Avoid the terror of cancer – self-check your breasts

A Rochdale charity worker has used the end of October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month to make a cheeky appeal to people everywhere: 'Make sure you cop a feel'.

Littleborough-based Caroline Yates survived the condition through bouts of chemo- and radiotherapy. She was diagnosed at the age of 52 in October 2019.

Speaking at a meeting of Rochdale Inner Wheel, she explained how members might avoid the horror of serious illness if they examine their breasts regularly.

And the case for self-assessment is all the more pressing, because cancer screening services are stretched and old-fashioned notions are strangling the early diagnosis that brings better chances of survival.

Mum Caroline, who works at Greater Manchester charity Endometriosis Awareness North, which aims to raise awareness and improve the quality of diagnosis and care of endometriosis, said: “I found a lump and made an urgent appointment and was seen within two weeks.

“Hearing the ‘C’ word made me enraged, angered, and scared. But I kept calm and had a supportive family. After finding out as much as possible and making time for myself, I started my treatment.

“It was not easy to go through the surgery, chemotherapy, losing my hair, choosing not to wear a wig and then radiotherapy. But on 19 February 2022, I underwent the final stage of my treatment – I had reconstruction on my other breast to even the two sides.

“Now, I am cancer-free: my hair has grown back and I am a lovely shade of blonde/grey - and my wig is still in the box in the wardrobe.”

 

 

Caroline’s plea was backed by women’s health expert, Dr Anita Sharma, a general practitioner and chair of the Inner Wheel Rochdale, a club promoting friendship, service, community and understanding.

Dr Sharma said: “I cannot emphasise how important it is to check regularly and attend mammogram appointments. NHS England figures showed an alarming 44 per cent fall in the number of women who were screened for the disease nationally in 2020-21.

“Undoubtedly, COVID made a huge impact on this, stretching resources and creating a reluctance on behalf of patients to join a longer than usual waiting list. As a member of the BAME community myself, I am also aware that embarrassment and decisions made on screening by other members of the family, play a part.”

Dr Sharma continued: “In the UK, there are approximately 56,000 new cases of breast cancer every year. The survival rate has increased to 80% living for over a decade or more following diagnosis, but I stress again, success is greater when you get diagnosed early.

“Although the instance is much rarer, anyone can get breast cancer and I would urge men, for example, to be more body aware and report any significant changes or worries to their GP.”

Caroline also recently relayed her life experience to an international gathering of medics and junior doctors at the University of Central Lancashire.

The Breast Cancer Now charity recommends that when checking, you should look for:

• A lump or swelling in the breast, upper chest, or armpit
• A change to the skin, such as puckering or dimpling
• A change in the colour of the breast – the breast may look red or inflamed
• A nipple change, for example, it has become pulled in (inverted)
• Rash or crusting around the nipple
• Unusual liquid (discharge) from either nipple
• Changes in the size or shape of the breast