Breast Cancer Awareness: Supporting Michelle and CoppaFeel!

Know your body. Know what's normal. Get changes checked. As our friend Michelle takes on the Great Wall of China for CoppaFeel!, we share simple breast cancer awareness messages — how to check your chest, what changes to look out for, and when to get checked.

Know your body. Know what's normal. Get changes checked. This week, everyone at The Oving Medical Clinic is very proud to be supporting our friend Michelle, who is taking on an incredible challenge: walking the Great Wall of China to raise awareness of breast cancer and support the work of CoppaFeel! Michelle was diagnosed with breast cancer as a young woman and has been through surgery and treatment. Thankfully, she is now doing well. Her experience is also an important reminder that breast cancer can affect people of different ages and that knowing what is normal for your own body matters. Over the coming week, as Michelle takes on her challenge, we'll be sharing some simple messages about breast cancer awareness. The most important message: know what's normal for you CoppaFeel!'s message is refreshingly simple: Get to know your chest. Look AND feel. And if you notice something unusual for you, get it checked. There isn't one perfect technique for checking your breasts or chest. The aim is to become familiar with how your body normally looks and feels, so that you are more likely to notice when something changes. CoppaFeel! encourages people to check their chest every month. Remember to include: - Your breasts or chest - Your nipples - Your armpits - The area up towards your collarbones What changes should you look out for? Breast cancer does not always present as a lump. Changes worth getting checked include: - A new lump or area of thickening - A lump or swelling in the armpit or around the collarbone - A change in the size or shape of a breast - Dimpling or puckering of the skin - A nipple becoming pulled inwards or changing direction - A new rash or crusting around the nipple - Unexpected nipple discharge - Persistent, unusual pain in the breast, chest or armpit Most breast changes will not turn out to be cancer, but it is important not to ignore a new or unexplained change. If in doubt, get it checked out You do not need to decide for yourself whether a change is important. If something looks or feels different from what is normal for you, make an appointment with your GP. Your GP can examine you and, where appropriate, arrange further assessment or referral. Early diagnosis can make an enormous difference, which is why awareness of your own body is so important. Supporting CoppaFeel! CoppaFeel! is a breast cancer awareness charity with a particular focus on improving awareness amongst younger people. Their mission is to help ensure that breast cancers in young people are diagnosed early and accurately by: - Encouraging people to check their chest regularly. - Educating people about the possible signs and symptoms. - Empowering people to seek medical advice when something isn't right. Their website also has an excellent Self-Checkout, which talks you through how to check your chest and what changes to look for. Go Michelle! We will be following Michelle's progress as she takes on the Great Wall of China and sharing some short breast cancer awareness messages along the way. It's a fantastic challenge for an extremely worthwhile cause. From everybody at The Oving Medical Clinic — good luck Michelle! And for everyone following her journey, perhaps take one simple action today: Check your chest. Know your normal. And if something changes, get it checked. The Oving Medical Clinic If you have noticed a breast or chest change that concerns you, please contact your NHS GP or book an appointment with one of our GPs at The Oving Medical Clinic.