This month is Breast Cancer Awareness month and bjournal think it’s a very important month to cover on our website. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK and can affect both men and women. The most important thing about catching breast cancer in its early stages is to be vigilant at spotting things that may be out of the ordinary for your body. The list below are the things you should be looking out for, and has been compiled from the Cancer Research website.
Changes to look out for are:
A lump or thickening in an area of the breast
A change in the size or shape of a breast
Dimpling of the skin
A change in the shape of your nipple
Blood stained discharge from the nipple
A rash on the nipple or surrounding area
A swelling or lump in your armpit
The NHS breast awareness five point code says that you should:
Know what is normal for you
Look and feel
Know what changes to look for
Report any changes straight away
Attend for breast screening when you are invited.
The first symptom of breast cancer for many women is a lump in their breast but 9 out of 10 lumps are benign meaning that they are not cancers but it is vital that book an appointment with a Doctor if you notice any changes.
For men, the symptoms differ slightly, the symptoms to look out for are:
Oozing from the nipple that may be blood stained
Swelling of the breast
A sore in the skin of the breast
A nipple that is pulled into the breast
Lumps under the arm
You can find out more about breast cancer in both males and females at cancerresearchuk.org
