Does A Stabbing Pain In The Back And Left Breast Indicate Heart Issues?

Posted on Sat, 14 Apr 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 14 Apr 2018 Answered on

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 Last reviewed on

Question : I have had a stabbing pain in my left breast and back pain across the middle of my back for 2 days. Stabbing is more apparent when I breathe deaply. Could it be heart related? Cancer related? I have a mass in my left breast that has been monitored for years. Believed to be benign.

Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:

As explained.

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

The commonest causes I can think about the pain as you have described are:

Costochondritis.

Possible Herpes Zoster.

Referred pain from nerve entrapment at the back level.

Cardiac related pain whether present or not should be urgently ruled out by urgent EKG and cardiac check-up.

Cancer is usually painless in the initial periods. Painful only if the nerves are involved or secondaries in the spine and needs proper clinical evaluation, examination and relevant investigations like CT scan, PET scan in suspected cases, biopsy and so on.

Since you have a lump in the left breast, please give details; whether FNAC or biopsy was performed or not.

Hope I have answered your query.

Take care

Regards,
Dr T Chandrakant, General Surgeon

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar