Breast awareness

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, one person is diagnosed every 10 minutes. 1 in 8 women in the UK will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.

Breast cancer survival is improving and has doubled in the past 40 years in the UK. there are several websites with information to help you learn more about being Breast Aware and spotting the signs of breast cancer.

What are the symptoms of breast cancer? 

There are many reasons why women may develop breast-related problems and symptoms. Such problems are very common and most of these symptoms will have a harmless cause.

For every 10 women who are referred to a Breast Clinic, only 1 will have breast cancer. Most will have a relatively harmless, non-cancerous problem.

The common breast symptoms that cause women to seek medical advice would be:

• A lump has been felt within the breast
• Breast discomfort or pain (mastalgia)
• Problems related to the nipple, such as discharge of fluid, a rash, alteration in shape (retraction or inversion)
• Infection (mastitis) whilst breastfeeding
• Infection in the breast for women who are not breastfeeding

You can learn more about breast cancer symptoms by visiting the websites below.