Why do women have it?

What can be done about it?

What are the symptoms?

Average caffeine content of common foods

Coffee mg/cupDeCaf Instant 5Instant 60Brewed, ground 86Percolated 110Drip 145

Soft Drinks mg/cupDiet 7Up, 7Up, Sprite 0Diet Sunkist 0Fanta Orange, Fresca 0Hires Root Beer 0Pepsi Free 0RC 100 0Diet Rite Cola 33Royal Crown Sugarfree 33Royal Crown Cola 34

Tea mg/cupHerbal 01 min brew 9-333 min brew 20-465 min brew 20-66

Drugs mg/tabletDristan 15Bromo Seltzer 30Cope 30Corocidin 30APC 32Empirin Cmpd 32Midol 32

Chocolate, cocoa mgCarob 0Milk Chocolate 6 per ozSweet/Dark Chocolate 20 per ozBaking Chocolate 35 per ozCocoa 6-42 per cup

Pepsi Light & Sugar Free 36Sunkist Orange 42Pepsi 43Tab 45Dr. Pepper 54Mountain Dew 55Mr. Pibb 57Coca Cola 65

Vanquish 32Anacin 32Fiorinal 40Excedrin 65Cafergot 100No Doz 100

Breast PainDarlene G. Cass Women's Imaging Center provides breast health diagnostic procedures such as: screening and diagnostic mammography, breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), stereotactic biopsy, ultrasound and ultrasound-guided biopsy. Bone density screening and evaluations are also provided.

Patient Scheduling: (214) 820-2430Scheduling Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pmOffice Hours: Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm Two Saturdays a month, 8 am – Noon

Two locations to serve your needs:

Baylor University Medical Center at DallasDarlene G. Cass Women’s Imaging Center at JuniusBaylor Medical Pavilion3900 Junius St., Ste. 200, Dallas, Texas 75246

Baylor University Medical Center at DallasDarlene G. Cass Women’s Imaging Center at North DallasBaylor Health Center at North Dallas9101 N. Central Expwy., Ste. 200, Dallas, Texas 75231

BaylorHealth.com

The W. H. & Peggy Smith Baylor Sammons Breast Center provides education on breast health including benign breast conditions, screening and diagnostic services, and breast cancer treatment options. Information is also provided about breast cancer prevention, hereditary risk, clinical trials and reconstructive surgery.

For information call (214) 820-9600.

Physicians are members of the medical staff at one of Baylor Health Care System’s subsidiary, community or affiliated medical centers and are neither employees nor agents of those medical centers, Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas or Baylor Health Care System. ©2008 Baylor Health Care System. MOD-08030 BUMC-DCWIC. 5,000. 5/08

mg/cup

mg/tablet

Benign Breast Pain

Benign (non-cancerous) breast

problems have been estimated to

affect as many as 50 to 70 percent

of women in the U.S. The most

common benign breast complaint is

premenstrual breast discomfort and

lumpy breasts. These complaints

have been labeled as a fibrocystic

condition. The term “fibrocystic” can

be frightening. It is simply a medical

term that describes lumpy and

painful breasts. It is important to

note that most fibrocystic breast

tissue is not associated with an

increased risk for the development of

breast cancer.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms range from mild, annoying generalized discomfort

to tingling, stinging, or sharp pain throughout the breast. The

breasts may feel full or heavy, and it may be uncomfortable

to sleep on your stomach or wear a bra. The breasts may

simply feel lumpy. Symptoms of tenderness, swelling and

lumpiness vary with the menstrual cycle and are usually

more severe just before menstruation.

Why do women have it?

Normal breasts are affected by changing hormone levels

during the menstrual cycle. Premenstrual levels of estrogen

and progesterone cause the breast to feel more lumpy and/or

swollen. In many women, the lumpiness and/or pain

becomes more pronounced as they get older. Perhaps this is

a result of increased sensitivity to these normal hormones.

The breasts usually feel most tender during the week before

menstruation. Sometimes the breasts are painful through

most of the cycle.

What can I do about it?

Relief and comfort for premenstrual breast symptoms include

mechanical, dietary, pharmacological and psychological

measures*.

A well-fitted support bra (e.g. sports bra) worn 24-hours a

day when the breasts are most sensitive may help relieve

pain associated with movement. Changing to a larger bra

size may be helpful if breast swelling occurs.

Heat, in the form of a heating

pad, warm compresses, or a bath

can provide relief. For some

women, using an ice pack or cold

compress may be more effective.

For women who are overweight,

weight loss and ideal weight

maintenance may reduce breast pain. A low-fat, high

carbohydrate diet may reduce breast pain.

Reducing salt in the

diet and increasing

noncaffeinated fluids

(8-10 glasses a day)

may decrease the

tendency for the breast

to swell.

Eliminate methylxanthines (caffeine, theophylline,

theobromine) from the diet. These are found in coffee, tea,

cola drinks, chocolate, and some medications. One should

eliminate these products from the diet for at least three to

four months to truly assess improvement in symptoms.

Vitamin B1 (100 mg) each day and Vitamin E (800 I.U.) daily

may be helpful. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

(NSAIDs) or acetaminophen may help reduce discomfort.

Stress can affect breast pain indirectly because emotions

can influence hormone levels, which, in turn, affect the

breasts. Stress-relieving techniques such as regular

physical exercise, relaxation techniques and massage may

be effective. There is no guaranteed remedy for cyclical

breast discomfort. However, the good news is that it is not a

sign of breast cancer, and usually disappears with the onset

of menopause.

Persistent, localized breast pain is an infrequent danger sign

but should not be ignored. See your doctor for a complete

breast examination and mammogram, if appropriate.

Persistent,

localized

breast pain is

an infrequent

danger sign

but should not

be ignored.

See your

doctor for a

complete

breast

examination

and

mammogram,

if appropriate.