These are the breast cancer signs most women miss, warns surgeon
With one in two people set to experience cancer in their lifetime, according to the World Cancer Research Fund, it’s likely that you or somebody you know has been impacted. Understanding the early warning signs of certain cancers can give you the confidence to prioritise your body’s health, while recognising when it’s important to seek medical help.
Checking your breasts, chest, or whatever you may like to call your breast tissue, is a free, quick and easy way of making sure that your body is fit and healthy. Routinely checking yourself and encouraging your family and friends to check themselves could save someone’s life and can help break down the embarrassment or anxiety for seeking help.
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What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is a when the cells of the breast tissue overdevelop into growths known as tumours, with this tissue including the breasts, armpits and collarbone. The earlier breast cancer is detected, the greater opportunity there is to diagnose and treat it.
If breast cancer spreads across someone’s body, this may be called secondary or metastatic breast cancer. This can happen through the blood or the axillary lymph nodes, where bacteria and cells are filtered out of the mammary gland.
Your breasts can change throughout your life, Doctify-rated senior consultant breast cancer oncoplastic surgeon and breast specialist Professor Zoe Winters says: ‘Normal breast tissues comprise a “firmer” component that makes up denser feeling or normal breast ductal tissues (we are interested in this component), with intervening “softer” or fatty tissues.’
‘Breast ductal tissues are sensitive to changes in levels of female sex hormone, resulting in more prominent, and tender feeling tissues (menses, contraceptives, pregnancy, and Hormone Replacement therapy or HRT).’
Checking yourself every month by doing a self-exam can help you understand what is normal for you and encourage early detection. ‘The only way to be able to identify something is by being familiar with what's normal for you,’ says Corrine Ellsworth Beaumont, CEO and founder of charity Know Your Lemons.
‘We define self-exam as a way of getting to know what's normal for your body. It's not a hunt to find cancer. Being able to know what’s normal for you and understanding what the possible symptoms are can make it much easier to spot a change if that happens.’
Why is it important to check yourself?
One in seven women will get breast cancer in their lifetime, with CoppaFeel! reporting that a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every nine minutes. Despite this, one in ten women have never checked their breasts and 44% of women don’t regularly check themselves, Breast Cancer Now revealed.
It’s why you may have spotted your favourite brands sporting pink branding and re-designs to share the campaign to get more people to check themselves for breast cancer. ASDA’s Tickled Pink campaign, in collaboration with Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel! has seen awareness being encouraged throughout your weekly shop; from the backs of receipts to lingerie tags and bathroom stall posters.
‘One woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK every nine minutes,’ shares Sally Kum, associate director of nursing and health information at Breast Cancer Now, ‘And around two thirds of breast cancers in England are found when women detect a new or unusual breast change and get this checked out by a GP.’
When more people are routinely checking themselves, breast cancer can be quickly diagnosed and treated by medical professionals. With developments in research across nearly three decades, now eight out of 10 women survive 10 years after their diagnosis, with Breast Cancer Now setting targets that by 2050 all people diagnosed with breast cancer will survive.
Sally adds: ‘The sooner breast cancer is diagnosed, the better the chance of successful treatment, and lives potentially being saved from the disease.’
The Asda Tickled Pink is a campaign raising money for Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel!. They're on a mission to make checking your boobs, pecs and chests, whoever you are, as normal as your Asda shop.
Who should check themselves
Anyone can be impacted by breast cancer, no matter age, sex or gender. Everyone has breast tissue and should make sure to check themselves for any abnormalities, including if you’re transgender or have a breast implant.
Cancer advisers recommend that you begin checking yourself routinely to understand what’s normal from 12 years old, helping you to fully recognise if any abnormal changes ever occur to your body.
Primarily, your risk of getting breast cancer is decided by your age, sex and family history. Cancer Research studies have found that 23% of breast cancers can be prevented when you make small lifestyle changes, for example reducing alcohol consumption or smoking.
‘Women are advised to maintain a healthy lifestyle which means keeping to a healthy balanced diet and body weight, combined with regular exercise,’ Professor Zoe says, ‘Increases in postmenopausal body weight is one of many risk factors that raises risks of breast cancer. Drink moderate amounts of alcohol in keeping with national advice.’
‘If there are a number of first or second degree family members with breast, or ovarian cancers, and/or pancreatic or prostate cancer;: your GP should refer you to a breast specialist unit, with a view to understanding your breast cancer risks, and the need for testing abnormalities or mutations in important inheritable genes, such as BRCA 1 and BRCA, to include many others that you should be aware of.’
Awareness and representation are heavily lacking in many communities, with personal healthcare topics and breasts discouraged from being discussed. It’s part of the reason why Breast Cancer Now has identified that Black African, Black Caribbean and South Asian women are experiencing more delays in their diagnoses and then being diagnosed with stage 4 cancers compared to white women.
‘Although Black women are less likely to get breast cancer than white women, if they do, they are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced breast cancers at a younger age, which are more difficult to treat,’ advises Sally.
‘There are many complex factors behind these figures and the inequity in early diagnosis of breast cancer. While there’s no single solution, we have a key role to play in representing the diverse community of people with breast cancer and giving them a platform to share their lived experiences of breast cancer.’
Addressing these stigmas with the respect and sensitivity deserved for our personal health is the strongest way we can encourage early diagnoses and boost our health literacy. Sally says: ‘We’re committed to tackling inequalities by raising awareness of breast cancer within underrepresented communities through community engagement work, to find better ways to support them, influencing policy makers to better serve these communities and funding dedicated research projects to help us ensure that everyone receives the best care and treatment, regardless of their ethnicity.’
