Breast pain can cause a lot of anxiety. Many women worry that they may have breast cancer. You may find it reassuring to know that breast pain alone is usually not a sign of breast cancer and does not increase your risk of breast cancer.

Breast pain is very common in women across all ages. Approximately two out of three pre-menopausal women (women who have not been through menopause) will experience breast pain at some point in their lives.

There are two main categories of breast pain

• Breast pain that is part of a women's normal menstrual cycle is known as 'cyclical breast pain'. Women may experience it as discomfort and lumpiness in their breast a week or so before their period. The breast becomes tender and sore to the touch. The pain can also vary from mild to severe. It often goes away once the period starts.
• Some women have lasting pain in the breast that is not related to their menstrual cycle. The pain may be coming from elsewhere in the body. This is known as 'non-cyclical breast pain'.
  

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