October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, an annual campaign to raise awareness about breast cancer and its symptoms.

What is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer is a disease in which cancerous cells (malignant cells) form in the tissue of the breast. It occurs in men and women, although women are at an increased risk due to their breast development and exposure to oestrogens.

Who Gets Breast Cancer?

Although men can also get breast cancer, it is more common in women, with around 55,500 women and 370 men diagnosed in the UK each year. One in seven women in the UK will develop breast cancer during their lifetime.

Known Risk Factors

A risk factor is something that may increase the chance of getting a disease such as breast cancer.

Having one or more of the following risk factors can increase the chances of being diagnosed with breast cancer; however, it does not mean that you will definitely get breast cancer. Some of the risk factors are as follows:

• being overweight or obese
• drinking alcohol
• contraceptive pill
• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)
• being inactive
• age
• family history and inherited genes
• previous diagnosis of breast cancer and other cancers.

A variety of risk factors come together to make you more or less susceptible. Some risk factors are inherited and therefore unavoidable, and others are present in the environment in which you live and can often be avoided.

Symptoms of Breast Cancer

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer to look out for:

• a new lump or swelling in the breast, upper chest or armpit
• a change in colour of the breast – the breast may look red or inflamed
• skin changes in the breast such as dimpling, puckering, a rash or redness of the skin
• a nipple change, such as becoming inverted
• unusual discharge/fluid from either nipple
• changes in the position of the nipple
• a rash or crusting around the nipple
• changes in size or shape of the breast.

Checking Your Breasts

It is important to regularly check your breasts for any changes.

Touch your breasts to make sure you cannot feel anything new or unusual. Look for changes and whether you can see anything out of the ordinary and check any new or unusual changes with a GP.

Make sure to check your whole breast area, including up to your collarbone and armpits, on a regular basis.

Treatment Options

The main treatment options for breast cancer include:

• chemotherapy
• radiotherapy
• surgery
• hormonal therapy
• targeted cancer drugs
• bone-strengthening drugs.

Depending on the stage and grade of the cancer you may have a combination of treatments. Your situation will be considered by your doctor to decide on your best treatment options.

Let’s Talk Statistics!

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, with around 55,900 people diagnosed every year in the UK which is more than 150 people a day.

15% of all newly diagnosed cancers in the UK are breast cancer.

For more information about breast cancer, please visit the following websites:

• Cancer Research UK
• Breast Cancer UK.

We Can Help You

If you believe you have been a victim of a misdiagnosis or delay in diagnosing breast cancer, our team of Medical Negligence Lawyers have experience in this area and may be able to assist you in pursuing a Medical Negligence claim. Please get in contact with us on 0330 191 4835 or fill out our online enquiry form.

Our experienced team of lawyers will be able to offer advice and guide you through every step of the claims process, and our in-house rehabilitation coordinators can help to support you through your recovery.