No. Breast pain or tenderness is not related to breast density. Breast pain that comes and goes is often because of changes in hormones due to your period and is most common on the sides of your breasts (near your arms and underarms).
Benign (not cancerous) cysts, lymph nodes, and other non-cancerous growths in your breasts may cause tenderness. Skin conditions, such as shingles, and muscle soreness, can feel like breast pain.
Does breast pain mean that I have cancer?
No, breast pain alone is rarely due to cancer. If you have a painful lump or a point of pain (that you can point to with one fingertip) that lasts several weeks, you should talk with your health care provider about having additional tests.
For more information, see Q+A, “Why does breast density matter on my mammogram?”
Learn More:
- 5 Facts Every Woman Should Know
- Video Series: Let’s Talk About Dense Breasts
- Patient Risk Checklist (print)
- Patient Questions and Answers