Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Mammary dysplasia; Diffuse cystic mastopathy; Benign breast disease
Symptoms
Symptoms are usually worse right before the menstrual period, and then improve after the period starts.
You may feel pain or discomfort, usually in both breasts.
- Breast pain commonly comes and goes, but it can last through the whole cycle.
- Your breasts may feel full, swollen, and heavy. You may feel the symptoms near your armpit.
Your breasts may feel thick or lumpy.
- You may notice a lump in the same area that becomes larger before your menstrual cycle, and then shrinks afterward.
- The lumps will move if you push on them and not feel stuck or fixed to anything.
Some women will have discharge from the nipple. If the discharge is clear, red, or bloody, talk to your health care provider right away.
Signs and tests
If you have any concerns about your breasts, your health care provider will examine you.
Ask your health care provider how often you should have a screening
Review Date: 01/24/2011
Reviewed By: Debra G. Wechter, MD, FACS, General Surgery practice specializing
in breast cancer, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle,
Washington. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
