Breast Cancer Awareness Month with Cancer Focus NI

31 October, 2024

With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we met with Naomi Thompson, Health Improvement Manager with Cancer Focus Northern Ireland. Cancer Focus Northern Ireland is a leading local cancer charity that provides care and support services for cancer patients and their families; offers a range of cancer prevention programmes to help people lessen their risk of getting cancer; funds scientific research into the causes and treatment of the disease and campaign for better health policy to protect our community and its future. Naomi's role is to help people understand the signs and symptoms of cancer and to educate people on how to prevent cancer in their lifetime.

1 in 2 people in Northern Ireland will get a cancer in their lifetime. Naomi says, "Therefore if we can prevent some, that would be great and for others, that we get them into treatment earlier so they get the best treatment at the earliest possible stage, to get the best outcome.

In Northern Ireland, about 1,500 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every single year. About half of those are found by women themselves, the other half would be found through screening, through mammography. Also remembering that about 11 men a year in Northern Ireland will also be diagnosed with breast cancer. So sometimes men will find breast cancers in their woman and also vice versa, women finding cancers in their men so it's important that everyone knows about this."

During the interview, Naomi discusses signs and symptoms, what to look out for, how to look after yourself, how can we prevent it and what steps should we be taking.

Naomi emphasises at various points in the interview that "what is really important, is that you get to know yourself and get to know your normal."

"When we think about breast tissue we are thinking of everything from the collarbone, over the breast and actually right under the arm. Whenever you are checking yourself, the first thing you want to do is to look. Find a mirror, and look in the mirror whenever you are undressed with your hands by your side, with your hands on your hips and then also with your hands behind your head and pushing forward. Look and see, has anything changed? Does anything look any different? Do you notice a dimple or vien or change in the skin? Has the nipple changed? So simple looking would you be your first step! Once you've looked, the next step would be to have a feel. It's probably best to have a feel either in the bath or when lying flat on the bed just because the breast tissue spreads out and that means that you can feel better. If you are feeling, the easiest way to do it is by using the flat of your hand with your finger and working your way around the breast tissue. If you do the breast itself, first, remembering to press firmly but not poking and don't forget under the nipple itself. Then go under the arm and check becuase we have lymp glands under our arm. Sometimes you will notice a lump because the cancer will show up in the lymph gland. However, I will say, if you are very tired or you have an infection you might also notice a lump in your lymph gland so don't immediately assume that it's going to be a cancer. The other thing to remember is, don't forget that tissue just above the breast, right up to the collar bone and just use the flat of your hand to feel. Is there any changes, its there any lump? And then just change hands to do the other side. Working around in a nice circular fashion, pressing firmly, under the nipple, under the arm and of course, up to the collar bone.

So wha you might feel is a lump or you might notice a dimple, an inverted nipple or a change in skin tone, it feels like an orange or orange peel. You might also notice, especially for younger woman, a rash or a bleeding or bloody discharge from the nipple. It could be a vein or you may have pain in one breast. This is really important to rememeber for younger woman who still have their period; during your period you may be lumpy, you may be a bit sore during your period so wait til the week after your period before you check becuase during that week you'll notice different things so do the check on the week afterwards. But it's not just a lump. The other thing that's important to remember, is that if you are under the age of 50, 9 out of 10 lumps that are found are actually cysts and not cancer. Cancers tend to be hard, solid and immovable, they are a lump. A cyst is much more fluid-filled and much more moveable sp generally for younger women, it will be a cyst and not a cancer. It's still really important to check, really important to know yourself and remember your normal and your friend's normal are going to be two very different normals and it's just getting to know yourself. So if you know yourself, you'll know when anything has changed, and that's the point at which to go and make an appointment with your GP and just say, ive noticed a change.

If you are over the age of 50, then you will be offered mamogrpahy every 3 years and as long as you are registered with your gp. A letter will come out from the screening unit and you will be invited, now you might be 50 or you might be nearly 53 before you get your 1st invite but then it will happen on a 3-yearly basis. Mammography finds around about half of all breast cancers because they might just be a bit deeper than what you can feel yourself. But getting to know yourself is the most important thing."

Cancer Focus Northern Ireland also offers a free bra fitting service which was established in 1989. Naomi mentions that "if you have had a breast cancer or are diagnosed with breast cancer;  prior to surgery or a the point of getting surgery we have a bra fitting service and this can be very helpful in the healing process especially just post-surgery. Of course then after you've had your treatments, different bras for different times. So finding nice bras that just fit absolutely perfect is important."

An appointment through the bra fitting service can be availed of via a phone call. Naomi noted that, "Emma, who looks after all the ladies very very well and will make you feel good again following your breast cancer diagnosis and treatment!"

Fortress offers a range of diagnostic testing solutions for use in the quantitative determination of a range of cancer antigen, including tests for CA- 15-3 which is considered one of the first prognostic factors for breast cancer