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Become Breast Aware

Most breast cancers are detected by women who report unusual changes to their doctor. This statistic highlights the importance of being breast aware. Breast awareness means knowing what your breasts look and feel like normally, so you can be aware of any changes and check them out with your doctor as soon as possible. If cancer is diagnosed, prompt treatment offers the best chance of a successful outcome.

So the message from Breakthrough Breast Cancer is simple: Show your breasts some TLC:

  • Touch your breasts. Feel for anything unusual.
  • Look for changes. Be aware of shape and texture.
  • Check anything unusual with your doctor. Chat with your friends if you are worried.
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There is no need to follow a fancy routine for examining your breasts, just be familiar with how they look and feel so that you notice changes. You can do this by looking and feeling in any way that makes you feel comfortable - in the bath or shower, when dressing, standing or lying down. If you find anything unusual or are worried, you should talk to your GP.

Changes to look out for include:

  • Size or shape - e.g. one breast might become larger or lower than the other
  • Skin texture - such as puckering or dimpling of the skin
  • Appearance or direction of nipple - e.g. one nipple might become inverted (turned-in)
  • Discharge - one or both nipples might discharge a blood-stained liquid
  • Rash or crusting of the nipple or surrounding area
  • Lump in the breast or armpit
  • Lumpy area or unusual thickening of breast tissue that doesn't go away after a woman's period
  • Pain in part of the breast or armpit that is unrelated to periods

Remember that nine out of ten breast lumps are not cancerous.

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For more information on breast cancer and the cancer journey visit the Breakthrough Breast Cancer site at www.breakthrough.org.uk


Attend breast screening

As well as being breast aware you should take advantage of services available to detect breast cancer at an early stage. If you are a woman aged between 50-70 you should be invited by the NHS Breast Screening Programme to have a mammogram (X-ray of the breast) every 3 years.

If you are a woman aged over 70 you will not receive an invitation from the NHS, but you are still eligible for free NHS breast screening.  Breakthrough Breast Cancer strongly encourages you to make your own appointment via your GP or at a screening unit.

The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age and over 80% of all cases in the UK occur in women aged 50 or over. By far the biggest known risk factor is age and the older you get the higher your risk of developing the disease. Breakthrough strongly recommends all women attend their screening appointments when invited. Please encourage all your female family and friends over the age of 50 to go for breast screening.