I have sharp pain in the breast at 18. What to do?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am an 18-year-old female. A few days ago, I noticed that my left breast was very tender. Yesterday morning, I started feeling sharp stabbing pain inside my breast near the nipple every hour or so. Last night I started to feel the pain 10 times worse and more frequently.

I also noticed that my nipple started to turn red. The pain goes away and then comes back. I want to add that my mother was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma about 5 months ago in her left breast, and she has had it removed and has now started chemotherapy. This makes me more worried about my symptoms.

Please advise.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Invasive ductal carcinoma at 18 years of age is unlikely, even though you have a family history. The pain in the left nipple area, which had a sudden onset in the last few days and has been decreasing with a localised redness around the nipple, goes more in favour of an abscess rather than a carcinoma. As there has been no blood discharge from the nipple, which is classical in cancer, it would be too early to comment.

But it is suggested that a breast ultrasound may be undertaken to look for an organised lump, if present, and if required, an FNAC may be done to sample the local tissue and send for histopathological examination. This is unlikely to be a premenstrual syndrome (PMS) as it should be bilateral in that case. Consult your physician for a local examination.

Take care.