One in three women 'too scared' to check their breasts for cancer

  • More than half say they'd check more regularly if they had been conditioned to do so
  • Girls should be taught how to check their breasts by the age of 13, says report author
  • Separate research says checking too often can cause needless anxiety among those at low risk

By Claire Bates

Published: | Updated:

A third of women do not check their breasts for lumps and bumps because they are scared of what they might find, a study has found.

Meanwhile, more than half said that they fail to perform regular checks because they have not been taught to do it routinely.

Research leader Professor Janet Reibstein suggested women should check their breasts once a month.

She added that girls should be shown how to check themselves by the age of 13.

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Cancer: Breast checking can lead to earlier diagnosis but some studies suggest regular self-examination can do more harm than good among those at low risk

Cancer: Breast checking can lead to earlier diagnosis but some studies suggest regular self-examination can do more harm than good among those at low risk

Prof Reibstein from Exeter University, insisted it was important to get women into the habit of checking their breasts when they were young as the risk rises steadily with age.

While one in 2,000 women will develop breast cancer by the age of 29, one in 22 will have had it before they hit 60.

Prof Reibstein pointed to the finding from the Avon commissioned survey of 2,000 women, that 55 per cent said they would be more likely to check their breasts if it was a regular habit integrated into their grooming routine.

She said: 'As the Avon report shows, fear and anxiety do not always encourage better habits, especially if you don't see yourself at much risk.

'Breast checking needs to start young. As a young woman, not only are you becoming conscious of your body, but it's the point in your life when you set up many routines that will last a lifetime.'

Cancer charities say it is important women know what their breasts look and feel like so that they can spot any changes and catch any potential problems early.

FIVE MOST COMMON SIGNS OF BREAST CANCER

If you notice a change to how your breasts look or feel visit your GP, especially if you discover...

  • A lump
  • A change to skin texture
  • A rash or crusting
  • A change in appearance of nipple
  • Nipple discharge

However, earlier studies highlighted by the Cochrane Collaboration have suggested that over-zealous self-examination can do more harm than good.

It can cause needless anxiety among women who are unlikely to develop the disease, with most lumps turning out to be non-cancerous.

Separate research from Breakthrough Breast Cancer suggests only one in 50 women can name five warning signs of breast cancer.

The YouGov survey of 1,000 women also found that fewer than half of women check their breasts regularly, with 57 per cent saying they fimply forgot.

Dr Sarah Rawlings, head of policy at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: 'These statistics should be a wake up call for women everywhere.

'We already know that early diagnosis saves lives and that's why it's vital that every woman knows what to look for.'

She added: 'One thousand women die every month from breast cancer. This is something that is just too important to forget.'

Breakthrough Breast Cancer ambassador Dr Hilary Jones said: 'Many women don't check their breasts because they don't think they are at risk, they don't know what signs and symptoms they are looking for, or they simply forget.'

Breakthrough Breast Cancer has produced a guide to what to look for which can be obtained by texting TLC to 84424 or by registering at www.tlcguide.org

VIDEO: How to check your breasts...

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