Breast cancer: signs, checks and screening

How common is breast cancer?

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. Breast Cancer Now says around 55,000 women and 400 men are diagnosed every year, and Cancer Research UK estimates that around 1 in 7 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

Your risk increases as you get older, especially over 50, but breast cancer can affect younger women and, less often, men. Treatment has improved a great deal, and finding breast cancer early gives the best chance of successful treatment.

What are the signs of breast cancer?

The NHS lists symptoms to look out for, including:

• a lump or swelling in your breast, chest or armpit
• a change in the size or shape of your breast
• dimpling of the skin, or a change in its colour
• a change in the shape or look of your nipple, such as it turning inwards
• discharge from your nipple, if you are not pregnant or breastfeeding

Breast pain on its own is not usually a sign of breast cancer, but see a GP if it is new and does not go away. Most breast changes are not cancer, but it is always worth getting them checked.

Can men get breast cancer?

Yes. Men have a small amount of breast tissue and can develop breast cancer, although it is rare. The NHS says signs in men include a lump in the chest or armpit, nipple discharge, sores on the chest, or a nipple that turns inwards. Men often delay seeing a GP because they do not expect breast cancer, so any new change is worth getting checked.

How should you check your breasts?

There is no special technique. Breast Cancer Now encourages people to get to know how their breasts normally look and feel, so they can spot changes. Its approach is simple: touch your breasts and feel for anything new or unusual, look for changes in shape, size or skin, and check any new or unusual change with a GP.

Remember to include the whole area, up to your collarbone and into your armpits. Breasts can change during your menstrual cycle, so it helps to check at different times and get to know what is usual for you.

What is breast screening?

NHS breast screening uses a mammogram, an X-ray of the breasts, to find cancers that are too small to see or feel. In England, the NHS invites women for their first screening between the ages of 50 and 53, then every 3 years until their 71st birthday. If you are 71 or over, you will not be invited automatically, but you can still have screening every 3 years by contacting your local breast screening service.

Screening does not replace checking yourself. If you notice a change between appointments, see a GP rather than waiting for your next screening.

Can you lower your risk?

Some risk factors, such as getting older, family history and inherited genes, cannot be changed. But Cancer Research UK estimates that around 23% of breast cancer cases in the UK are preventable. Keeping to a healthy weight and drinking less alcohol are two of the most important things you can do. The NHS advises cutting down on alcohol and not drinking more than 14 units a week, losing weight if you are overweight, and stopping smoking.

If breast or ovarian cancer runs in your family, talk to your GP. They will ask about who in your family has had cancer and at what age, and can refer you to a specialist clinic if needed.