How often do you check for…

[Tittyboom]

…boob lumps?

I found a lump in my boob recently. Scared the absolute shite out of me as it was accompanied by pain. Turned out it was all tickedy boo(b) and was just glandular tissue. It was obvious as I don’t have much in the way of boobs. It’s not the first lump I’ve found as I’ve previously had cysts.

I check my boobs religiously every month (early 30s), one week after my period. Laying down, arm up, the lot. The doctor told me that most women confess to not checking regularly.

I have to confess to being really shocked by that and when I asked my friends, they all said they almost never check, apart from a cursory once over every now and then.

Is that normal? How often do people check? If you don’t, why don’t you?

Im the ripe old age of 25 and I’ve been checking at least once a week since I was roughly 17. Im a 30JJ/K and I read somewhere years and years ago that having large boobs can have increased risk, and my great grandmother died from breast cancer. - I don’t feel like it’s worth the risk to have a quick feel, takes less than 5 minutes and can be done in the shower while washing, much easier to feel with soapy hands!

@Witchesbelazy

I don’t anymore as I got a lump around ovulation and the female g.p treated me terribly so I daren’t check now

So because you had a bad experience with a GP you'd rather ignore the signs of breast cancer which can be treatable if detected early on? Do you think you'd regret it if you got cancer and it spread to your lymph nodes etc? madness i'm sorry. You need to change GP's and take some responsibility for your health.

@KeepingTrack

Never because it’s not a reliable way to check ‘for cancer’ but. It’s an excellent way to make yourself ill with worry.

This is absolutely untrue. Self examination is the most common way that breast cancer is found. If you read my thread above I was so unworried when I found a lump I fully expected to be wasting the doctor's time. At my breast clinic appointment it must have been obvious because the consultant said to me "I need the biopsy results to confirm but I'm pretty certain it's cancer and I don't think you expected me to say that".

To those who think it's pointless because they have lumpy bumpy breasts. Everyone does pre menopause. What's important is noticing a difference from usual. Tjis is why you should pick a day and do it every month on the same day. You get familiar with your usual lumps and know if something changes.

Astounded at the apathy on here by some of the posters, but equally relieved that it has reminded some of us to check our breasts regularly. It's really not hard to do. Just lie in bed, the bath, shower and have a good root around. It's your body and your life! Thanks for starting the thread OP it was obviously needed.

I’ve always had really lumpy boobs. Have had two ultrasound scans on them in the past for lumps
(Whilst in my 20s) and they were dispersed cysts I think.
I do check, but not regularly. I can always feel lumps, always have done, and if I check them
too often I drive myself mad with worry.

I do look at them most days in the mirror, and look for any physical changes.

@wobblywinelover

Astounded at the apathy on here by some of the posters, but equally relieved that it has reminded some of us to check our breasts regularly. It's really not hard to do. Just lie in bed, the bath, shower and have a good root around. It's your body and your life! Thanks for starting the thread OP it was obviously needed.

I’m really glad I did. I was genuinely gobsmacked that none of my friends checked and it was something I was religious about. All the women here who found their lumps from checking, show how important it is.

And I’m sorry, but you saying checking doesn’t help is astonishingly irresponsible @KeepingTrack. It’s the only tool women under screening age have in their belt.

Never. I never remember or think to. But reading this thread in the bath has made me put down my phone and check now. I will do it monthly, I need to make it a routine.

Thanks op and everyone else for the reminder. I know it's important, I don't know why I don't think of it, but this thread was useful

I check a couple of times a month, in the shower. Very aware because I now know 5 or 6 women within friends / family who have had a BC diagnosis, all after finding a lump and going to the breast unit.

I'm currently waiting for my appointment in 2 week wait referral because I found a lump. Absolutely bricking it if I'm honest, and haven't slept for a week, but all those 6 women are alive and in remission because they found a lump and got it treated. Ages range from early 30s to 70, so not just older women.

I have to say, my Gp surgery was great. Called for appointment, telephone triage at 3pm, seen by nurse practitioner at 3:30pm, appointment for 10 days time received 2 days later.

@dillydallydollydaydream7

Every month on payday - I suffer badly with Heath anxiety and have been to the breast clinic three times. First time it was a fatty lump and nothing to worry about, second and third it was just normal tissue. Checking on payday is easy to remember and it's like being paid to do something that causes me anxiety!

