About breast cancer...

  • Every year 58,000 plus women and 400 plus men are diagnosed with breast cancer.

  • About 11,400 women and 85 men die from breast cancer each year (some 32 deaths every day).

  • Breast cancer is the 2nd most common cause of cancer death in women and accounts for about 15% of all female cancer deaths.

  • Amazingly, more than 30% of these cases are preventable.

5-year survival rates

Stage 1: over 90%

The tumour is 2 cm or less and is still within the breast. Some cancer cells may have spread to lymph nodes in the armpit.

Stage 2: almost 90%

The tumour is between 2 and 5 cm and may have spread to 1 to 3 lymph nodes in the armpit.

Stage 3: almost 70%

The cancer has spread to 9, or more, lymph nodes. It may have reached the chest wall or skin of the breast.

Stage 4: almost 30%

The cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs, or brain.

Men can also get breast cancer.
Every year some 400 men will be diagnosed with this cancer. 

Do you check your breasts?

Breast Cancer Now has revealed that 50% plus of all UK women do NOT check their breasts regularly for signs of cancer!

Furthermore, 11% of women have reported NEVER having checked their breasts.

According to Roche, the left breast is 5 to 10% more likely to develop cancer than the right breast...

Cancer doesn’t care what side it invades! A deeper-dive into this fact reveals that some 90% of people are right-handed (so 10% are left-handed.) That means left-handed people are not so good at checking out their left breast…

Secondary breast cancer...

Secondary breast cancer is where a cancer that started in the breast spreads to other parts of the body, typically the liver, lungs, brain, or bones. Be aware that when breast cancer is first diagnosed it may already have become a secondary cancer. This type of cancer can't be cured and treatments mostly focus on pain management. The most common areas breast cancer spreads to are the:

  • Bones

  • Lungs

  • Liver

  • Brain

Other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes in the chest, armpit or neck area, the skin or abdomen (belly), may also be affected. The most important thing you can do is prod and press you breasts (and armpits, etc.) on a regular basis. Please don't ignore this and end up with secondary cancer.

Key takeaways...

Just take 30-60 seconds to prod and poke. It may just save you a world of heartache and anguish.
Here's what to look for: 

  • A lump or swelling in the breast, upper chest or armpit.
  • Changes in the size or shape of the breast.
  • A change in skin texture i.e. puckering or dimpling of the skin.
  • A change in the colour of the breast - the breast may look red or inflamed.
  • Rash, crusting or changes to the nipple.
  • Any unusual discharge from a nipple.