Cancer Breast Cancer Causes & Risk Factors What's Causing My Left Breast Pain? By Lynne Eldridge, MD Lynne Eldridge, MD Facebook Lynne Eldrige, MD, is a lung cancer physician, patient advocate, and award-winning author of "Avoiding Cancer One Day at a Time." Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 02, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Anita Sadaty, MD Medically reviewed by Anita Sadaty, MD Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Anita Sadaty, MD, is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist at North Shore University Hospital and founder of Redefining Health Medical. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Check Your Heart What's the Origin? Breast-Related Causes Breast Cancer Non-Breast Causes Get Medical Help Frequently Asked Questions Left breast pain is a symptom with many possible causes. Some are due to breast issues and others aren't. The first priority when you have pain in the left breast is to make sure it isn't your heart. If you know your heart is fine, it's time to figure out what could be causing you pain. This article will walk you through the causes of left breast pain, the other symptoms to watch for, and when to see your healthcare provider. Verywell / Emily Roberts First, Check Your Heart Your left breast pain is most likely due to something not heart-related. Still, the first question to ask is whether it's a heart attack. The symptoms of female heart disease may include mild pain, burning, or simply the feeling of an achy breast. These are often different than symptoms of male heart disease. The often vague and subtle symptoms lead women to overlook the signs. Too often, that's a fatal mistake. Everyone should be familiar with the symptoms of a heart attack. They may include: Chest pain or pressure (not present in up to a third of people having a heart attack)Pain in your neck, jaw, or left armShortness of breath (especially common in women)SweatingNauseaLightheadedness or passing outA feeling that something isn't right or a sense of impending doom If you're not sure where your pain is coming from, get immediate medical attention. Having a Heart Attack? How to Tell, What to Do What's the Origin? Left-sided breast pain can originate in the breast itself or in other nearby structures. It can be hard to pinpoint the source. The location of pain isn't always the same location as the problem. Some nerves are very specific. For example, if you feel a sensation on your fingertip, it's likely caused by something at that site. Other nerves aren't as specific. They alert you to the general area of a problem, not the precise location. It's common not to know whether your pain is in your breast or in something close to it. Recap When you have left-sided breast pain, first make sure it's not a heart attack. Then try to determine whether it's your breast or another nearby structure that hurts. Breast-Related Causes Several breast conditions may cause left-sided breast pain. They include: InjuriesBreast surgeryMilk duct conditions and infectionsHormonal causesLumps Injuries Your breasts are covered with sensitive, elastic skin that protects: NervesBlood vesselsConnective tissuesDucts and lobes for producing breast milk If you've had a breast injury, bruising and aches may last until the injury heals. Sometimes an injury to the breast causes scar tissue. Scar tissue can cause pain and fat necrosis, a breakdown of fatty tissue. It may appear as a hard lump. These lumps are hard to distinguish from breast cancer, even on a mammogram. Breast Surgery After any type of breast surgery—augmentation, reduction, or reconstruction—your breasts will hurt as the incisions heal and scar tissue develops. As with scar tissue from an injury, pain can come and go long after your surgery. Depending on the type of surgery, you may experience: Burning pains in your nipplesSharp, shooting pains in your breastA tightness or cramping sensation in your breasts, shoulders, neck, and backNerve pain (burning, pricking, or shock-like sensations) in the breast, chest, arm, or armpit Milk Duct Conditions and Infections Several benign but painful conditions can develop inside your breast milk ducts. An abscess under your nipple or areola can cause pain, redness, and heat. Milk ducts can become clogged, causing a firm, tender lump. Mastitis is an infection in a clogged duct. It makes the breast swollen, tender, warm, and red. Ductal ectasia is another possible infection. It causes tenderness, irritation, redness, and possibly a thick, sticky discharge from the nipple. Breast cysts and fibroadenomas are growths that may crowd breast structures, creating aches and pains. See Your Healthcare Provider If you suspect a breast infection or inflammation, see your regular healthcare provider or gynecologist. You may need antibiotics or other prescription medications. Hormonal Causes Hormone changes may cause breast tenderness. That's especially true during the fluctuations of your menstrual cycle. Other causes include taking hormones for: Oral contraception (birth control pills)Infertility