The breast cancer checks everyone needs to do, as Jessie J undergoes surgery

Yahoo

4 days ago

Jessie J has shared the "highs and lows" of breast cancer treatment, following recent surgery.
In an Instagram post shared on Monday evening, the 37-year-old singer shared snippets from the past 48 hours saying she will "always show the good and hard bits of any journey" she goes through.
Sharing she has undergone surgery and is now home, resting and awaiting results, the Bang Bang singer thanked her medical team and virtually hugged all of her followers "going through something tough right now".
Jessie J, who has a two-year-old son, Sky, shared her breast cancer diagnosis earlier this month and told fans she is "holding on to the word 'early'".
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Jessie J (@jessiej)
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, most notably among women. Men can also develop this form of cancer so it's important for everyone to know how to check for it.
Sally Kum, associate director of nursing and health information at Breast Cancer Now, said Jessie J's diagnosis emphasised the importance of early detection.
"We know that receiving a breast cancer diagnosis can be devastating – and every 10 minutes someone in the UK hears this life-changing news," she said in a statement. "While breast cancer is less common in younger women, around 10,000 women aged under 50 are diagnosed each year in the UK.
"We know firsthand from women we speak to that being diagnosed with breast cancer as a younger woman can feel incredibly isolating.
"By sharing her own experience, Jessie is shining a spotlight on the reality of being diagnosed with breast cancer as a younger woman and on the importance of early detection of the disease whatever your age."
She continued: "It's crucial that women are empowered to know the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and the importance of regular breast checking – which is as simple as TLC (touch, look and check) – as the sooner breast cancer is diagnosed, the greater the chance of treatment being successful."
Here's everything you need to know about checking your breasts.
Whatever your age, it's important to take time to get to know your breasts and what's normal for you. Everyone's breasts are different, and they can change with age and at different times of the month.
It's important to get to know how your breasts normally look and feel so it will be easier to spot if there are any unusual changes for you.
The two most important questions you should ask yourself while checking are:
Can you feel anything new or unusual?
Does anything look different to you?
Everyone will have their own way of touching and looking for changes, according to Breast Cancer Now. It's crucial to get used to checking regularly and be aware of anything that's new or different for you.
When checking your breasts, you must check your whole breast area, including up to your collarbone (upper chest) and armpits.
A lump or swelling in the breast, upper chest or armpit
A change to the skin, including puckering or dimpling
A change in the colour of the breast – the breast may look darker, red or inflamed
A nipple change, for example it has become pulled in (inverted)
Rash or crusting around the nipple
Unusual liquid, also called discharge, from either nipple
Changes in size or shape of the breast
It doesn't matter when you check your breasts, as long as you check them regularly.
The NHS recommends checking them around once a month, but there is no harm in checking them more often than that.
According to Breast Cancer Now, the biggest barrier to women not checking their breasts regularly is forgetting to do so. Other reasons include not being in the habit of checking, not having the confidence to check them, and not knowing how to perform self examination.
Manveet Basra, associate director of public health, inclusion and awareness, at Breast Cancer Now, recommended that women make checking their breasts "part of their self-care routine while getting dressed, showering or applying moisturiser".
"Checking your breasts only takes a few minutes and there's no right way to check, as long as you do it regularly."
YouGov research conducted by Insurancewith.com has found men to be educationally lacking when it comes to breast cancer. Results showed only 20% of men would see their GP immediately with common symptoms of breast cancer, whilst 78% of men believe there to be poor awareness of the disease.
Although breast cancer in men isn't overly common, the NHS still says around 350 to 400 breast cancer cases occur in men each year, so it's important to encourage the men in your life to check their breasts too.
If you notice a change in your breasts that isn't normal for you, you should see your GP. It may not be due to cancer, but if it is, the earlier it's picked up, the better your chances of having successful treatment.
Basra said: "The sooner breast cancer is diagnosed, the greater the chance of treatment being successful, and lives potentially being saved from breast cancer.
"This is why we want every woman to know how vital breast checking is and to feel empowered to regularly check their breasts, so that it's easier to spot any new or unusual change and get them checked with a GP, along with attending breast screening appointments when invited."
Read more about breast cancer:
Brits less likely to die from cancer and 4 other things we learned from Cancer Research's biggest report yet (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
'The symptom that led to my breast cancer diagnosis' (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
Breast-cancer checks could begin as young as 30 to catch disease early (The Telegraph, 7-min read)