Breast cancer

What is breast cancer?

• Breast cancer is cancer that starts in the breast
• It’s the most common type of cancer in women in the UK
• Breast screening (mammogram) can pick up breast cancer that is too small to feel or see, which may make treatment more likely to be successful.

Hear from Sue, a local resident and breast cancer survivor who shares her experience

Screening information

Women aged between 50-70 will be called every three years for a free breast screening appointment (mammogram). It is vital that you attend. Women are no longer automatically invited after age 71 however can still request an appointment. Breast cancer can be detected through screening even when there are no visible symptoms.

Hear from Gina, the Health Improvement Practitioner – North Midlands Breast Screening Service.

What happens at my screening?

What are the symptoms of female breast cancer?

• A lump, or swelling in your breast, chest or armpit
• A change in the skin of your breast, such as dimpling (may look like orange peel) or redness (may be harder to see on black or brown skin)
• A change in size or shape of one or both breasts
• nipple discharge (if you are not pregnant or breastfeeding), which may have blood in it
• A change in the shape or look of your nipple, such as it turning inwards (inverted nipple) or a rash on it (may look like eczema)
• Pain in your breast or armpit which does not go away – breast pain that comes and goes is usually not a symptom of breast cancer.

If you’re trans or non-binary

If you’re a trans man, trans woman or are non-binary, how likely you are to get breast cancer depends on if you’ve had surgery, and if you’re taking hormones.

Assigned female at birth:

• If you’ve had top surgery you may be less likely to get breast cancer
• Removing the breasts may lower your chance of getting breast cancer compared to a cis-gendered woman, though it may still be higher than a cis-gendered man
• If you’ve not had top surgery to remove the breasts and are between 50 and 71, you should be able to have breast screening (mammogram).

Assigned male at birth:

• You may be more likely to get breast cancer if you’ve been taking feminising hormones for longer than two years
• These hormones may increase your chance of getting breast cancer compared to a cis-gendered man, though it may still be lower than that of a cis-gendered woman
• If you’ve been taking feminising hormones for longer than two years and are between 50 and 71, you should be able to have breast screening (mammogram).

How to check your breasts for symptoms

It’s important to check your breasts regularly so you know what’s normal for you. This makes it easier to notice any changes in the size, look or feel of your breasts.

Genetic testing for breast cancer risk

If any of your close relatives have had breast or ovarian cancer, you may be eligible for an NHS genetic test.

A genetic test will check to see if you have a faulty gene which increases your risk of getting cancer, such as a faulty BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.

Speak to a GP about genetic testing if breast or ovarian cancer run in your family.

Local contacts and support

Staffordshire Connects | Butterflies Breast Cancer Support Group

Staffordshire Connects | Terrible Titties and Other Bitties Breast Cancer Support Group

Pink Sisters & Misters Cancer Support Group – Macmillan Cancer – Macmillan Cancer Support

Complementary wellbeing for Cancer Support in Tamworth Staffordshire

Resources