treatmentsHormone replacement therapy You may feel pain in one or both breasts. It may be worse on one side. You might also feel it in your armpit. Some thyroid diseases can lead to benign (noncancerous) breast changes that cause pain. These include: Hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormones) Graves' disease (an autoimmune disorder involving excess thyroid hormone) The nature of the pain depends on the specific breast changes. Lumps Breast lumps can show up at certain stages of your menstrual cycle. If you find lumps at other times, see your healthcare provider right away. It's even a good idea to get lumps that are related to your cycle checked out. Your provider can take the steps necessary to see whether a lump is benign or malignant (cancerous). They'll likely use imaging tests and possibly a biopsy. Recap Breast-related causes of left breast pain include injuries, surgery, problems with milk ducts, hormonal fluctuations, and benign lumps. Left-Sided Breast Cancer Breast cancer is usually—but not always—painless in the early stages. A notable exception is inflammatory breast cancer. That's an aggressive breast cancer that usually begins with: PainRednessSwelling in the breast This cancer often resembles an infection. Most of the time, you can't feel a lump. The only early symptom may be the pain in one breast. Breast cancer in female breast tissue occurs slightly more often on the left side than the right. (It occurs equally on both sides in male breast tissue.) Breast pain is likely due to something other than cancer. Recap Early breast cancer is usually painless unless it's inflammatory breast cancer. Pain on one side may be the first symptom. Redness and swelling may follow. In female breasts, the left side is more prone to cancer. Non-Breast Related Causes Verywell / Emily Roberts It can sometimes be hard to tell where pain is centered. You may feel it in your left breast while it actually comes from beneath it. Some non-breast conditions you may feel in your breast include: Chest wall painEsophageal causesFibromyalgiaLung-related causes Chest Wall Pain Below your breast are chest wall muscles. They may spasm when you're anxious or stressed. That can cause pain that lasts for a few seconds or several days. Chest wall pain from inflammation of the cartilage between the breastbone and ribs is called costochondritis. Chest wall problems can cause a sharp, stabbing pain. It can appear on either side. (It's less common on the right, though). Chest wall pain ranges from mild to severe. It's usually painful to the touch. The pain may radiate to your back or stomach. It may get worse when you take a deep breath. Pains may even shoot down your arms. You can also have pain from pulling a chest muscle. Esophageal Causes Your esophagus is the tube that connects your mouth and stomach. It runs below your left breast. So gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can sometimes feel like left breast pain. A related condition called hiatal hernia may cause similar symptoms. Pain from the esophagus may be a burning pain, like heartburn. You may have other symptoms like an acidic taste in your mouth. Other digestive system conditions, such as liver disease, may at times cause pain that feels like it's in your breast. Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition. It can cause pain anywhere in your body. Chest pain, including costochondritis, is fairly common. Fibromyalgia pain comes from a disordered nervous system. It affects not only nerves, but muscles, joints, and connective tissues. The pain it creates can be generalized and diffuse or sharply focused. The nature of the pain can be dull and achy, sharp, stabbing, burning, or tingling. Fibromyalgia pain is notably not tied to inflammation, redness, or warmth. Very often, fibromyalgia pain is made worse with gentle pressure. This is called tactile allodynia. The 7 Types of Fibromyalgia Pain Lung-Related Causes Your lungs sit behind your breasts. A couple of lung-related conditions can cause pain that's mistaken for breast pain. They include: Pneumonia: A lung infection that causes inflammation in the air sacs Pulmonary emboli: Blood clots that travel to your lungs Other symptoms of a pulmonary embolism include sudden shortness of breath and coughing. Pulmonary emboli are medical emergencies that require immediate treatment. Skin-Related Causes: Shingles Sometimes pain feels like it's either in the skin or on the outer surface of the breast. This may be shingles. That's a condition caused by reactivation of the virus that causes chickenpox (the varicella-zoster virus). It can come on years or decades after you have chickenpox. The initial tenderness is generally followed by a painful rash. Because the rash is the more recognizable symptom, shingles can be hard to recognize early on. Shingles and How to Recognize It Recap Pain from other areas that's felt in the left breast includes chest wall pain, problems with the esophagus or lungs, fibromyalgia, or shingles.Breast/chest pain plus sudden shortness of breath and coughing may be