Theme of the Month: Prostate & Breast Cancer Awareness

Understanding Prostate and Breast Cancer Awareness

Our Theme of the Month for October is Prostate and Breast Cancer Awareness. The focus is on understanding possible signs and symptoms, becoming familiar with what is normal for your body and knowing when to seek professional medical advice.

Having a possible symptom does not necessarily mean that you have cancer. Many symptoms can have other causes. However, changes that are unusual for you should be checked by a healthcare professional. [nhs.uk]

Prostate & Breast Cancer Awareness: Quick Summary

The most important things to remember are:

Being familiar with your body can help you recognise unusual changes.
Breast cancer can cause changes to the breast, chest, armpit, skin or nipple. [nhs.uk]
Prostate cancer often does not cause symptoms at first. [nhs.uk]
Changes to urination can be symptoms of prostate cancer, but they can also have other causes. [nhs.uk]
Having a possible symptom does not automatically mean you have cancer. [nhs.uk]
Cancer awareness is about recognising changes, not diagnosing yourself.
Speak to a GP if you notice symptoms or changes that concern you.

What Is Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer develops when abnormal cells in the breast grow in an uncontrolled way.

Possible symptoms can involve changes to the breast, chest or armpit. Symptoms are not the same for everyone, and some breast changes can be caused by conditions other than cancer.

The NHS recommends regularly checking your breasts so that you become familiar with what is normal for you and can more easily recognise changes in their size, appearance or feel. [nhs.uk]

Breast Cancer: Changes to Be Aware Of

Possible signs and symptoms can include:

A lump or swelling in the breast, chest or armpit.
A change in the size or shape of one or both breasts.
Changes to the skin, such as dimpling.
Changes to the colour of the skin.
Nipple discharge when not pregnant or breastfeeding.
A change in the appearance or shape of a nipple, including it turning inwards.
A rash affecting the nipple. [nhs.uk]

These symptoms do not necessarily mean that someone has breast cancer. However, the NHS advises seeing a GP if you have a lump or swelling, or if you notice changes to your breasts or nipples that are not normal for you. [nhs.uk]

What Is Prostate Cancer?

Prostate cancer is cancer that affects the prostate.

One important thing to understand is that prostate cancer often has no symptoms at first. Symptoms may develop once the cancer has grown or spread, including changes to the way someone urinates. [nhs.uk]

Similar symptoms can also be caused by other conditions, including an enlarged prostate, so having these symptoms does not automatically mean someone has prostate cancer. [nhs.uk]

Prostate Cancer: Changes to Be Aware Of

Possible changes identified by the NHS include:

Difficulty starting to urinate or straining.
A weak flow of urine.
A flow that stops and starts.
Needing to urinate more frequently or urgently.
Feeling as though you still need to urinate after going to the toilet.
Needing to urinate during the night. [nhs.uk]

Other possible symptoms can include blood in the urine or semen and erectile dysfunction. [nhs.uk]

If symptoms change, get worse or do not feel normal for you, the NHS advises getting checked by a GP. [nhs.uk]

Why Is Cancer Awareness Important?

Cancer awareness is not about trying to diagnose yourself.

Instead, it is about:

Understanding possible signs and symptoms.
Becoming familiar with your own body.
Recognising changes that are unusual for you.
Knowing when to seek professional medical advice.
Using reliable health information rather than trying to determine the cause yourself.

For breast cancer specifically, regular breast awareness can make it easier to notice changes in size, appearance or feel. [nhs.uk]

Knowing What Is Normal for You

Everybody is different, so it is useful to understand what is normal for your own body rather than comparing yourself with somebody else.

If you notice a new or unusual change, try not to ignore it or assume what is causing it.

A healthcare professional can assess your symptoms and advise you about the appropriate next steps.

When Should You Speak to a GP?

For possible prostate cancer symptoms, the NHS advises seeing a GP if you are having trouble urinating, have other possible symptoms or are worried about your risk of developing prostate cancer. [nhs.uk]

For possible breast cancer symptoms, the NHS advises seeing a GP if you have a lump or swelling in your breast, chest or armpit, or changes to your breasts or nipples that are not normal for you. [nhs.uk]

Remember, being referred for additional tests does not necessarily mean you have cancer. [nhs.uk]

Supporting Someone Else

Cancer concerns, diagnosis and treatment can also affect family members, friends and colleagues.

If somebody talks to you about a change they have noticed or concerns about their health, listening without judgement can be valuable.

While you do not need to diagnose or provide medical advice yourself, you can encourage them to seek appropriate professional healthcare advice.

Finding Reliable Health Information

When looking for information about cancer, use trustworthy and recognised health sources.

The NHS provides detailed information about symptoms and when to seek medical advice:

Key Takeaways

Remember:

Get to know what is normal for your body.
Pay attention to new or unusual changes.
Prostate cancer may not cause symptoms at first. [nhs.uk]
Breast cancer can cause changes to the breast, chest, armpit, skin or nipple. [nhs.uk]
Changes in urination can have several possible causes. [nhs.uk]
Having symptoms does not automatically mean you have cancer. [nhs.uk]
Do not try to diagnose the cause yourself.
Speak to a GP if you notice changes or symptoms that concern you.

Summary

Prostate and breast cancer awareness is about understanding your body, recognising unusual changes and knowing when to seek professional medical advice.

Possible symptoms can have many causes and experiencing a change does not necessarily mean that you have cancer. However, unusual or concerning changes should not simply be ignored.

Knowing what is normal for you and seeking appropriate medical advice when something changes can help you take an informed approach to your health.