Check regularly ladies and get to know how yours feel. I was so surprised how much lumpy tissue is normal

This is such a good idea! I'm going to do a payday check as well. Great way to remember

I checked every month. Diagnosed with breast cancer at 38. Due to family history I had mammograms at 35. Mammogram didn't pick it up as I had dense breasts. I found the lump. It's important it can save your life.

Every month. That was even before I had breast cancer.

I was told on a thread here a couple of years ago that it I shouldn’t advise other women to check their breasts. Given that there’s no regular screening under a certain age (I was 39) I’d say it’s massively important.

I’ve seen what cancer treatment can do to a person even if they survive. For me, dying early but on my own terms, having enjoyed my life without extra fear and ill health - is much more preferable.

Can you explain? Twelve years on from diagnosis I'm doing really well. You have no idea how you will react to a cancer diagnosis. Hopefully you will never find out.

I was told on a thread here a couple of years ago that it I shouldn’t advise other women to check their breasts.

@MinnieMountain why was that? I was fully expecting a bollocking by posters for my thread though, to be honest, in case they thought I was being pushy or preachy.

I rarely ever did it but one night I was furious about something, no idea why but I checked the boobs & found a lump. My mammo didn’t show anything & I was told not to worry as there was nothing there. After the cancer I became obsessive with checking my boobs several times daily. I usually do it in the shower daily now.

I get cysts on a regular basis (that have to be drained 🤮 so I tend to check my boobs when I'm in the shower most days. Also when I'm lying in bed on my side.

I did in the past, but now i rarely di.

I really must start again, as both my dad’s sisters have had breast cancer. For yrs after one aunt died, I checked and at 21 i found a lump. Totally ok but as time went on ive become lazy

Mid 40s. Been having annual checks since 30s. Both mum and grandma had breast cancer.

I’ve never been good at checking regularly despite my strong family history - like others, I would just forget to do it, and never really knew what I was feeling for when I did. Fortunately, I was on the family history pathway like a PP, which meant I had annual mammograms from the age of 37; my breast cancer in my 40s was found early (I had no symptoms) and after surgery and chemo last year, I am cancer-free. I also had my ovaries removed as my sister died of ovarian cancer. I try to check the remaining breast now, but still don’t really know what I’m feeling!
❤️ to all going through it now.

@DappledThings

Never. Probably ought to start but there's zero history of breast cancer in my family so it's never really been on my radar.

Absolutely no breast cancer in my family either. Didn’t stop me being diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer at forty.

I’m another who no longer checks as my Mirena coil gives me lumps and it gives me anxiety and breast clinic won’t see me. The bloody thing also gives me thrush constantly. I am extremely flat chested and can see my lump if I lie down. Hope the doctor was right not to screen it.

I dont. Mine are 36gg and I simply cant work out what should be there and what shouldn't.

I think I was called irresponsible @Tittyboom. Fuck knows why. The poster didn’t respond. I found my cancerous lump during my monthly check.

@user1471462428

I’m another who no longer checks as my Mirena coil gives me lumps and it gives me anxiety and breast clinic won’t see me. The bloody thing also gives me thrush constantly. I am extremely flat chested and can see my lump if I lie down. Hope the doctor was right not to screen it.

I got my cysts when I had my Mirena coil, too. It was round, smooth and moveable. It was uncomfortable and sore and so they drained it for me. I now have non-hormonal contraception. I get a lot of breast pain between ovulation and my period too, which my doctor said was cyclical and benign.

I've been checking regularly since I got my first breast lump at 15. Now I'm in my 40s and on HRT, I check regularly. I am also part of a screening programme (due to my genes), so have a mammogram once a year too.

Self-examination is invaluable as if you do it regularly, you know what is normal and what is not. For me, as someone who gets lots of fibroadenomas, I know how to recognise them from the other lumps I occasionally get and who what to go get checked out, and what to leave.

A self-exam (use the flat of your palm) takes less than a minute and can be done after your bath or shower, or while getting dressed/undressed. There really is no excuse not to do one.

Monthly. On the first of the month in the shower. If I didn’t do it at a specific time I’d definitely forget!