Breast Cancer Awareness Month; stories and advice

This month is breast cancer awareness month and every October, people all over the world show their support for everyone affected by breast cancer. Around 60000 men and women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK.

With Breast cancer being the most common cancer in women The harsh reality is that one in seven women in the UK will develop breast cancer at some point in their lifetime. 

Bev Horley was diagnosed in 2002 with stage two Breast Cancer and was given the all clear by 2004. She recounts her story “I had this lump, it was hard and I guess you would say it was sort the size of a Malteser and I just wanted it checked out for my own peace of mind. It turns out that lump was breast cancer.” She had treatment for 22 months until she was given the good news.

Ms Horley said how she encourages everybody “check your body in the shower. It’s the easiest place to do it, nobody can see, and it doesn’t even take two minutes.” On her recent shopping trip to Asda, Bev Horley was pleased to see the company taking active efforts at spreading awareness.

It’s important to remember that breast cancer isn’t just something that women can get, men too are at risk. We spoke to Nick Brent who works at Coppafeel, a breast cancer awareness charity, he revealed most “people don’t know it can actually happen to men as well, so breast cancer in men, it usually happens to men over 60 but it can affect younger men. So, there are some symptoms to be aware of, so normally there’s a lump but it can also be nipples inverted, fluid oozing and sort of discharge, it can be a rash and the surrounding skin around the nipple can be swollen.”

With breast cancer awareness month coming to an end, now is the perfect time to go ahead and check your breasts, check your pecks, check your boobs, check whatever you like to call them but check them because this really could save your life