Breast care

Your breast health is an essential part of your overall well-being—at every stage of life. Breast health begins with understanding what’s normal for you, so you can detect if changes or abnormalities appear. Many women experience symptoms such as breast pain, lumps or skin changes, which are often benign but should be evaluated by a health care professional. If you notice any changes to your breasts, reach out to your provider.  

Care for your breasts by getting a mammogram

Common Breast Conditions and Symptoms

Understanding the wide range of breast-related symptoms can help you determine when to seek care.  

Fibrocystic Breast Disease: This common condition affects roughly half of women at some point in their lives. It involves lumpy, tender breasts that may feel more pronounced before menstruation. Though benign, these changes can make it harder to detect other abnormalities through self-exam or mammogram.

Breast Pain (Mastalgia): Breast pain is very common and can be linked to hormonal changes, muscle strain, infections or benign conditions. While mastalgia is usually not a sign of cancer, pain that persists or worsens should be examined by your health care provider.

Itchy breast and nipples: Itchiness may stem from dry skin, allergic reactions or irritation from clothing. However, if itching is persistent or associated with other changes like discharge or scaling, it could be a sign of a more serious condition like Paget’s disease of the breast.

Breast infection: Infections like mastitis often occur during breastfeeding but can affect non-lactating women as well. Symptoms include redness, warmth, swelling and fever. Treatment typically involves antibiotics and continued milk expression if you are breastfeeding.

Breast cyst: Cysts are fluid-filled sacs that can feel like soft or firm lumps and are often tender before menstruation. Most cysts are benign and may not require treatment unless they are painful or growing.

If you’re experiencing symptoms like a lump in your breast, nipple pain, or changes in skin texture, MercyOne is here to help with expert care, advanced diagnostics and compassionate support every step of the way.

In addition to recognizing changes, breast care includes being proactive with your regular exams and mammograms.