Your questions answered

Need further advice? Please use the following frequently asked questions, which offer some general guidance. For individual concerns, please speak to your GP.

How should I check my breasts?

 There’s no single way to check. Everyone has their own way of touching and looking for changes – there’s no special technique and you don’t need any training. For general advice, please visit our section on how to check your breasts.

What changes can I look out for?

Changes that are part of your monthly cycle are normal and you shouldn’t worry. Visit our section on the warning signs of breast cancer for the changes to look out for.

I’m over 50 and attend screening. Do I still need to check my breasts myself?

Yes. Breast x-rays don't protect you from breast cancer. The national cancer screening programme aims to invite women aged 50-70 for a breast x-ray once every three years, so it is very important to check your breasts regularly in between screening appointments. Find out more about breast screening. 

I’m worried about a friend. She’s found a lump in her breast and is too scared to go to her GP. What should I do?

You can tell her that most breast changes, including lumps, aren’t cancer but it’s important to get them checked out by a doctor straight away. Even if is cancer, nine out of 10 women who are diagnosed with breast cancer at an early stage survive. And spotting it early increases the likelihood of needing less severe treatments that don’t cause hair loss or result in the removal of a breast.  You can encourage your friend to make an appointment with her GP straight away. She can ask for a female doctor, and can take someone along with her to the appointment if she needs extra support.

If you think it will help, you can also send her a link to this website so she can find out more for herself. 

I think I’ve found a lump in my breast, but I’m not sure.  It just feels different. Shall I wait and see if it goes away?

If you’ve noticed something that looks or feels unusual in your breast, the best thing to do is to check it with your GP. Most breast changes, including lumps, aren’t cancer but it’s important to get them checked out by a doctor straight away.

Can you send me some leaflets so that I can forward them onto my friends?

Yes, of course. Please visit our resource pack section for details of how to order leaflets.

If you have any other questions, please contact us.