There are approximately 55,920 new breast cancer cases in the UK every year, and around one in seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. Statistics from Breast Cancer Now also tell us that while breast cancer can affect people of all ages, eight in 10 women diagnosed are over 50.
Though these figures sound bleak, the more positive news is that – according to statistics from Cancer Research UK – 85% of people will survive breast cancer for five years or more if it’s caught early enough.
One of the most effective ways to look after your breast health is to get familiar with what your breasts normally look and feel like; so you can speak to a doctor about any changes. It’s also worth noting that while breast cancer affects more women, roughly 370 men are diagnosed with breast cancer every year too.
Though the majority of us know we should be routinely checking our breasts for anything unusual, Breast Cancer Now revealed that 46% of UK women forget to do this. Some women also say that they don’t feel confident checking their breasts because they don’t know what to look for.
Additional facts and figures showed that one in 10 women have never checked their breasts for anything unusual and 13% of women only check once a year or less.
To highlight the importance of breast health, we’ve put together a useful guide on some of the key things to know about breast cancer – including symptoms, causes, and how to make self-examination a lifetime habit.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
Breast cancer can present itself in different ways and some people have no symptoms at all. However, some of the most common warning signs and symptoms to look out for are…
A new lump, knot, thickening, or swelling in the breast, armpit, or collarbone area
Any changes in the size of one or both breasts
Discharge from the nipples, which might contain blood
Dimpling or puckering in the skin on the breasts or nipples, which can look similar to orange peel
Pain in the breasts or nipples
Red, flaky, and/or crusty skin in the breast or nipple area
Nipple inversion (where the nipple points inwards, rather than out)
If you do have any of the symptoms listed above, try not to worry because many of these can also be associated with other non-cancerous conditions too (such as cysts and fibrosis).
It’s also worth keeping in mind that all breasts are different, and what’s normal for another woman might not be normal for you. Your breasts might also look and feel different at times due to weight changes, periods, menopause, taking certain medications, and having children. Ageing can also cause breasts to change in shape, size, and texture.
However, the single best thing you can do if you notice any unusual changes to your breasts is to make an appointment with your GP, who can investigate things further.
How can I check my breasts for changes at home?
According to the NHS, there’s no right or wrong way to check your breasts. But, it’s important to know what to look for, and to get a sense of what techniques you can use to do this.
If you’re not sure where to start, it’s worth watching this video where breast surgeon from The Royal Marsden, Jennifer Rusby, demonstrates how to check your breasts at home. Alternatively, you could check out the short animation below from Bupa.
Be sure to check your breasts somewhere you feel comfortable and relaxed, so you can take your time and be as thorough as possible.
Incorporating breast checks into your self-care routine can also be a good way to make it a habit. For example, you could do it in the mirror before getting dressed, in the bath or shower, or when applying body lotion. If you struggle to remember to check your breasts, consider setting an alert on your phone – or signing up to get free text reminders from Breast Cancer UK.
Health experts generally recommend that men and women check their breasts once a month. For women, it can be most effective to do this a few days after your period has ended, so that they aren’t swollen or tender. It’s also a good idea to check your breasts at the same time each month to make it easier to spot changes.
Should I be going for routine breast screening?
If you’re female and registered with a GP, you should be invited for NHS breast screening every three years between the ages of 50 and 71. Invites are sent in the post, and your first one should arrive between the ages of 50 and 53. If it doesn’t arrive by the time you’re 53, you can get in touch with your local breast screening service to ask about getting an appointment.
Once you reach the age of 71, you’ll no longer be sent automatic invites. However, if you wish to continue with regular breast screening, this can be arranged by calling your local breast screening service.
If you notice any changes in your breasts in between screenings, it’s important not to wait until your next screening to seek advice – even if you had a screening recently and it was all clear. Instead, you should contact your GP straight away.
Breast screening isn’t routinely offered to men in the UK because they have less breast tissue, meaning their risk of developing breast cancer is lower. However, men should still check their chests regularly for any lumps or other unusual changes and speak to their GP if they have any concerns.
What does NHS breast screening involve?
NHS breast screening involves the use of x-rays called mammograms to check your breasts for any signs of cancer that may be too small to see or feel. Every year it saves 1,300 lives in the UK.
For more information about mammograms and help deciding whether to have one, you might like to check out this helpful page from the NHS.
What causes breast cancer?
Research into the cause of breast cancer is ongoing, and it’s not fully understood why it affects some people and not others.
However, what scientists do know is that there are some risk factors that can affect how likely you are to develop breast cancer. These include…
Age
The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age. Statistics show that eight in 10 breast cancer cases are diagnosed in postmenopausal women over 50, and most men who develop breast cancer are also over 60.
Family history
People with close relatives who have had breast or ovarian cancer may be more likely to develop breast cancer.
There are also two genes – BRCA1 and BRCA2 – which can be passed down from parent to child and increase your risk of developing breast or ovarian cancer. Genes TP53 and CHEK2 are also linked with an increased risk of breast cancer.
If breast or ovarian cancer runs in your family and you’d like to find out whether or not you have these genes, it’s worth speaking to your GP as they may be able to refer you for genetic testing.
