Getting to know your boobies isn’t only fun, but can also help detect Breast Cancer early which is the best form of defence against the disease!
CoppaFeel! of our brand new range of boob awareness clothing and merchandise.
Diagnosing breast cancer in younger women is more difficult because their breast tissue is generally more dense than the breast tissue in older women. By the time a lump in a younger woman's breast can be felt, the cancer is often advanced. In addition, breast cancer in younger women may be aggressive and less likely to respond to treatment.
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How to check yourself;
Step 1. You can coppafeel either lying down or standing up - perhaps in the shower or at the bus stop? Wherever you choose, get comfy and use the fleshy pads of your 3 middle fingers of the opposite hand.
Step 2. In a circular motion, work your hand around your breast and alternate the pressure you apply.
Step 3. Make sure you cop a feel of the entire breast area, including above and below your collarbone and in your armpit.
Step 4. Starting at the breastbone, move fingers up and down the breast or circle around the breast. Remember to include the armpit area.
Step 5. When you're done touching, give your nipples a gentle squeeze to check for any discharge or pain.
Important! You're not just feeling, you're looking too. If you notice any changes in the size or shape of your breast, nipple inversion or shape/position change, any puckering or dimpling, a rash in or around the nipple, you must make an appointment to see your GP right away. Share your worries and demand action. YOU KNOW YOUR BODY BETTER THAN ANYONE ELSE and because you have copped a feel regularly, you also know your boobies better than your GP does.
Delays in diagnosing breast cancer are also a problem. Many younger women who have breast cancer ignore the warning signs -- such as a breast lump or unusual discharge -- because they believe they are too young to get breast cancer.
Many women assume they are too young to get breast cancer and tend to assume a lump is a harmless cyst or other growth. Some health care providers also dismiss breast lumps in young women as cysts and adopt a "wait and see" approach.
Although the incidence of breast cancer in young women is much lower than that of older women, young women's breast cancers are generally more aggressive, are diagnosed at a later stage, and result in lower survival rates.
The Lowdown:
Arlene Wilkie, Director of Research and Policy, Breast Cancer Campaign said, ìBreast cancer is rare among younger women. Of the nearly 46,000 new cases of breast cancer each year just 20 young women under the age of 25 are diagnosed with the disease.
“Most cases of breast cancer occur in women after the menopause, usually over the age of 50 and that is why they are invited to attend regular breast cancer screening.
“However younger women have denser breast tissue and therefore screening is not suitable for them. It is therefore important that all women, of all ages, become breast aware by getting to know what is normal for them, by looking and feeling and knowing what changes to look for. If anything doesn’t feel right or has changed they should go and see their GP.”
