Women urged to check breasts for symptoms

Half of women are scared of breast cancer yet one in five cannot identify any signs or symptoms, according to a poll in the UK.

The survey of more than 1,000 women, for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, also found 56 per cent of women do not check their breasts regularly.

Of this group, 54 per cent say they forget to check, 22 per cent have never thought about it and 20 per cent do not know what they are looking for.

A total of 18 per cent said they are unsure of the right technique for checking themselves.

Of those women who do examine their breasts, 45 per cent are fairly confident they would notice a change, 11 per cent are very confident but 15 per cent are not at all confident.

Some 83 per cent examine themselves for lumps but fewer than one in three (28 per cent) check for a change in the size or shape of their breast, one of the possible signs of cancer.

And only five per cent check for signs of the nipple turning in when it does not usually.

Breakthrough Breast Cancer ambassador Bernie Nolan, who was successfully treated for the disease last year, said: “People assume finding a lump is the only way to spot breast cancer, but there are other vital signs women should be aware of.

“I noticed my breasts had changed shape and immediately went to see my doctor.

“I cannot stress enough how important it is to get to know your breasts so you can easily notice any unusual changes.

“I really want all women to learn about Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s Touch Look Check message so they can be breast aware.”

In a separate survey looking at fears of breast cancer, 84 per cent of women said they would worry the possibility of the disease spreading to other parts of their body.

Some 83 per cent would worry about not surviving, while 44 per cent would fear the long-term effects of treatment and 34 per cent would dread telling loved ones they have cancer.

Chris Askew, chief executive officer of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: “These results show that British women are fearful not only of being diagnosed with breast cancer, but also of the long and short-term effects of the disease”.

“At Breakthrough, everything we do is leading to a future free from the fear of breast cancer – by researching its causes, by promoting early detection, by ensuring precise diagnosis and by improving health services and discovering new and better treatments.”