Deciding whether or not to have these tests can be difficult, and will ultimately come down to personal choice; but it can help to make sure that you’re as informed about them as possible. You can read more about predictive genetic tests for cancer risk genes on the NHS website. The video below also explains more about how these risky genes get passed down in families.
Gender
Women are more likely to develop breast cancer than men. Around 55,000 women get diagnosed in the UK every year, compared with 370 men.
A previous lump or history of breast cancer
People with a history of breast cancer are at higher risk of developing it again; in either breast.
You might also be more at risk of developing breast cancer if you’ve previously had abnormal cells growing in your breast ducts or lobules. Some benign breast lumps can increase your risk slightly too.
Lifestyle factors
If you’re female and overweight or obese, then after menopause your body will produce more estrogen, which can increase your risk of developing breast cancer.
Research also shows that drinking alcohol regularly, even in small amounts, can put you at greater risk of developing breast cancer than people who don’t drink at all; with the risk becoming greater the more you drink.
Dense breast tissue
Women who have dense breast tissue have more breast cells, so have a higher chance of them becoming cancerous. Breasts will be more or less dense depending on how many thousands of lobules (tiny milk-producing glands) are present, and tend to become less dense with age.
Mammograms can be less effective at detecting cancer in breasts with dense tissue, as it’s harder to see lumps or other abnormalities. So ultrasound scans may be used instead.
Exposure to estrogen
Sometimes, exposure to estrogen can stimulate breast cancer cells and cause them to grow, with the risk of developing breast cancer rising slightly the longer you’re exposed. For example, if you started your periods very early and reached menopause later than average, you may be at greater risk.
Taking the contraceptive pill can also raise your risk of developing breast cancer slightly (though less than 1% of UK breast cancer cases are caused by oral contraception). But this risk drops if you stop taking it, and will return to normal after 10 years. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) carries a small risk too if taken for more than one year.
Radiation
Medical procedures that use radiation like CT scans and x-rays can increase your risk of developing breast cancer slightly. This is more likely if the radiation was focused around your chest area; for example, if you had radiotherapy to your chest to treat Hodgkin lymphoma.
The NHS says that if you’ve received radiation to your chest to treat Hodgkin lymphoma, you should receive a letter from your Department of Health and Social Care offering you an appointment with a specialist to discuss your increased risk. If you’re just starting treatment, this risk should be discussed beforehand. If you’ve already had treatment and are yet to receive a letter, it’s important to contact your GP who can look into why, and make further arrangements.
How is breast cancer diagnosed?
If you notice any unusual changes in your breasts, it’s important to speak to your GP as soon as possible. They’ll carry out an initial assessment, which typically involves looking at your breasts, feeling for any lumps, and asking you a few questions. When booking your appointment, you can ask to see a male or female doctor depending on who you feel most comfortable with.
Your GP will decide whether your symptoms need to be investigated further, and may refer you to a breast cancer clinic. Here, you might have a mammogram and possibly an ultrasound scan.
If your scans look suspicious, you’ll usually have further tests, including a biopsy – where sample cells are taken from your breast and/or lymph nodes in your armpit to see whether cancer is present.
If a cancer diagnosis is confirmed, then more tests will be needed to work out the stage and grade of cancer. Macmillan Cancer Support has more information about staging and grading here.
How is breast cancer treated?
The treatment offered after a breast cancer diagnosis will depend on the type of breast cancer you have; for example, whether it’s in the early stages and is the breast ducts only (ductal carcinoma in situ) or whether it’s spread beyond the lining of the ducts and lobes, and into the surrounding breast tissue (invasive or metastatic breast cancer).
Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapies are all possible options. The NHS website has helpful pages on breast cancer treatment in women and men if you’d like to find out more.
Preventing breast cancer - is it possible?
More research is needed into the causes of breast cancer, to determine whether it can be prevented altogether.
However, what’s clear is that there are a number of lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your risk of developing breast cancer (and of other conditions including diabetes, heart disease, and other forms of cancer). This includes…
Getting regular exercise
Eating a healthy, balanced diet, and reducing your intake of saturated fat
Maintaining a healthy weight – especially if you’ve been through menopause. Being overweight or obese after menopause causes your body to produce more estrogen, which can increase your risk of developing some types of breast cancer.
Not drinking alcohol
There are also certain treatments available that can lower your risk of developing breast cancer; though the choice over whether to have these will be very personal and won’t be for everyone. These include…
Having a mastectomy to remove the breasts. This method is often used to treat breast cancer but can be used to help prevent it in a small number of women who are at high risk.
Taking medicines such as tamoxifen, anastrozole, and raloxifene if you have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
If your GP offers you any treatments to reduce your risk of breast cancer, it’s important to ask about the pros and cons before making a final decision on whether to take them.
Final thoughts….
Roughly 55,920 people are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK every year, resulting in nearly 1,000 deaths each month. However, breast cancer survival rates have doubled in the past 40 years and are continuing to improve. If caught early enough, 85% of people will survive breast cancer and go on to live for five years or more.
Monthly self-examinations and routine breast screening play a key role in early detection. And though it’s not fully understood why some people develop breast cancer, research does show that lifestyle changes such as maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise, and avoiding alcohol, can help to lower the risk.
Our article, 11 important health checks, has more information about other screening tests that are recommended for over 50s – including those for health conditions such as osteoporosis, prostate cancer, and bowel cancer.
