FROM NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and North Lincolnshire Council is highlighting the importance of breast awareness, education and research to help cut the number of deaths each year to breast cancer.
Throughout the month we are raising awareness of breast cancer and the symptoms to look out for. We are working with The Humberside Breast Screening Service to deliver awareness sessions at British Steel and North Lindsey College.
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK. Every year nearly 55,000 people are diagnosed with the disease in the UK, that’s the equivalent of one person every 10 minutes.
Although the majority of people are successfully treated, nearly 12,000 people die from it every year. In addition:
One in eight women in the UK will develop breast cancer in their lifetime
Breast cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer in women in the UK
Breast cancer also affects men with around 400 being diagnosed each year
More than eight out of 10 (85 per cent) of people survive breast cancer beyond five years
An estimated 27 per cent of breast cancer cases in the UK are linked to lifestyle factors, including being overweight and obese (nine per cent), alcohol (six per cent) and physical inactivity (three per cent).
In North Lincolnshire:
- Each year 107 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Most of these cancers are detected following self-referral to a GP (59 per cent) or through a routine breast screen (29 per cent)
- Half of these cancers are amongst women under 70 years of age
- Most of these breast cancers (81 per cent) are detected early i.e. at stages 1 and 2
- Survival rates from breast cancer continue to rise, with one year survival rates currently standing at more than 96 per cent
- Currently 72 per cent of eligible women take up a routine breast screen. Whilst this is in line with the national average it’s less than it was in 2010 when the take up rate was 76.6 per cent
Be breast aware by checking your breasts regularly for changes and visiting your GP if you notice any breast changes. Some common breast symptoms include:
- A lump or area of thickened tissues in either breast
- A change in the size or shape of one or both breasts
- Discharge from either of your nipples (which may be streaked with blood)
- A lump or swelling in either of your armpits
- Dimpling of the skin of your breasts
- A rash on or around your nipple
- A change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast
Gender – being a woman is the biggest risk factor for developing breast cancer
Getting older – the older the person, the higher the risk. More than 80 per cent of breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50 and one in three breast cancers occur in women over 70. Most men who get breast cancer are over 60.
Significant family history – this isn’t common with only around five per cent of people diagnosed with breast cancer having inherited a faulty BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.
The local breast screening service in North Lincolnshire, provided by Hull and East Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust, invites women aged between 50 and 70 every three years. Some ladies are invited slightly younger; between the ages of 47-49, and some ladies are also invited over the age of 70. Women who are aged 70 and over and have not had an appointment in the last three years can self-refer for an appointment (if they wish) by calling 01482 622300.
The Humberside Breast Screening Service will be operating screening clinics in Scunthorpe from early 2018 and will be visiting Brigg.
There are a number of support groups for people who have breast cancer or have had it, including Brigg and District Breast Cancer Support Group who offer care and support in the heart of the community.
It was founded by Angie Benson and they will be celebrating their 16th birthday in January 2018. It is designed to meet the needs of breast cancer patients and offers support, advice and friendship. Family and friends who wish to become part of the group are also very welcome.Some of the key messages from those attending the group are:
Check yourself regularly and follow your instinct. There is life after breast cancer.
- Never give up. You liken it to a treadmill and you have to keep going. Keep your family and friends close – you need them.
- Don’t ignore your breast screening.
- Know your breasts; what is normal for you. Check regularly.
More details can be found at www.breastcancersupport-brigg.org.uk.
Dr. Joanna Wieczorek, Clinical Director of the Humberside Breast Screening Service, said: “Breast Screening can find breast changes when they are in their earliest stages – when they are much too small to see or feel. Most women who attend our breast screening clinics will receive a normal result.’ The UK’s National Breast Screening Programme saves around 1,400 lives every year.
Professionals from the Humberside Breast Screening Service also provide awareness raising session on how to access the service, information regarding the way the screening programme works, breast cancer risk factors and lifestyle changes which may impact on breast cancer prevention.
Any local businesses or groups that would like to arrange their own awareness events can email breast.screening@hey.nhs.net.
Cllr Julie Reed, cabinet member for Adults and Health, said: “Raising awareness of breast cancer and what people should look out for is vital. By ensuring people are educated about breast cancer it could save lives each year.
“Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and we should all come together to fight against it.
“I would urge people to be breast aware and check their breast regularly. If you have any concerns, go see your GP straightaway.
“Throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month we are providing workshops at local employers to raise awareness and educate people on the symptoms of breast cancer.”
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