Breast cancer can show up in different ways — and it isn’t always a lump. Knowing how your breasts normally look and feel makes it easier to recognise when something has changed.
Breast Cancer Ireland's KNOW MORE campaign is changing the conversation around breast awareness, led by people who've experienced breast cancer themselves, shining a light on the 8 signs and symptoms everyone should know.
A change doesn't necessarily mean breast cancer, but it should never be ignored. Notice something new or unusual? Contact your GP and get it checked. The sooner breast cancer is detected, the better the chance of successful treatment — and knowing more can make all the difference.
Knowing your normal is the first step. The eight signs below are the changes to be aware of, so that if you ever notice something new or unusual, you know it is worth getting checked.
A lump in the breast or armpit
Dimpling or retraction of the nipple
A change in the skin around the nipple or discharge
A puckering of the skin of the breast
An unusual increase in the size of one breast
One breast unusually lower than the other
An enlargement of the glands
An unusual swelling in the armpit
Checking regularly is how you get to know your normal, so a change is easier to notice. These four simple steps take only a few minutes and can become part of your routine.
Look
In a mirror, arms by your side and then raised.
Feel
Each breast and up into your armpit, using the flat of your fingers.
Note
Anything new or different from your normal.
Act
If you notice a change, contact your GP without delay.