Knowing your boobs could save your life.
It might be a difficult statistic to swallow but did you know that approximately 150 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer today?
Despite this shocking stat, six million women have declared they don’t know how to check their breasts for cancer and a staggering 80 per cent of women are unclear on what could increase their risk of breast cancer, according to Bupa Health Clinics.
And it seems the pandemic hasn't helped matters. The Estée Lauder Companies UK & Ireland found that 43% of women are less likely to share breast health concerns. Since March 2020, over one in five (21%) women have deprioritised their breast health, and a fifth (20%) of women under 45 would be unlikely to visit a doctor if they noticed any unusual changes to their breasts.
Professor Ian Smith, Consultant Medical Oncologist and Professor of Cancer Medicine at the Royal Marsden, and ELC-funded Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) researcher, said: "The coronavirus pandemic has had a severe impact on the fundraising of many organisations so, now more than ever, funding is needed to ensure that breast cancer research can continue to move forward. It’s also troubling that, as indicated by this research, some women may be less likely to share concerns about their breast health in the wake of Covid-19. The earlier a breast tumour is found, the better we can treat it, so anyone concerned about a potential breast cancer symptom should get it checked by their GP.”
That's why we're sharing a super handy guide from AVON and CoppaFeel for checking your breasts at home that could well save your life.
What to LOOK for when checking your boobs:
- Changes in skin texture
- Nipple discharge
- Swelling in your armpit or around collarbone
- A sudden change in size or shape
- A rash or crusting of the nipple or surrounding area
- Nipple inversion
What to FEEL for when checking your boobs:
- It is important to get to now the normal rhythm of your boobs so you will detect anything abnormal quickly.
- Feel for irregular lumps (which can be relatively small) that are firm and solid.
To discover CoppaCollege for yourself and find our more about AVON Breast Cancer Promise Visit: www.avon.uk.com/causes
This originally appeared on GLAMOUR UK |Author: Bianca London
