Is it Time You Copped a Feel? 1 in 10 Women Don’t Know How to Check Their Breasts For Cancer

Ladies, is it time you got to grips with your, ahem, assets? Worrying reports are coming in this morning which say that more than 140,000 of us don’t actually know how often we should examine our boobs to check for cancer.

Given that next month is all about Breast Cancer Awareness, it only seems right to bring the topic into focus (although in our opinion, it’s something that should always be given attention).

According to a new study, a severe lack of awareness about the illness is apparent, despite the fact that most of us have friends and family who have gone through the disease.

The research revealed that 15 per cent (or one in six) women polled did not know that they should check their breasts for unusual lumps or bumps every single month. Two out of five women admitted that they often forgot to check their breasts, and more than one in 10 of us confessed that we do not know how to perform a self-examination.

These results are surprising given that the majority of women questioned said that their biggest fear was not catching the disease early enough.

The study results were released yesterday at the launch of the Be Breast Aware: Have a Feel Day – a new app that shows women how to perform a self-examination on their breasts step-by-step.

“Our hope is that by encouraging women to become breast aware from an early age, they will be more familiar with the natural changes in their breasts throughout their monthly cycle and will, in turn, recognise any abnormalities should they arise,” said Professor Arnie Hill, a breast cancer surgeon.

“The new phone app outlines various symptoms that can present and while most will never experience an abnormality, those that do should contact their GP who will take the most appropriate course of action,” he added.

Early detection can greatly increase survival rates when it comes to breast cancer.

Professor Hill said that the new phone app is a “great educational tool” and said that results from international research have shown that women who are “more informed about their bodies have much more positive treatment outcomes.” Good to know, right?

Most women who present with an abnormality in their breast actually find it themselves, therefore it is so important for us to be breast aware and regularly check ourselves.

“Young women should know that the success rate for early diagnosis of breast cancer is very good and that by being vigilant, you increase your chances of catching it early and receiving the appropriate treatment,” said Dr Naoimh Kenny, a Dublin-based GP.

For more information about breast cancer please visit Breast Cancer Ireland’s website by clicking here.