What should you know about October breast cancer awareness?

October breast cancer awareness is an opportunity to learn about breast health, follow recommended checks, and seek assessment for changes. Awareness is not a diagnosis and does not replace an individual screening plan. A clinician can help match screening and investigation to your age, personal history, family history and breast symptoms.

Breast cancer can present in different ways, including a new lump, change in breast shape, skin dimpling, nipple changes or an unusual discharge. Many breast changes are not cancer, but a new or persistent change deserves clinical assessment. Screening tests such as mammography can look for changes before symptoms are noticed; breast MRI may be used for selected people when a clinician considers it appropriate.

If cancer is diagnosed, pathology and imaging help define its features. Tests such as a breast cancer gene expression test or genomic tumour profiling may sometimes inform treatment discussions, while a sentinel lymph node biopsy can assess the first draining lymph nodes.

Check when your next screening appointment is due and tell the service about pregnancy, breast implants, prior breast procedures or a strong family history. Become familiar with how your breasts normally look and feel without repeatedly examining them. Report a new change to a clinician even if your next screening visit is not soon. Depending on the finding, assessment may include examination, mammography, ultrasound, MRI or a breast biopsy.

Arrange prompt clinical review for a new breast or armpit lump, bloody nipple discharge, nipple inversion that is new, skin puckering, a red or thickened area, or a change that does not settle. Seek urgent help for rapidly worsening redness or swelling with fever, severe pain, or feeling very unwell. These signs can have non-cancer causes, but timely assessment is the safest way to identify the cause.

Ask which screening approach fits your risk, what a breast change could represent, and which test should come first. If imaging finds an abnormal area, ask whether a biopsy is needed and how results will be explained. After diagnosis, ask whether lymph-node assessment, gene-expression testing or genomic tumour profiling could contribute to treatment planning.