Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2025
How to check you breasts and chest
To check your breasts or chest:
- Look at your breasts or chest in a mirror to look for any changes. Start with your arms by your sides and then raise them.
- Feel around each breast or side of your chest in a circular motion all the way up to your collarbone and under each armpit. Use a mix of light and firmer pressure. Do not press so hard it hurts.
- Feel around and over each nipple.
You may find it easier to feel your breasts or chest in the shower or lying down.
Breast screening
Breast screening can detect cancer long before you can even feel it. Or more likely, put your mind at rest.
When you're invited, save the date, it could save your life. If you missed your appointment, call your local NHS breast screening service on 01903 239757 or email: uhsussex.westsussexbreastscreening@nhs.net.
If you are a woman, aged 50 or over, you'll be invited for breast screening every 3 years, until your 71st birthday.
Main symptoms of breast cancer in women
Signs and symptoms of breast cancer include:
- a lump, or swelling in your breast, chest or armpit
- a change in the skin of your breast, such as dimpling (may look like orange peel) or redness (may be harder to see on black or brown skin)
- a change in size or shape of 1 or both breasts
- nipple discharge (if you are not pregnant or breastfeeding), which may have blood in it
- a change in the shape or look of your nipple, such as it turning inwards (inverted nipple) or a rash on it (may look like eczema)
- pain in your breast or armpit which does not go away – breast pain that comes and goes is usually not a symptom of breast cancer
See your GP if you notice a change
Most breast changes, including breast lumps, are not cancer. But the sooner breast cancer is found, the more successful treatment is likely to be.
Get any new or unusual changes checked by a GP.
What will happen when I see my GP?
Your appointment may be over the phone or in person. If your appointment is in person, your GP will examine your breasts.
After speaking to you on the phone, or examining your breasts, your GP may:
- Decide there’s no need for further investigation
- Ask to see you again after a short time
- Refer you to a breast clinic
Being referred to a breast clinic doesn’t mean you have breast cancer, just that further assessment is needed to find out what is going on.
If your GP is male and you don’t feel comfortable going to see him, ask if there’s a female doctor or practice nurse available. You can also ask for a female nurse or member of staff to be present during your examination. Or you can take a friend or relative with you but check first if you are able to do this.
Set a Monthly Reminder
To mark October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the charity Breast Cancer UK, has launched a text reminder service to encourage people to check their bodies once a month. People can sign up for the text reminder service as well as download a guide on how to do a breast check.
