The earlier breast cancer is diagnosed, the better the chance of successful treatment. So it's important to check your breasts regularly and see your GP if you notice a change.
Signs and symptoms of breast cancer:
Breast cancer can cause a number of different signs and symptoms.
Changes to look and feel for:
- A lump or swelling in the breast, upper chest or armpit
- A change to the skin, such as puckering or dimpling
- A change in the colour of the breast – the breast may look red or inflamed
- A nipple change, for example it has become pulled in (inverted)
- Rash or crusting around the nipple
- Unusual liquid (discharge) from either nipple
- Changes in size or shape of the breast
On its own pain in your breast is not usually a sign of breast cancer. But look out for pain in your breast or armpit that’s there all or almost all of the time.
See a GP if you notice a change. Most breast changes, including breast lumps, are not cancer. But the sooner breast cancer is found, the more successful treatment is likely to be. Get any new or unusual changes checked by a GP.
How to check your breasts:
How to check your breasts
There’s no special way to check your breasts and you do not need any training. Below we have included tips taken from the Breast Cancer Now website.
Checking your breasts is as easy as TLC:
- Touch your breasts: can you feel anything new or unusual?
- Look for changes: does anything look different to you?
- Check any new or unusual changes with a GP
Everyone will have their own way of touching and looking for changes and everyone’s breasts are different. It’s important to get used to checking regularly and be aware of anything that’s new or different for you.
Check your whole breast area, including up to your collarbone (upper chest) and armpits.
If you would like to find out more about checking your breasts and the changes you should be aware of, please head over to Breast Cancer Now’s website. Here you will be able to find out lots of useful information.
https://breastcancernow.org/information-support/have-i-got-breast-cancer/what-breast-cancer