1:"$Sreact.fragment" 2:I[5500,["/_next/static/chunks/8c5f7c6da1334761.js"],"Image"] 13:I[22016,["/_next/static/chunks/8c5f7c6da1334761.js"],""] 16:I[97367,["/_next/static/chunks/ff1a16fafef87110.js","/_next/static/chunks/7340adf74ff47ec0.js"],"OutletBoundary"] 17:"$Sreact.suspense" :HL["/_next/static/chunks/728cd5bc5f0ee9ab.css","style"] 0:{"buildId":"AhVsB6nYmdkpXB8rVSX1H","rsc":["$","$1","c",{"children":[[["$","article",null,{"className":"page-module__hUlLAq__container","children":[["$","script",null,{"type":"application/ld+json","dangerouslySetInnerHTML":{"__html":"{\"@context\":\"https://schema.org\",\"@type\":\"BlogPosting\",\"headline\":\"Density & Pain: The Breast Health Guide for Women Over 40\",\"image\":[\"https://nexawell.blog/images/blog/sore-breasts-older-density.png\"],\"datePublished\":\"2026-05-09T19:00:00.000Z\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-05-09T19:00:00.000Z\",\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"name\":\"NexaWell Medical Team\",\"url\":\"https://nexawell.blog/about\"}],\"publisher\":{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"name\":\"NexaWell\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"url\":\"https://nexawell.blog/favicon.ico\"}},\"description\":\"Why do your breasts still hurt after your period stops? Understanding Non-Cyclical Pain, Dense Tissue, and the 2026 Mammogram standards.\"}"}}],["$","a",null,{"href":"/","className":"page-module__hUlLAq__backLink","children":[["$","svg",null,{"xmlns":"http://www.w3.org/2000/svg","width":20,"height":20,"viewBox":"0 0 24 24","fill":"none","stroke":"currentColor","strokeWidth":2,"strokeLinecap":"round","strokeLinejoin":"round","className":"lucide lucide-arrow-left","aria-hidden":"true","children":[["$","path","1l729n",{"d":"m12 19-7-7 7-7"}],["$","path","x3x0zl",{"d":"M19 12H5"}],"$undefined"]}]," Back to Home"]}],["$","header",null,{"className":"page-module__hUlLAq__header","children":[["$","span",null,{"className":"page-module__hUlLAq__category","children":"Health"}],["$","h1",null,{"className":"page-module__hUlLAq__title","children":"Density & Pain: The Breast Health Guide for Women Over 40"}],["$","div",null,{"className":"page-module__hUlLAq__meta","children":[["$","span",null,{"children":["By ","NexaWell Medical Team"]}],["$","span",null,{"children":"May 10, 2026"}]," • ",["$","span",null,{"children":"24 min read"}]]}]]}],["$","div",null,{"className":"page-module__hUlLAq__imageWrapper","children":["$","$L2",null,{"src":"/images/blog/sore-breasts-older-density.png","alt":"Density & Pain: The Breast Health Guide for Women Over 40","width":800,"height":400,"className":"page-module__hUlLAq__heroImg"}]}],["$","div",null,{"className":"page-module__hUlLAq__content","children":[[["$","h2","h2-0",{"children":"The Shift to \"Non-Cyclical\""}],"\n",["$","p","p-0",{"children":["In your 40s and 50s, the cyclical rhythm fades. Pain becomes sporadic, sharp, or localized to one spot.\nThis is ",["$","strong","strong-0",{"children":"Non-Cyclical Mastalgia"}],".\nIt is usually structural, not hormonal."]}],"\n",["$","hr","hr-0",{}],"\n",["$","h2","h2-1",{"children":"1. What is \"Dense Breast Tissue\"?"}],"\n",["$","p","p-1",{"children":"You received a letter after your mammogram saying you have \"Dense Breasts.\" What does that mean?"}],"\n",["$","ul","ul-0",{"children":["\n",["$","li","li-0",{"children":[["$","strong","strong-0",{"children":"The Anatomy"}],": Breasts are made of Fat (dark on x-ray) and Glandular Tissue (white on x-ray)."]}],"\n",["$","li","li-1",{"children":[["$","strong","strong-0",{"children":"The Problem"}],": Cancer ",["$","em","em-0",{"children":"also"}]," shows up white on x-ray. Trying to find a tumor in dense breast tissue is like \"looking for a snowball in a blizzard.