October Breast Awareness Month

[Janeway]

I used to be a regular visitor here but I've not been on these pages for about 6 months because I've been undergoing treatment for breast cancer. With Breast Awareness month coming up in October I've been trying to think of ways I can let people know about the importance of breast health, and then I remembered all of you.

Many of you will have seen the Honor Blackman poster saying 80% of breast cancer patients are over 50. This means that 20% of women getting breast cancer are under 50. Therefore please take time to visit the Breast Cancer Care site and look into breast awareness even if you are in your 20s and 30s.

I was 35 when I was diagnosed with a rare form called Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC). This does not present as a lump, but more like mastitus. Hence it is often missed in women who are breast feeding therefore if you have mastitus type symptoms that do not resolve after a course of anti biotics please ask for a referal to a breast clinic to have IBC ruled out.

Please don't get alarmed by this. Breast cancer in younger women (pre-menopausal) is not common, and most breast problems are benine. What I would like you to take away from this is just to be aware of what's normal for you, and to have anything unusual checked out.

Thanks for your time in reading this.

Hi - I hope that you are in recovery and that your treatment was successful Jane. Good to sometimes read things like this because you can take your health for granted. I need reminders to do checks sometimes!

joanegg

rather than doing checks, which we all forget about, try just washing using your hands (as opposed to a sponge or cloth) when you're in the shower or bath - that's the best way to find out what feels normal for you, and to spot something that's different. You're not just looking for lumps, you're also looking for

• a change in size - it may be that one breast has become noticeably larger or noticeably lower
• a nipple has become inverted (pulled in) or changed its position or shape
• a rash on or around the nipple
• discharge from one or both nipples
• puckering or dimpling of the skin
• a swelling under your armpit or around your collarbone (where the lymph nodes are)
• a lump or thickening in your breast that feels different from the rest of the breast tissue
• constant pain in one part of your breast or in your armpit.

Thanks for pointing this out Janeway.

Hope you are recovering well.

Thanks Janeway for reminding us about breast awareness month. I hope things are well with you.

I've been aware of a difference in my left breast for a few months now, but when I visited the doctor, he put it down to the fact that I am only 26 so it will be nothing bad.

All I am doing is keeping an eye on it. My breast at the moment is sore around the nipple area, so I'm gonna see how long that lasts for.

2wildbabies - breast cancer at twenty something is rare, but it does happen. In any case you should not be told to live with breast pain - I'd go back and ask for it to be investigated, there are numerous non cancer things that could be causing this that are all eminantly fixable. Alternatively try calling the Breast Cancer Care helpline on 0808 800 6000 to talk to a breast care nurse about the possible causes and remedies for your pain.

Hausfrau/Bron

• nice to see a familiar name - so much has changed on here in just a little while - I got 'distracted' soon after the row about the start of 'chat' and so have missed many of the recent tweeks and new faces. Nice to be remembered also