Early detection of breast cancer

It is important to be breast aware. This means knowing what is normal for you, so that you can spot any changes.

The sooner you notice a change the better, because if cancer is found early, treatment is more likely to be successful. Get into the habit of looking at and feeling your breasts every month. This will help you to notice any change if it occurs.

• A lump of any size or a thickening in your breast or armpit
• A change in size or shape – it may be that one breast has become larger
• A change in the skin of your breast – like puckering or dimpling
• A breast abscess (infected boil) – this may appear as a red, tender area on your breast
• A change in your nipple, like pulled-in, sunken, or flattened nipple
• An unusual discharge (liquid) from one or both of your nipples – the discharge may be blood-stained or watery
• A change on or around the nipple, such as a rash, or flaky or crusted skin
• Swelling in your armpit or around your collarbone

It's important to know what is normal for you. Your breasts will go through many normal changes during your life. For example, they are affected by changes in your hormones during your menstrual cycle, pregnancy and breastfeeding and menopause.

BreastCheck is the name of the national breast screening programme. Breast screening involves having a mammogram of your breasts. A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast used to find breast cancer when it's too small to see or feel.

BreastCheck offers free breast screening to women, transgender, intersex and non-binary people age 50 to 69. You must be living in Ireland and have a PPS number.