\""]}],"\n",["$","li","li-2",{"children":[["$","strong","strong-0",{"children":"The Risk"}],": Dense tissue is an independent risk factor for breast cancer (4-6x higher risk)."]}],"\n"]}],"\n",["$","h3","h3-0",{"children":"The Fix: 3D Mammography (Tomosynthesis)"}],"\n",["$","p","p-2",{"children":["Stop getting 2D Mammograms.\n3D Mammography takes slices of images (like a CT scan), allowing the radiologist to scroll ",["$","em","em-0",{"children":"through"}]," the dense tissue layers.\n",["$","em","em-1",{"children":"Demand \"Tomosynthesis\" at your next screening."}]]}],"\n",["$","hr","hr-1",{}],"\n",["$","h2","h2-2",{"children":"2. Cysts vs. Tumors"}],"\n",["$","p","p-3",{"children":"As you approach menopause, hormonal fluctuations can cause ducts to become blocked, forming fluid-filled sacs (Cysts)."}],"\n","$L3","\n","$L4","\n","$L5","\n","$L6","\n","$L7","\n","$L8","\n","$L9","\n","$La","\n","$Lb","\n","$Lc","\n","$Ld","\n","$Le"],"$Lf"]}]]}],"$L10"],["$L11"],"$L12"]}],"loading":null,"isPartial":false} 3:["$","ul","ul-1",{"children":["\n",["$","li","li-0",{"children":[["$","strong","strong-0",{"children":"Feel"}],": Smooth, round, movable, and tender."]}],"\n",["$","li","li-1",{"children":[["$","strong","strong-0",{"children":"Action"}],": An ultrasound can instantly tell if it is fluid (cyst) or solid (tumor). Cysts can be drained with a needle in the office—instant pain relief."]}],"\n"]}] 4:["$","hr","hr-2",{}] 5:["$","h2","h2-3",{"children":"3. Costochondritis (It's Not Your Breast)"}] 6:["$","p","p-4",{"children":"A very common mimic.\nWomen feel sharp pain in the \"inner breast.\" It is actually inflammation of the cartilage where the ribs meet the sternum (breastbone)."}] 7:["$","ul","ul-2",{"children":["\n",["$","li","li-0",{"children":[["$","strong","strong-0",{"children":"The Test"}],": Press on your breastbone. If that hurts, it's your ribs, not your breast."]}],"\n",["$","li","li-1",{"children":[["$","strong","strong-0",{"children":"Treatment"}],": Anti-inflammatories (Ibuprofen) and posture correction."]}],"\n"]}] 8:["$","hr","hr-3",{}] 9:["$","h2","h2-4",{"children":"4. HRT and Breast Pain"}] a:["$","p","p-5",{"children":"Starting Hormone Replacement Therapy can temporarily bring back cyclical soreness."}] b:["$","ul","ul-3",{"children":["\n",["$","li","li-0",{"children":[["$","strong","strong-0",{"children":"Why"}],": You are re-introducing estrogen to \"starved\" receptors."]}],"\n",["$","li","li-1",{"children":[["$","strong","strong-0",{"children":"Timeline"}],": It typically resolves within 3 months as receptors dow-regulate."]}],"\n"]}] c:["$","h2","h2-5",{"children":"Conclusion"}] d:["$","p","p-6",{"children":"Knowledge cuts through fear. If you feel a lump or pain:"}] e:["$","ol","ol-0",{"children":["\n",["$","li","li-0",{"children":"Don't panic (80% of biopsies are benign)."}],"\n",["$","li","li-1",{"children":"Know your density (Ask \"Am I Category C or D?\")."}],"\n",["$","li","li-2",{"children":"Get the 3D scan."}],"\n"]}] f:["$","div",null,{"className":"page-module__hUlLAq__adUnit","children":["$","span",null,{"children":"Advertisement - Recommended for You"}]}] 10:["$","section",null,{"className":"HorizontalScrollSection-module__V3mMcW__section ","children":["$","div",null,{"className":"container","children":[["$","div",null,{"className":"HorizontalScrollSection-module__V3mMcW__header","children":[["$","h2",null,{"className":"HorizontalScrollSection-module__V3mMcW__title","children":"Related Articles"}],["$","$L13",null,{"href":"/blog/health","className":"HorizontalScrollSection-module__V3mMcW__viewAll","children":["View All 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