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August 7, 2008
Regions Hospital physician addresses breast pain, a common form of discomfort among women
St. Paul, Minn. – As many as 70 percent of women may experience breast pain in their lives and although it's common and often harmless, breast pain – known as mastalgia – can be concerning to those who have it. Fortunately, breast pain is not a common symptom of cancer.
"The severity of breast pain varies from one person to the next. The pain may occur in one or both breasts, or even in a woman's underarm," said Joe Tashjian, M.D., lead radiologist of the Regions Hospital Breast Health Center. "Breast pain typically occurs in premenopausal and perimenopausal women, although women in postmenopause may experience symptoms."
There are many reasons a women may experience breast pain, including hormone level changes related to menstruation, pregnancy, puberty, breastfeeding or approaching menopause. Other possible causes include alcoholism, fibrocystic breast changes and premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
About 10 percent of women have moderate to severe breast pain more than five days a month. Women who have unexplained breast abnormalities or breast pain that persists or disrupts their lives should seek consultation from their physician.
Regions Hospital is a Level I Trauma Center and teaching hospital serving Minnesota and western Wisconsin for more than 130 years. Regions is a private, non-profit hospital providing outstanding care in womens health, heart, cancer, surgery, orthopaedics, neurosciences, burn, emergency care and more. Regions is part of the HealthPartners family of care. Additional information is available at regionshospital.com.
Contact: Jennifer Kovacich
(651) 254-4726
(651) 629-0411 pager
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