October marked Breast Cancer Awareness Month (31 days dedicated to spotlighting breast cancer and raising vital breast awareness). But at Breast Cancer Now, we’re here to provide support and information to anyone affected by breast cancer all year round.
This article was included in issue 102 (Autumn 2024) of The Menopause Exchange newsletter.
Being breast aware
Women’s breasts change throughout their life as levels of the hormones oestrogen and progesterone in the body change. For example, as oestrogen levels fall during and after the menopause, breasts may change size, lose their firmness, feel softer and may droop. And if you experience tenderness, it may be due to pain that’s not linked to the menstrual cycle.
That’s why it’s so important that everyone regularly checks their breasts to get to know what’s normal for them. While many people know that a lump can be a possible symptom of breast cancer, there are other signs and symptoms to look out for. These include nipple discharge, dimpling or puckering of the skin of the breast, nipple changes, or a change in size or shape of the breast. While most breast changes won’t be cancer, it’s important to visit a GP if you notice any changes that are new or unusual for you. The sooner breast cancer is found, the more successful treatment is likely to be.
Checking your breasts only takes a few minutes. Making this part of your routine – such as in the shower or when you apply moisturiser – can help you to check regularly. It’s important to check your whole breast area, armpits and up to your collarbone (upper chest) for changes. There’s no special technique; at Breast Cancer Now, we say it’s as simple as TLC: touch, look, check.
Importance of routine mammograms
In the UK, women aged 50 up to their 71st birthday should be offered a mammogram every three years, as part of the national breast screening programme. Eligible trans and non-binary people can be referred into screening services by their GP, and should ask them for more information about this.
Women over 50 are invited for routine breast screening, as over 80% of breast cancers occur in women over 50 and the risk of developing the disease continues to increase with age. If you’re 71 or over, you won’t automatically be sent an invitation but you can contact your local breast screening unit and ask for screening once every three years.
Mammograms can pick up breast cancers before there are any signs or symptoms, so these are a key tool to detecting breast cancer early, when survival rates are almost 100%. However, mammograms don’t prevent breast cancer, and breast cancer can develop in the years between each mammogram. That’s why even if you’ve had a mammogram recently it’s important to continue to regularly breast check, reporting any new or unusual changes to your GP.
There’s no special way to prepare for a mammogram, but it may help to wear a top that’s easy to remove, as the mammographer will ask you to undress from the waist up. Your breasts will be placed one at a time on the X-ray machine and pressed down firmly on the surface by a clear plate. At least two pictures of each breast will be taken.
For some women, breast screening can be uncomfortable, but a mammogram only takes a few seconds and isn’t harmful. Some people may worry about being exposed to radiation during a mammogram, but the amount is very low, similar to the level of radiation you’d be exposed to on return flights between London and Australia.
Breast cancer risk
Many different factors can affect your risk of developing breast cancer; there’s no single cause. It results from a combination of the way we live our lives, our genes and our environment.
Getting older is the most significant risk factor for developing breast cancer. HRT can increase the risk of breast cancer. But the increased risk is small and will depend on the type of HRT and how long considering starting HRT should discuss with their GP.
Some women have an increased risk of breast cancer due to significant family history of the disease. About 5% to 10% of breast cancers are caused by an inherited altered gene. If you go through a later menopause, your chance of getting breast cancer is also slightly increased.
While some of these risk factors are things we can’t change, lifestyle plays a part too, and by making small changes and living well now, you can lower your chances of getting breast cancer. It doesn’t guarantee that you won’t develop breast cancer, but leading a healthy lifestyle does reduce your risk – particularly limiting the amount of alcohol you drink, keeping to a healthy weight and being physically active.
Breast cancer and menopause
For people diagnosed with breast cancer, treatments such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy or ovarian suppression can cause menopausal symptoms. Women diagnosed with breast cancer who are taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to help with symptoms of the menopause will be advised to stop, as it’s not usually recommended for women with breast cancer.
Anyone looking for support with managing breast cancer treatment side effects or who has questions about HRT and breast cancer can speak to their GP or their treatment team, and also contact Breast Cancer Now.
About Breast Cancer Now
At Breast Cancer Now, we’re here for you whatever your experience of breast cancer: from our expert nurses on the end of our free and confidential Helpline (0808 800 6000) and online to our range of tailored support services, including Someone Like Me to put you in touch with someone who understands, or Moving Forward courses to support you in adjusting to life after treatment. For more information visit our website: breastcancernow.org
Created Autumn 2024
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