Breast pain rarely means breast cancer, especially in the early stages. Most people with early breast cancer do not feel pain at all. Pain is more likely to appear only in more advanced stages of the disease.
When breast cancer does cause pain, other signs usually appear first. These can include changes in nipple color, swelling, frequent itching, nipple discharge, or changes in the shape of the nipple. Because early breast cancer often has no symptoms, pain alone is not a reliable warning sign. Read more about signs of breast cancer and how they can present.
There is a rare type called inflammatory breast cancer that can cause breast pain as it develops. Even in this case, pain usually comes with other clear symptoms such as redness, swelling, nipple discharge, or an inverted nipple. This type of cancer can be detected with exams used to investigate breast pain, such as a mammogram.
Most breast pain is caused by non-serious conditions like hormonal changes, benign cysts, breastfeeding, pregnancy, or the use of certain medications. Anyone who feels persistent breast pain or notices a lump should perform a breast self-exam and schedule a visit with a gynecologist or breast specialist. Regular checkups help detect problems early and improve treatment outcomes.