Breast Cancer Awareness - Think Pink

Being breast aware

To be breast aware means becoming familiar with how your breasts look and feel, whatever your age. Understand how your breasts may change at different times during the month (when you're having your period) and as you get older.

These are the changes to look for and if you are in any doubt, visit your doctor:

•  A lump or thickening which is different to the rest of the breast tissue
• Continuous pain in one part of the breast or armpit
• One breast becomes larger or lower
• A nipple becomes inverted or changes shape or position
• Skin changes including puckering or dimpling
• Swelling under the armpit or around the collarbone
• A rash on or around the nipple
• Discharge from one or both nipples

Remember the breast awareness five-point code:

1. Know what is normal for you
2. Look and feel
3. Know what changes to look for
4. Report any changes without delay
5. Attend routine breast screening if you are aged 50 and over

Self examination:

Pic 1 to 3 involves inspecting the breast with the arms hanging, behind head, and on hips. Pic 4 is the palpitation (touching) of the breast. Pic 5 is palpitation of the nipple. Pic 6 is a BSE while lying down.

Breast cancer: the facts

The human body is made up of billions of building blocks called cells. There are natural systems within the body which regulate the formation, growth and death of the cells in a controlled way to produce and replace the body's tissue. If something disrupts this controlled process, the cells divide and develop without their normal control and grow into a lump called a tumour. Tumours are either benign or malignant, cancer is the name given to a malignant tumour.

Breast cancer occurs when this control process fails in the cells that make up the breast tissue and they develop into a tumour.

If the tumour is detected as soon as possible, then there is a good chance it can be treated successfully. The more the cancer has spread, the more difficult it is to treat. It is important to be breast aware and know what is normal for you.

In the UK

• Breast cancer is the most common cancer and accounts for nearly one in three of all cancers in women
• One woman in nine will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime
• Breast cancer is the second biggest cause of death from cancer in women

Every year

• Over 45,500 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer
• Around 12,000 women will die from breast cancer

Every month

• Over 3,800 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer
• Around 1,000 women will die from breast cancer

Survival rates

• Five-year survival rates for breast cancer have improved significantly over the last 20 years
• The most recent figures show around 80 per cent of women in the UK diagnosed today will be alive in five years time
• This is largely due to increased awareness of breast cancer, the introduction of the screening programme and the successes of breast cancer research, which have led to improved treatments that are now available

Men (in the UK)

• Can also suffer from breast cancer. Although it is rare, almost 300 men are diagnosed each year
• Around 90 men a year die from breast cancer

Within Ireland

• Every year, over 2,300 women are diagnosed with breast cancer, the most common form of cancer in women
• Around 700 women die from breast cancer each year, the most common cause of cancer death in Ireland

For more information visit

www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk

www.breastcancer.org

www.breakthrough.org.uk

www.macmillan.org.uk

www.cancerresearchuk.org

www.breastcancercampaign.org