Check your breast cancer knowledge & maybe you’ll get a Swagbucks search win

Many thanks to GPT Genies Facebook Group moderator, Helena, for writing such a comprehensive post about breast cancer. If you are not already a Swagbucks member, please consider using Helena’s referral link as a thank you 🙂

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In Memory of Sarah Harding, who lost her battle to breast cancer yesterday.

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A post shared by Sarah Harding (@sarahnicoleharding)

Boobs and breast cancer aren’t talked about enough and quite often people see an issue and put it off. But putting it off could be the difference between it being treatable or not.

Some facts about Breast Cancer:

It is now the most common cancer globally.
There are over 55,000 new cases of breast cancer every year.
In 2020, there were 2.3 million women diagnosed worldwide with breast cancer.
There were also 685,000 breast cancer related deaths in 2020 globally.
Men get breast cancer too, although not as common as women.
You are more likely to get breast cancer as you get older, or if there is a family history.
1 in 4 cancer cases are breast cancer globally, currently.
Survival rates for breast cancer are very high when it’s caught early. Unfortunately over 50% of breast cancer cases are found at the advanced stage.

Symptoms to look out for:

NB: this list is only the most common, if you are worried, please, please speak to your GP

A change in the size, shape or feel of your breast.
A new lump, or thickening in your breast or armpit.
Skin changes such as puckering, dimpling, a rash, or redness of the skin.
Fluid leaking from the nipple when you aren’t pregnant or breastfeeding.
Changes in the position of the nipple.
Breast pain.

Most of the time these symptoms are caused by other medical conditions, but if you do experience any, it is important to get it checked out by your GP or someone else qualified.

All women aged 50-70 who are registered at a GP, get automatically invited for a breast screening, every 3 years (and after 70 it’s optional), but for those younger or older, or even those between screening, you should be checking those boobs once a month in case of changes.

How to check your breasts:

People of all genders should check their breasts/chest area about once a month.

Check in the shower, in front of a mirror, and lying down. Changes in position can help you feel smaller things that might be hidden in other positions and the mirror can help you to see things you may not be able to see on your own;
Check the contour of the breast to check that both sides match and see if there is any puckering or dimpling;
Look for any change in the nipple such as a rash, pulling in, or any skin changes;
Using the fingers of your left hand to examine the right breast, walk your fingers in a circular motion around the breast. You’re feeling for any abnormal lumps or bumps or any irregularity that hasn’t been there before;
Divide the breast into four quarters;
- Start on the inner upper quarter, walking those fingers around the breast;
- Do the same on the lower inner quarter and then across to the lower right quarter and then the upper right quarter;
- Walk fingers up to the tail of the breast in the armpit;
- Walk your fingers back to the areola around the nipple;
Repeat steps above on the left breast, using your right hand to do so;

If you notice anything unusual, see your doctor or nurse as soon as possible.

Links for more information:

There’s just a few links above. There are many, many more on the internet, that can help you. We hope that you find some of this information helpful and that it’ll prompt more of you to check more often.

Did you get a search win? Come and tell us in the Facebook group!

And don’t forget – If you’re not already a Swagbucks member, please consider using Helena’s referral link as a thank you 🙂