Chest pain, early symptoms of breast cancer

Chest pain may be related to breast cancer, but it is not the only early symptom of breast cancer. Most breast cancers are latent in the early stages. If you find abnormalities such as breast lumps, asymmetrical swelling, or skin depressions, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Chest pain is more common in inflammatory diseases or cyclical changes, so it is very important to differentiate between them.

1. Early symptoms and causes of breast cancer

Early breast cancer usually does not cause obvious pain, but breast abnormalities may occur. For example, a painless lump or local swelling may be felt in the breast, which is caused by changes in tissue structure due to abnormal proliferation of breast cells. The breast skin may change to orange peel-like, and nipple secretions, especially bloody secretions, can also cause alarm. Some breast cancer patients may feel pain due to tumor compression of peripheral nerves, but this is rare. Regular breast ultrasound and mammography examinations can effectively help detect early breast cancer.

2. Other causes of chest pain

Chest pain is also often caused by non-tumor diseases. For example, breast hyperplasia may cause periodic pain and distension due to fluctuations in hormone levels; mastitis is mostly caused by bacterial infection, which manifests as local redness, swelling, tenderness and fever; heart diseases such as coronary heart disease or other chest problems such as intercostal neuralgia can also cause similar symptoms. Chest pain is not necessarily breast cancer, but any abnormal pain needs to be vigilant.

3. How to respond and deal with it

If chest pain occurs, it is recommended to choose the appropriate treatment method according to the situation:

For cyclical breast tenderness, wearing a pressure-relieving bra and avoiding caffeine can help relieve symptoms.

People with mastitis need medical treatment, such as local antibiotics to control infection and, if necessary, oral antibacterial drugs such as amoxicillin.

For suspected breast cancer or other serious lesions, you should go to the breast surgery department for ultrasound, mammography, and puncture biopsy. Breast cancer treatment should be considered according to the stage: in the early stage, you can choose surgical resection to preserve the breast or total mastectomy, postoperative chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other comprehensive treatment methods; those with positive endocrine function can add drugs such as tamoxifen.

There may be many reasons behind chest pain, and breast cancer is one of the less common but most vigilant causes. Regular physical examinations and self-breast examinations are the key to early detection of breast cancer, and it is especially important to see a doctor as soon as possible when facing unexplained pain. Paying attention to body signals and health management will help us detect possible problems early and take measures to protect our health.