26 October 2023 , 16:42
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This month (October) is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but regardless of the time of year, people should still be aware of the little-known signs and symptoms of the disease.
There are approximately 55,000 new cases of breast cancer per year, with around 11,500 of those sadly losing their life, but breast cancer is often easily treatable if it's caught early enough - this is why noticing it as soon as possible is so vital. In light of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Specialist Litigator, Katy Link, from Patient Claim Line has shared the signs to look out for that you may not be aware of.
She said: "The symptom we probably hear most about is a lump in the breast. Any unusual lumps or thickening of the breast tissue should be assessed by a medical professional immediately. However, there are other red flag symptoms that shouldn't be ignored, and if you spot any of the following you should seek medical advice straight away."
One of the lesser-known symptoms of breast cancer that you should look out for is "Changes to the appearance of your nipples including the nipple becoming sunken into your breast." Also, people should look out for: "Changes in the shape of the size of one or both breasts, any discharge or fluid coming from either of your nipples, lumps or swellings under either of your armpits, any changes to the look or feel of your skin; for example, rashes, redness, dimpling, or puckering, any kinds of rashes, such as crusting, scaling, or itchy skin, and any redness around the nipple."
Katy recommended that: "When calling your GP for an appointment relating to a change in the breast, it’s a good idea to explain the nature of your call in the first instance. This means that the team is aware of the urgency of your request, and can help to secure a timely appointment.
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"If your GP does recognise any signs of cancer, they can refer you to a hospital specialist or breast care clinic for further tests. If the symptoms are less obvious, they may ask you to come back in a week or two to assess whether the symptoms have worsened or improved.
"The reason it is so vital to get an appointment straight away, and to ask as many questions as possible, is to help catch cancer early. For those who are diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer, the survival rate is 98%. This figure drops to 25% for those who are diagnosed when their cancer has reached stage 4."
You can visit Patient Claim Lines' breast cancer advice hub for more information.