Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Could you spot the symptoms of breast cancer? And do you know how to check your breasts properly? Here’s some useful information for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Noticing changes in your body is vital for spotting potentially serious health conditions early, but could you spot the symptoms of breast cancer? As it’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, now’s the time to get more familiar with what to look out for and how to check yourself.

Doing a breast check at home

Checking your breasts and chest area regularly is something we should all be doing. The trick is doing it thoroughly enough to spot any problems. You’re basically looking closely and feeling all over your chest and under your armpits with your fingertips and a flat palm for anything unusual. There’s a really useful ‘boob check’ video on the CoppaFeel website that’s well worth watching if you need a bit of guidance.

Common symptoms

Whether you’re female or male (yes, men can get breast cancer too) here’s what to look out for. It’s worth noting that many changes you might see in your breast tissue will often be benign and nothing to worry about. Hormonal changes, cysts and other non-cancerous conditions can be the culprit in many cases. But it’s always better to double check with your doctor. Never leave something and hope it will go away. So, give your GP a call if you notice any of the following:

• Dimpling or puckering of the skin
• Any changes in the general size or shape of the breast
• Any lumps on the breast/chest area and up into the armpit
• Signs of inflammation, rash or redness
• Unusual discharge from the nipples
• Nipples becoming inverted or changes in the skin of the nipple
• Pain – this isn’t usually a symptom but could be if it’s persistent

Having your breasts checked by a physician isn’t something to be embarrassed about and could potentially save your life. According to Cancer Research UK statistics, almost 98% of people diagnosed at the earliest stage of the disease will survive for 5 years or more, compared to just a quarter who are treated at the latest stage. So, if you do spot something unusual, don’t hesitate to get yourself checked out. 

At the moment, many people are putting off having health checks due to Coronavirus fears, but it’s really important to let your surgery know of any problems. They will be able to advise you on the safest way of monitoring or assessing your symptoms.

Further breast cancer information and advice

If you’re worried about breast cancer, there is lots of support available online as well as from your GP. Visit the Breast Cancer UK, Breast Cancer Care and Cancer Research websites for more or contact Breast Cancer Now on 0808 800 6000 to talk to a breast care nurse free of charge.

If you're living with a health condition and need any advice on care at home, please get in touch with our Bluebird Care Bromley team.