Be Breast Aware
Be Breast Aware - The Five Point Code:
- Know what is normal for you
- Know what changes to look and feel for
- Look and feel
- Report any changes to your GP without delay
- Attend for routine breast screening, if you are over 50.
Breast awareness is about becoming familiar with your own breasts and how they change. It is important to know how your body normally looks and feels. Being breast aware is about knowing the usual shape and feel of your breasts and being able to recognise any changes.
There is no such thing as a standard breast and what is normal for one woman may not be for another. Your breasts will also look and feel different over time depending on the time of the month and your age.
To pick up potential problems at the earliest possible opportunity, you need to be aware of any changes in your breasts. It is important to remember that these changes are not usually accompanied with any other symptoms such as tiredness or loss of energy.
If you find any changes from what is normal for you go to your GP without delay.
You are not wasting anyone’s time.
It is important to know that most changes are not cancer. But, reassurance and advice will always help, and the sooner a possible cancer is reported, the more simple treatment is likely to be. Changes to look for:
- A change in size or shape
- A lump or thickening
- Puckering or skin dimpling
- Nipple becoming drawn or changing direction
- Bleeding or discharge from the nipple
- Rash on or around the nipple
- Sudden roughness of the skin
- Swelling under the armpit or around the collar bone
More information can be found on the breastcancernow.org website.