The common causes of breast pain are as follows: cyclic pain one to two weeks before the menstrual period; during puberty; breast feeding; the large size of the breasts that pull the tendons; smoking; hormonal medication; chest wall pain; pregnancy; injury or sprain; and presence of cysts in the breasts.

Breast tumours rarely cause breast pain. However, if breast cancer is associated with inflammation, then breast pain may be a sign of cancer. In this case, it will also be associated with other symptoms such as a lump in the breast, local redness, discharge from the nipple, fever and pus in the breast.

You should report your doctor about the persistent breast pain. The first step to diagnosing the cause of breast pain is a physical examination of the breast. If the doctor suspects a serious condition, then the following tests are done: mammogram - X-ray screening; sonography of the breast; MRI to get images of the breast; and breast biopsy to get tissue or fluid from the affected area,

If you have breast pain, over the counter pain-relieving medication can help in reducing the pain. You may take paracetamol or ibuprofen or even rub a pain killing gel to relieve the pain. If they do not help in reducing the pain, you should see a doctor.

Your doctor will advise the following therapies to relieve the breast pain: Omega-3 fatty acid; Vitamin E and primrose oil, however, the effect is not yet proven; hormonal therapy in the form of pills or injections of hormones; and change in the dose of hormonal supplements if you are taking any with the doctor’s advice.