR, September 27th 2019. Doctor Michelle Lee is an assistant professor of radiology at Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis. Doctor Wendi Owen is an assistant professor of radiology at UK Healthcare.