Sarah, Duchess of York, has had surgery to treat breast cancer, it has been revealed.
The 63-year-old Duchess was diagnosed after a routine mammogram and has since undergone surgery, which her spokesperson says was successful.
Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of the disease in the UK, with around 55,000 women and 370 men diagnosed each year, according to Breast Cancer Now.
Although breast cancer is highly treatable, it is crucial to detect it as early as possible because the longer it goes without treatment, the greater the risk it can pose.
Despite years of requests from cancer charities, more than a third of women in the UK still don’t regularly have their breasts assessed.
With thousands across the country not knowing how to spot the key signs of the potentially deadly cancer, MailOnline here provides a guide on how to check your breasts and other symptoms to watch out for.
Sarah, Duchess of York, has had surgery to treat breast cancer, it has been revealed.
Checking your breasts should be part of your monthly routine so that you notice any unusual changes. Simply rub and feel from top to bottom, feeling in semicircles and in a circular motion around your breast tissue to detect any abnormalities
How and what should you check?
Checking your breasts can help you spot early signs of breast cancer. This means you have a better chance of beating the disease, experts say.
It should be part of your monthly routine so you notice any unusual changes, says charity CoppaFeel.
But according to a YouGov survey commissioned by Breast Cancer Now, 39 percent of women don’t do it.
More than half of people who don’t check their breasts just forget about it, while 16 percent don’t know how to check.
Dr. Sarah Kayat, who, with the help of a topless cancer survivor, showed viewers on ITV’s This Morning how to get a breast exam, said home breast exams save 1,300 lives in the UK every year.
You can check in in the shower, when you are in bed or in the mirror before getting dressed.
Because breast tissue isn’t just in your breasts, it’s also important for men and women to check the tissue all the way up to their collarbone and under their armpits.
There’s no right or wrong way to check your breasts, as long as you know what your breasts usually look and feel like, the NHS says.
But one of the most popular online methods is using the pads of your fingers.
Simply rub and feel from top to bottom, feeling in semicircles and in a circular motion around your breast tissue to feel for any abnormalities, according to a guide shared in a blog post by the University of Nottingham.
If you notice any changes, you should have this checked by your GP.
Women between the ages of 50 and 70 should also be routinely screened for breast cancer.
Breast cancer symptoms to look out for include lumps and swelling, dimpling of the skin, color changes, discharge, and rash or crusting around the nipple
Checking for…
A lump or swelling
Use your fingers to feel for any lumps or swelling in the breast, upper arm, and chest.
A lump or area of thickened breast tissue that doesn’t move easily is one of the first noticeable symptoms of breast cancer, the NHS says.
And according to the American Cancer Society, this is the most common symptom. It says that the nodules are often hard and painless.
But when feeling unusual lumps and bumps, it’s important to know what’s normal for you, experts say.
The NHS advises women to get used to how their breasts feel at different times of the month. This is because some women have tender and lumpy breasts near the armpit around the time of their period.
The feel of your breasts may also change after menopause, as normal breasts may feel softer, less firm, and less lumpy.
In addition to checking for lumps, visible changes in the shape and size of the breast are also important.
Changes to the skin
Another common sign of breast cancer is a skin change.
This can usually only be seen in the mirror and includes wrinkles or dimples in the skin.
More than a third of women in the UK don’t regularly check their breasts for possible signs of breast cancer, according to the charity Breast Cancer Now [File photo]
The dimpled skin is often likened to orange peel and may be associated with inflammatory breast cancer, a rare but aggressive cancer.
A change in color is also a warning to check out, says Breast Cancer Now.
If you notice that your breasts look red or inflamed, it could be a sign of cancer.
Pain is only a symptom of breast cancer in rare cases, says the NHS. But if you feel pain or discomfort in one breast that won’t go away, you should see your doctor.
A nipple change
It’s important to check not only your breast tissue for abnormalities, but also your nipples, experts say.
Look for a rash or crusting around the nipple.
The NHS says this can look like eczema, crusting on the skin, scaly, itchy or red skin.
You should also check the position of your nipple, advises the NHS.
If it gets pulled in or starts to point in a different way than usual, it could be a sign of breast cancer.
Another warning sign to get checked by your GP is discharge from either nipple.
Discharge is more common in ductal carcinoma in situ, an early form of breast cancer that begins in the milk ducts.
Cancer research says the discharge can also be stained with blood.