Many women occasionally suffer from periods of sometimes severe breast pain. Little is known about the aetiology. Although breast pain is rarely a symptom of breast cancer, the primary aim of examination is to exclude this diagnosis. For most women reassurance with respect to breast cancer appears to be adequate treatment. If the pain persists or is so severe that it interferes with normal life, drug treatment should be considered after exclusion of the possibility of breast cancer. Surgical treatment of diffuse breast pain should be discouraged.