Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffMost cases of breast pain are classified as either cyclic or noncyclic. Each type of breast pain has distinct characteristics.
| Breast pain characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Cyclic breast pain | Noncyclic breast pain |
|
|
Extramammary breast pain
Extramammary breast pain feels like it originates in the breast, but its source is actually somewhere else. Pulling a muscle in your chest, for example, can cause pain in your chest wall or rib cage.
When to see a doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor if:
- You have breast pain that persists daily for more than a couple of weeks
- Your breast pain is localized to one specific area of your breast
- Your breast pain seems to be getting worse over time
- Your breast pain interferes with daily activities
Although it's not a common symptom of breast cancer, localized breast pain is associated with breast cancer in a small percentage of women.
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