I Have Breast Pain, A Public Forum @ Sime Darby Specialist Centre Megah, Petaling Jaya – 15 Oct 2011
By Dr Evelyn Ho
Breast Pain is the commonest symptom that gives women anxiety and is often the presenting complaint to the health professional. Breast pain is common especially for those who are in the menstruating age group. This is due to the oversensitive reaction to the monthly cycle of hormones. The pain can range from just being a nuisance to a severity that requires pain killers and other medications. Descriptions of the unwelcome sensations in the breasts include engorgement, pricking, pulling, lightning stabs, throbbing and nonspecific pain. During the public forum conducted by Dr Evelyn Ho, the audience was shown testimonies from a variety of women. They learnt that some women did not have any breast pain, even close to their menses. There were also other causes which did not arise in the breast but in the structures close to or underlying the breast (such as the ribs, chest wall muscles and shoulder). Injury to the breast was of course an obvious reason for breast pain.
Often, these women are referred for breast imaging to exclude possible causes of breast pain that are due to growths or inflammation in the breast/s. For those who are younger than 40 years, with specific complaints or where the health professional or the lady felt “something” in their breast/s, ultrasound would be the modality of choice. An explanation of ultrasound of the breasts, what it could or could not do, and what its role was in breast imaging was done. For those 40 years and older, the first test would be mammograms but probably with ultrasound as the adjunct, depending on what was the presenting symptom or sign. The role of the mammogram as well as its abilities was also expounded.
It is always important to educate the public so that their expectation of the various imaging modalities for the breast is appropriate. Marketing hype surrounding some “alternative” breast imaging techniques was also highlighted.
The interactive session was carried out in a light hearted and culturally sensitive fashion. The few men in the audience were not excluded from the discussions. There were more than 70 participants at the forum which concluded with a Q & A session and naturally refreshments were served after that. Thirteen friends and members of the Breast Cancer Support Society, Segamat made their way that morning from Segamat to attend the forum on the 15th Oct afternoon. The forum was held at Sime Darby Specialist Centre Megah in Petaling Jaya, Selangor DarulEhsan.
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