Do you check your breasts?

Being breast aware

When I first became a GP in 1990, we encouraged all women to check their breasts once a month. Today, doctors focus much more on being 'breast aware' - getting to know what your breasts look and feel like on a really regular basis (size, outline or shape). That means you'll know what's normal, and are better positioned to spot changes early. That's crucial because if you do have breast cancer, early treatment is much more likely to lead to you beating it.

How to check your breasts

Start by looking at your breasts in the mirror, with arms down and raised above your head. You're looking for changes to the shape or outline of your breast; skin changes such as rash, redness, puckering or dimpling of the skin; a nipple that's started turning inwards or is pointing in a different direction; discharge from your nipple or dry or scaly skin around your nipple.

Then run the flat of your fingers over your breasts and armpits. Feel for any new lump, swelling, thickening or bumpiness. If you notice any of these changes, speak to your GP without delay.

Breast screening

Every woman in the UK is invited for breast screening from age 50-70. In some parts of the UK, women are being invited from 47 instead. Your first invitation will come some time in the 3 years after you turn 50 (or 47), then every 3 years until you turn 71. While the procedure - called a mammogram - can be uncomfortable, it shouldn't be painful and is very quick.

There has been some concern that breast screening results in some women being treated unnecessarily. In the UK, it's estimated that for every life saved, about 3 women are treated for cancer or suspected cancerous changes they otherwise wouldn't have known about. However, overall breast screening saves about 1,300 lives every year in the UK - so for most women the benefits will greatly outweigh the risks.

Over 70s can still access 3 yearly NHS breast screening through the local screening service - ask your GP for details.

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Breast pain

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When to worry about breast pain

Interestingly, breast pain is very rarely a symptom when detecting breast cancer, but up to 7 in 10 women get it for other reasons. Sometimes it's linked to your time of the month (menstrual cycle) - this type of pain always settles once you have gone through the menopause. Persistent breast pain is more common in women over 40. The cause isn't always clear.

However, if you get pain that comes on rapidly in one breast and is linked to an area of red, hot skin, it could be an infection called mastitis - your GP can treat this with antibiotics. Shingles can also cause pain in one breast - the pain starts a day or two before a blistering rash appears. Speak to your GP promptly - antiviral tablets can reduce the risk of painful long-term neuralgia (nerve pain) but they need to be started as soon as possible.

How common is breast cancer?

There's good and not-so-good news where breast cancer is concerned. The less good news is how common breast cancer is - it accounts for about 1 in 7 of all new cancers diagnosed, making it the most common cancer in the UK. About 1 in 7 women will get a diagnosis of breast cancer at some point. Most, but not all breast cancers occur in later life - about 1 in 4 are diagnosed in women over 75.

But the much better news is that today, breast cancer isn't an automatic death sentence. Largely because it affects so many women, a huge amount of research has focused on improving outcomes.

Scientists have discovered that there are many different types of breast cancer - for instance, some are driven to grow by the female hormone oestrogen; some have much higher levels of a protein called HER2. This knowledge has allowed researchers to develop drugs that are tailored to different kinds of cancer - and that has dramatically improved survival rates.

Among women with oestrogen-sensitive breast cancer, treatment with anti-oestrogen treatment can cut the chance of a cancer returning by up to half. Herceptin caused headlines a couple of decades ago when it was found to offer dramatic benefits for women with HER2-positive breast cancer.

In addition, doctors have worked out how to improve outcomes without always needing to remove the whole breast - in fact, these days, most women diagnosed early will only need minor surgery to remove the lump, often along with radiotherapy.

Since the early 1970s, the proportion of women surviving breast cancer for at least 10 years has jumped from 2 in 5 to 4 in 5 - and almost 9 in 10 women survive for at least five years.

With thanks to 'My Weekly' magazine where this article was originally published.