Breast Cancer

Be Clear on Cancer - Breast Cancer

Breast cancer can be a serious illness. Every year many women are told they have it. You can get breast cancer at any age but the older you are the more likely you are to get it. 1 in 3 women who get breast cancer are over 70. So older women need to know what their breasts normally look and feel like so they can spot any changes. If breast cancer is found early it is more treatable.

How to spot breast cancer

You need to get to know how your breasts normally look and feel. This will help you notice if anything has changed. You need to get to know the whole of your breasts.

Feel the whole of both of your breasts and your armpits to see if anything feels different.
Look at your breasts in the mirror to see if anything looks different.

There are different signs of breast cancer you need to look out for. The main ones are:

A lump or thickening in your breast or armpit.
Any changes to the skin of any part of your breast.
Any changes in the shape, size or feel of your breast.
Any changes to your nipples like liquid leaking out.
Any pain in your breast or armpit.
Any other changes you notice.

If anything looks or feels different then you must tell your doctor straight away.

For more information about checking for Breast Cancer, read NHS's EasyRead leaflet.