Breast Cancer and Breast Screening

Breast cancer is of course the most serious breast problem that we encounter. It is the most common type of cancer in the UK and will affect around 1 in 10 women at sometime during their life, although much more often this happens in old age. The good news about breast cancer however is that treatment is quite effective and that most women who develop breast cancer will be permanently cured following he correct treatment. Treatment is more effective if the breast cancer is caught in the early stages and this is the reason for undergoing breast screening (mammography). This is provided automatically by the National Health Service for all women between the ages of 50-70, but continues to effective after the age of 70 and is certainly available on request at your local screening centre if you wish to continue with it. Breast screening is also effective between the ages of 40-50, though mammograms need to be carried out more often (at the very least once every two years).

The commonest sign of breast cancer is a lump in the breast. This can be any size but is usually a felt as a separate lump within the breast tissue which is harder than the normal tissue around it. Very often a cancerous lump will be attached to the overlying surface tissue causing either puckering of the skin, which is most noticeable when raising the arms, or inversion of the nipple. Breast cancer can also cause nipple discharge which is frequently blood stained. Breast cancer lumps are practically never painful and generally are felt by accident whilst washing or during self breast examination. Rarely breast cancer causes a red discoloration of the overlying skin so this is another important symptom which should always be checked by your doctor.