October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer. The need for awareness and prevention is so important now more than ever as breast cancer became the most common cancer globally as of 2021*, with around 55,000 women and 370 men diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer. The need for awareness and prevention is so important now more than ever as breast cancer became the most common cancer globally as of 2021*, with around 55,000 women and 370 men diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK.
Our team in Solihull were grateful to speak to Sue Ford, OTA Manufacturing Senior Manager, who opened up about her battle with breast cancer. Watch Sue's story here.
Breast self-exam, or regularly examining your breasts on your own, can be an important way to find breast cancer early, when it’s more likely to be treated successfully. If you’re not sure on how to examine your breasts, here’s a helpful guide from Breastcancer.org or go to Coppafeel for more advice on how to check.
You’ll need to look out for anything abnormal such as:
- a breast lump
- thickening
- alteration in size, shape or appearance of a breast
- dimpling
- redness
- pitting or other alteration in the skin
- change in nipple appearance or alteration in the skin surrounding the nipple (areola)
- abnormal nipple discharge.
If you do find a lump in your breast, don’t panic. Most breast lumps turn out to be benign (not cancer). There are a number of possible causes of non-cancerous breast lumps, including normal hormonal changes, a benign breast condition, or an injury. It’s best to get it checked by a doctor, who will be able to evaluate the lump/abnormal changes and advise you of further treatment if necessary.
*Data from World Health Organisation (WHO).
