One in five women have not checked for signs of breast cancer in the last year

A YouGov poll also revealed that majority of men are aware they can develop breast cancer but most have never self-examined for signs

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with breast cancer charities pulling out all the stops annually to raise awareness– one charity, Breast Cancer Now, partnered with Twitter to run an uncensored livestream with an expert nurse demonstrating how to check breasts and chests this week.

But a new poll by YouGov suggests that at least one in five women have no checked for signs of breast cancer in the last year.

Of the 1,004 women and 729 men surveyed, only 41 per cent of women said they checked their breasts in the last month. About three quarters (76 per cent) of women said they have ever checked themselves and 11 per cent said they have never done so, despite breast cancer being the most cancer in the UK.

The survey also found that the majority of men (80 per cent) are aware that they too can develop breast cancer, but only 19 per cent said they have ever done a breast exam themselves. Of this, just six per cent said they have done one in the last month.

Nearly seven in ten (69 per cent) of men said they have never performed a self-check for signs of breast cancer.

Most charities and medical professionals recommend that both men and women self-examine for breast cancer at least once a month.

Every year, around 11,500 women and 85 men die from breast cancer in the UK, and a diagnosis of breast cancer can affect an entire family. The poll also revealed that breast cancer has been a part of the lives of nearly two-thirds of Britons (63 per cent).

More than a quarter (27 per cent) of people have a family member who has been diagnosed with the cancer, while 22 per cent have had a friend with it. A further 33 per cent of people have a different acquaintance who has had breast cancer.

Familiarise yourself with the way your breasts look normally, as this can help you spot anything unusual

Dr Petra Simic

Women are more likely than men to know or have known someone with the illness, with 72 per cent of women saying so compared to 54 per cent of men. Among older Britons, the number of those who said they know someone who has had it rises to three in four (75 per cent).

It comes after analysis by Breast Cancer Now suggested that almost 12,000 women in the UK were living with undiagnosed breast cancer by the end of May this year, with screenings for the disease remaining below pre-pandemic levels.

When GP services were paused last year at the height of the pandemic to ensure there was capacity for coronavirus treatment, the charity estimated that a million women had missed out on breast cancer screening.

It said earlier this month that since screening resumed last summer, about half a million fewer women had been seen compared to the same months in 2018 and 2019.

Dr Petra Simic, medical director at Bupa UK Insurance, urged women to familiarise themselves with their breasts by checking regularly and not to avoid or delay seeking help. Research by the company found that 34 per cent of women felt discouraged from seeking help due to factors such as fear about wasting doctors’ time or embarrassment about their symptoms.

In my practice I see a lot of patients who have been holding off from asking questions because they’re embarrassed

Daniel Leff

Dr Simic said: “When you’re checking your breast, look at the size and shape of each breast and check for any lumps. Familiarise yourself with the way your breasts look normally, as this can help you spot anything unusual.

“Look at your breasts and the skin on and around them with your arms down at your sides, and then with your arms up in the air. Look for any areas where your skin is pulling, nipple discharge or red patches on the skin.

“Make sure you feel your breast, under your arm and behind the nipple for any lumps. Check each area for any pain when you’re touching them. Use the flat of your hand, pressing the tissue of the breast against your rib cage, feeling for lumps which may feel like marbles or grapes under your fingers.

“A good rule of thumb is to look out for any change that’s unexplained or persistent – and if you’re worried to seek medical advice.”

Daniel Leff, a consultant in oncoplastic breast surgery at King Edward VII’s Hospital, also emphasised the importance of seeking medical help if breast cancer is a concern.

He said: “In my practice I see a lot of patients who have been holding off from asking questions because they’re embarrassed or are worried about what I’ll think.

“But I always encourage my patients to come forward with whatever’s on their mind, rather than holding the question in or trying to search the internet for the answer. There’s plenty of misinformation out there and often you’ll come across myths that might make you feel worse, or worry unnecessarily, so it’s always best to speak to a medical professional if you have any concerns.”