Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is marked worldwide to show support for everyone affected by breast cancer.
Breast Screening (mammogram)
As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month the Practice would like to highlight the importance of Breast Screening.
Did you know?
- Breast screening saves lives as cancers can be diagnosed and treated earlier than they would have been without screening, often before you can even see or feel any changes to your breasts yourself. All women aged from 50 up to their 71st birthday are invited for free NHS breast screening.
- It’s understandable some women are anxious about attending their breast screening appointment and your mammographer will do everything she can to make the experience as comfortable as possible for you.
- If you have been invited for breast screening but missed or did not book an appointment you can still contact your local NHS breast screening service to arrange one, even if you were invited weeks, months or years ago.
- Breast screening services are more accessible than ever. As well as hospitals, mobile screening vans are available in convenient community locations, such as supermarket car parks.
It is important that you continue to look at and check your breasts regularly, even if you have just had a mammogram. Women of all ages should be ‘breast aware’. Get to know how your breasts normally look, you will be more likely to spot any changes that might be signs of breast cancer. If you are concerned, do not hesitate to contact your GP practice.
Things to help when booking your appointment
DO
- Ask someone else to book the appointment for you if that is more comfortable for you
- Ask for an appointment at the beginning or end of a clinic to give you more privacy and time to talk to the mammographer
- Tell them you want to have someone with you – such as a carer, someone to interpret for you, a friend, a family member or another member of staff (chaperone)
- Tell the staff your pronouns, if you would like to
Changing or cancelling an appointment
If you need to change or cancel your appointment, contact the breast screening service you booked your appointment with.
If you were sent a booked appointment, your letter will tell you how to change or cancel your appointment.
Signs and Symptoms of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer can cause a number of signs and symptoms. See your GP if you notice a change to your breast that’s new or unusual for you.
Signs and symptoms of breast cancer include:
- A lump or swelling in the breast, upper chest or armpit
- A change to the skin, such as puckering or dimpling
- A change in the colour of the breast – the breast may look darker, red or inflamed
- A nipple change, for example it has become pulled in (inverted)
- Rash or crusting around the nipple
- Unusual liquid (discharge) from either nipple
- Changes in size or shape of the breast
On its own, pain in your breasts is not usually a sign of breast cancer. But look out for pain in your breast or armpit that’s there all or almost all the time.
Although rare, men can get breast cancer. The most common symptom of breast cancer in men is a lump in the chest area.
See your GP if you notice a change
Most breast changes, including breast lumps, are not cancer. But the sooner breast cancer is found, the more successful treatment is likely to be.
Get any new or unusual changes checked by a GP.
How to check your breasts
There’s no special way to check your breasts and you do not need any training.
Checking your breasts is as easy as TLC:
- Touch your breasts: can you feel anything new or unusual?
- Look for changes: does anything look different to you?
- Check any new or unusual changes with a GP
Everyone will have their own way of touching and looking for changes.
Get used to checking regularly and be aware of anything that’s new or different for you.
Check your whole breast area, including up to your collarbone (upper chest) and armpits.
What will happen when I see my GP?
Your appointment may be over the phone or in person. If your appointment is in person, your GP will examine your breasts.
After speaking to you on the phone, or examining your breasts, your GP may:
- Decide there’s no need for further investigation
- Ask to see you again after a short time
- Refer you to a breast clinic
Being referred to a breast clinic doesn’t mean you have breast cancer, just that further assessment is needed to find out what is going on.
You can ask for a member of staff to be present during your examination. Or you can take a friend or relative with you, but check first if you are able to do this.