Breast
- Symptoms to look for
- Symptoms to feel for
- How to be Breast aware
- Breast awareness 5 point code
- What is Cobalt doing to help Women detect Breast Cancer
early?
- Factsheet Information
- Risk Factors
- How is Breast Cancer diagnosed?
- Picture of normal Breast and Breast Cancers
- Sentinel Node Biopsy Research
- Donated Mobile Mammography Unit
- How is Cobalt continuing to support our local Breast
Services?
- MR Imaging of the Breast
- MR Imaging with High Field Open Scanner
- Image-guided Breast Biopsy
- Cobalt Breast Clinic
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Symptoms to look for
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- Bleeding or discharge from the nipple
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- Change in the size of either Breast
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- Rashes on or around the Nipple
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- Changes in the position of the Nipple
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Symptoms to feel for
- Any lump or thickening in the Breast or Armpit
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- Enlarged Glands in the Armpit
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- Changes in sensation, pain or discomfort that is
persistent
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How to be breast aware?
Get to know how your breasts look and feel at different times of
the month.
Look at your breasts for changes listed above- looking is as
important as feeling your breasts.
Checking your breasts should be a natural part of being aware of
your whole body and not a routine you perform once a month. By
checking randomly you will soon get to know how your breasts feel
during normal monthly hormonal changes. Some women have
lumpier breasts around the time of a period. If this is the
same on both sides, don't worry. If the lumpiness comes and
goes with your menstrual cycle, it is nothing to worry about.
Feel all parts of the breast gently but firmly, not squeezing or
prodding.
Feel behind the nipple and then up into the armpit, paying
particular attention to the upper outer quarter of the breast.
You are looking for a change, something new that was not there
the last time you checked.
If you detect a change go and get it checked by your GP.
You are not making a fuss and your GP will not feel you are wasting
his/her time they know that early detection is vital. Most breast
changes are not cancerous but simple cysts or benign lumps.
The only way to be certain is to see your doctor promptly.
The UK has amongst the highest mortality rate for breast cancer in
the world which may be partly due to women delaying reporting
changes to their GP. Breast cancer can be successfully treated when
detected early.
There is a five point code to help us become Breast Aware
- Know whats normal for you
- Look at and feel your Breast
- Know what changes to look and feel for
- Report any changes without delay
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Attend Breast Screening from the age of 50
What is Cobalt doing to help women detect breast cancer
early?
The cancer prevention team hold free workshops and talks in
workplaces and social clubs to help women become breast aware and
recognise what changes to look and feel for - most breast changes
are found by women themselves or their partners.
The leaflets below will help you to become breast aware, know
what breast changes need to be reported to your doctor and
encourage you to go for breast screening when you are
invited. When breast cancer is found early there is an
excellent chance the treatment will be successful.
Risk Factors
How is Breast Cancer Diagnosed?
Sentinel Node Biopsy - An Advanced Procedure in Breast
Cancer
Sentinel node biopsy is a new technique which can be used in
some patients undergoing surgery for breast cancer. Lymph nodes
located in the axilla (armpit) on the side of a breast cancer are
one of the first places that cancer may spread to. The "sentinel"
node is the first in a chain of lymph nodes that drains the breast.
A sentinel lymph node biopsy involves the removal of one to three
lymph nodes, for assessment by a pathologist. If these sentinel
nodes do not contain cancer cells, it may be possible to avoid more
extensive surgery.
The sentinel node can be identified using blue dye or a small
dose of a low-level radioactive tracer which can be looked for in
the nodes. Research has shown that it is best to use both
techniques together. Both the blue dye and the radioactive tracer
solution, which contains less radiation than a standard x-ray and
emits gamma rays, are injected around the nipple area before the
operation.
Once the tracer and dye have reached the nodes, the surgeon
scans over the axilla to locate the sentinel nodes with an
electric, hand-held gamma ray counter (called a Geiger counter).
Once the sentinel node is located by measuring where the
radioactivity is the strongest, the surgeon can, through a small
incision, look for nodes containing blue dye and remove them for a
pathologist to examine and analyse under a microscope.
Several clinical trials have shown that in most cases, if the
sentinel node does not contain cancer cells, then the cancer has
not spread past the breast. Surgery removing lymph nodes in the
axilla may then not be necessary. This can prevent some of the
complications of more extensive surgery such as lymphoedema
(swelling), cellulites (infection), altered sensation and
restricted movement in the arm.
The ultimate goal of sentinel node biopsy is to remove as few
lymph nodes as possible in patients with breast cancer suitable for
this procedure in order to reduce the complications than can occur
when lymph nodes in the axilla are removed.
Consultant Radiologist Professor Iain
Lyburn
How is Cobalt continuing to support
local Breast Services?
State-of-the-art mobile equipment
costing £325,000 to aid the diagnosis of breast cancer has been
donated to the Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust by
Cobalt thanks to local people and their continued support. The Unit
has a newly developed digital imaging system giving instant superb
quality pictures which will help speed up the service and cut
waiting times, it will be used both by the County's NHS Screening
and Symptomatic Services.