What information to trust
Knowing what information you can rely on discussing cancer can be difficult, particularly in an age of misinformation. If you’ve spotted something abnormal or want to research how to get help, look for reliable cancer charities or verified medical professionals to avoid believing in any cancer myths.
Using informal language like ‘the big C’ or referencing people as ‘victims ‘of cancer is also part of the problem. 69% of people who have experienced cancer want to remove language talking about them as ‘survivors’ in a medical ‘battle’, shares CoppaFeel!. Being inclusive in how we talk about cancer can be the best way to understand exactly what it is, as everybody experiences and is impacted by cancer differently.
‘Checking your breasts is as simple as TLC: Touch, Look, Check,’ says Sally, ‘There’s no special technique and it only takes a few minutes.’
‘Everyone will have their own way of touching and looking for changes – it could be when you shower or moisturise. Whenever you check, it’s important to remember to check the whole breast area, up to your armpits and collarbone (upper chest) for any changes. It’s all about getting to know what’s normal for you.’
These easy steps for checking yourself should be followed by everyone to encourage early intervention and detection that you can do at home. Educating yourself on what to look for and sharing trusted medical information with your family and friends can help to tackle the awareness gap people have for breast cancer.
How to check yourself
Nobody knows your body better than you. If you feel or see something new in the mirror, you should book an appointment to check with your doctor. Some changes may be natural and work alongside your menstrual cycle but knowing when your breasts become a concern is key to early diagnosis.
The top things to look out for on your breasts, nipples, collarbone and armpits can include:
1. Bumps and lumps
Feel your breast tissue and check for any lumps or bumps that aren’t typically there that may have appeared since the last time you checked yourself.
Professor Zoe explains that this is the first thing to check for: ‘You should look out for any perceived “lump”. I explain to women that this is a structure within the breast that may feel like a “marble”, because you are able to define a border all the way around it.’
‘A “painful lump” may be less concerning as most breast cancers rarely present this way.’
3. Changes to skin texture
Rashes, redness and dry skin on the breast tissue and the nipple should not be occurring. Any distortion to the colour or dryness of your breasts may also be a warning sign of noticing something abnormal worth escalating.
4. New growths
If the skin changes around your nipple, or they begin excreting liquid, this might be a warning sign. Breasts should not have puckering or dimpling, and this is something key to look out for.
Professor Zoe says: ‘Most nipple discharge is normal, however if this is persistent and/or bloody; you are advised to seek a specialist's opinion.’
5. Pain and discomfort
Shooting or sharp breast or chest pain is not normal and should be flagged to your doctor or medical professional. If this occurs mildly around your period, your breast pain could be an entirely normal part of your menstrual cycle.
‘What typically tends to happen towards the last half of the menstrual cycle is that hormones will make breasts more tender and temporarily lumpy,’ Corrine explains. ‘You have to identify if something is just a temporary change related to menstruation versus if something is sticking around or getting progressively worse.’
6. Changes to size
Sudden changes to the size and shape of your breast, for example through swelling, can be worth telling your doctor about. This may be normal during your period, but should not be occurring for extended periods of time.
If you’re not sure what to look for, check out the 12 lemons created by Know Your Lemons, helping you to see what to check for. ‘My goal the start was to have something that was fairly universal that could work around the world,’ says Corrine, who designed the image. ‘When it comes to breasts, they're hyper sexualised and that leads to censorship, as well as fears people have about talking about cancers.’
‘By being able to use this image, we can educate people very quickly by overcoming these barriers of fear, censorship and taboo because they're just looking at lemons.’
How often should I check myself?
Once a month, setting the time aside in your diary to do a self-examination should be added to your routine. Add it to your diary and it will soon become a healthy habit.
If you find it difficult to stick to a calendar, CoppaFeel! have a free text alert system to send you monthly reminders to check yourselves. If that’s not for you, you can even sign up to a free email or calendar alert system that does all the scheduling for you, making looking after your body that much easier and stress free.
Don’t forget that checking yourself is only part of the work you need to do. If you get a letter in the post about needing to attend a breast screening, hold yourself accountable and go! Missing out on a breast screening because of embarrassment or a busy schedule could delay a potential diagnosis. Getting diagnosed as soon as possible can make a difference to your recovery, which is exactly why avoiding the call for a routine breast screening could have fatal effects.
What to do if you feel something abnormal
If you feel or see something abnormal, or you’re experiencing constant pain in your breasts, you should chat with a doctor or medical professional. They may recommend you to a breast clinic to run tests checking the health of your breast tissue. This is completely normal and is the best way for making sure that your health is in the best condition possible.
Professor Zoe advises: ‘If you are concerned about any aspect that has been discussed here or based on your reading, you are advised to contact your NHS or private GP who should refer you to a breast specialist or consultant breast surgeon within a one stop breast clinic.’
Nobody has to feel like they are alone at any stage of a cancer diagnosis, whether that’s a routine check or asking for help when needed. Many breast cancer charities offer online support from nurses and people who have experienced breast cancer to offer everything from advice to a shoulder to cry on. Taking that first step in speaking to someone could change your life and help you get the support you need.
Tackling taboos with humour
Breaking down the embarrassment, awkwardness and confusion of our awareness about our own breasts can be integral in bringing about life changing support. If you’re still shy about checking yourself, or maybe you’re guilty to admit that this is your first time checking yourself, you’re never alone.
Why not share this article in your group chat with your friends? Or stick your supermarket receipt to your fridge, reminding you to check yourself after your weekly shopping? OR you can even listen to an audio description of how to check yourself from Mona Lisa or Napoleon, guiding through yourself exam. There are endless guides, reminders and resources available from Know Your Lemons, Breast Cancer Now and CoppaFeel! that can help you every step of the way.
No matter how silly or squeamish it might make you feel, chatting about breast cancer can save someone’s life.
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