Patient education: Common breast problems (Beyond the Basics)
 

AUTHOR:Valerie L Staradub, MD, FACS

SECTION EDITOR:Anees B Chagpar, MD, MSc, MA, MPH, MBA, FACS, FRCS(C)

DEPUTY EDITOR:Wenliang Chen, MD, PhD

COMMON BREAST PROBLEMS OVERVIEW

Breast problems, such as breast lumps, breast pain or tenderness, nipple discharge or inversion, and changes in the skin of the breast, are common in women of all ages, from adolescents to older women. While it can be frightening to discover a new breast problem, most breast problems are not caused by breast cancer.
This topic will review some of the most common breast problems, including those that you or your healthcare provider may find. This article will also review how common breast problems are evaluated and treated.
More detailed information about common breast problems is available separately. (See"Overview of benign breast diseases" and "Clinical manifestations, differential diagnosis, and clinical evaluation of a palpable breast mass".)

All topics are updated as new evidence becomes available and our peer review process is complete.

Literature review current through: Nov 2024.

This topic last updated: May 15, 2024.