A Young Woman Seeks a Mastetectomy to Relieve Extreme Breast Pain

Jordan says her breasts have been a constant source of pain – and she wants them both removed!

She first noticed pain and a sensation of pressure when she began developing at age 12. “I just thought that was normal,” she says.

At 17 she discovered a lump in her breast. Doctors found and removed six fibroadenomas – benign breast tumors. However, the surgery has not relieved her pain.

Jordan is a track athlete and says “The running and jumping motions will make the pain worse.” She is in so much pain that she is considering having a bilateral mastectomy. “My breasts kind of feel like a foreign object,” she explains. “They’re just like a parasite. I don’t want that anymore – I want the pain to be gone.”

Watch: Ibuprofen Better for Chronic Pain?

The Doctors send Jordan to oncologist Dr. Kristine Slam. She has a few suggestions – Jordan is on hormonal birth control, and she suggests stopping that, as well as keeping a pain journal and testing Jordan’s thyroid function and Vitamin D level.

“I love that you went through all the possible explanations,” ER Physician Dr. Travis Stork tells Dr. Slam.

Breast Surgeon Dr. Kristi Funk says that most breast pain is caused by benign hormonal fluctuations, “The good news is that the vast majority of breast pain is not as extreme as Jordan’s.” Or it may result from easily treated breast cysts. However, she warns viewers not to ignore breast pain, because it can also be a sign of breast cancer.

Watch: Balance Hormones Naturally

For women with mild breast pain, Dr. Funk recommends trying her “cocktail” – a combination of evening primrose oil, vitamin E, and vitamin D. And her tests show that Jordan is deficient in vitamin D, so she’ll be receiving supplements to bring her level up.

“But that is not where we stop!” says Dr. Funk. Acupuncture, aqueous iodine supplements, or herbal teas might all help.

“For any woman out there watching, if you suffer from breast pain get a consultation from someone you know and trust,” concludes Dr. Stork. “Living with chronic pain is not something you have to do.”