a pulmonary embolism. Get emergency medical treatment for these symptoms. When to Get Medical Help Left-sided breast pain has many causes. Some are more serious than others. The only way to know for sure what's causing your pain is to get medical attention. Pain is your body's way of alerting you to a problem. Don't ignore it or assume it's harmless. If your healthcare provider doesn't find an explanation for your pain, keep pushing for one. If pain persists, consider getting a second opinion. It's not unheard of to have more than one cause of left breast pain. For example, you may have a breast cyst along with costochondritis. When to Call a Healthcare Provider Call a healthcare provider for your breast pain if:It lasts longer than two weeksIt stays in one spotIt gets progressively worseIt limits your activityYou have a painful lump that doesn't go away after your periodYour breasts are red or swollenYou have pus drainage or nipple discharge Summary The first thing to do when you have left breast pain is get checked for a heart attack. Left breast pain can come from injuries or conditions that affect the breast tissue and milk ducts. Breast cancer isn't usually painful early on. An exception is inflammatory breast cancer, which also causes redness and swelling. Pain from other areas felt in the left breast can come from nearby structures like chest muscles, the lungs, or the esophagus. Nerve pain in the area can be from fibromyalgia or shingles. See your healthcare provider about left breast pain so you can have it diagnosed and treated. A Word From Verywell Left breast pain may lead your mind straight to breast cancer. Rest assured most breast pain isn't cancer-related. Even so, be sure to get pain or suspicious lumps checked out right away. An early diagnosis and treatment are best when the cause is serious. Even if your left breast pain isn't a symptom of a serious condition, you'll feel better once it's gone. See your doctor, get a diagnosis, and follow treatment recommendations. Frequently Asked Questions Could pain in your breast be a sign of breast cancer? In some instances, yes. Researchers have found that about 6% of people diagnosed with breast cancer have breast pain. Women are slightly more likely to feel cancer-related pain in their left breast. Learn More: How to Do a Breast Self Exam Why do I have pain under my left breast when I breathe? A sore muscle will hurt more when you inhale. But if you also have symptoms such as a cough or fever, you could have inflammation of the membrane around your lungs and chest (pleurisy) or a respiratory infection such as pneumonia. Learn More: Symptoms of Mild or Walking Pneumonia Can massage ease breast pain? For certain types of pain, yes, massage can help. Massage can reduce pain related to breastfeeding. If you have a pulled muscle in the chest around your breast, an appropriate massage may also relieve the pain. Learn More: Is It Safe to Use Pain Medication When Breastfeeding? Can my bra cause breast pain? Yes. Make sure you wear the appropriate-size bra with proper support for your chest size. Incorrect fit can cause sagging and pulling, which causes breast discomfort. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get honest information, the latest research, and support for you or a loved one with breast cancer right to your inbox. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 22 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Heart Association: Go Red for Women. Symptoms of a heart attack in women vs men. American Cancer Society. Fat necrosis and oil cysts in the breast. Govrin-Yehudain O, Matanis Y, Govrin-Yehudain J. Reduced pain and accelerated recovery following primary breast augmentation with lightweight breast implants. Aesthet Surg J. 2018;38(10):1092–1096. doi:10.1093/asj/sjy071 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Breast implants recovery stages and the issue of pain. Breast Cancer Now. Lasting pain after breast surgery or lymph node removal. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Plugged ducts, mastitis, and thrush. National Breast Cancer Foundation. 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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fibromyalgia. Choy EH. The role of sleep in pain and fibromyalgia. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2015;11(9):513-520. doi:10.1038/nrrheum.2015.56 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pneumococcal disease: Symptoms and complications. National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Shingles. MedlinePlus. Chest pain. Anderson L, Kynoch K, Kildea S, Lee N. Effectiveness of breast massage for the treatment of women with breastfeeding problems: a systematic review. JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports. 2019;17(8):1668-1694. doi:10.11124/jbisrir-2017-003932 Additional Reading Al-Sharydah AM, Al-Abdulwahhab AH, Alghnimi IA, El Shawarby MA, Katbi FA. Mastalgia as an atypical presentation of hepatocellular carcinoma: a case report. World J Surg Oncol. 2017;15(1):58. doi:10.1186/s12957-017-1133-4