Checking your breasts for lumps could save your life.
But, despite years of pleas from cancer charities, more than a third of women in the UK still do not regularly assess theirs.
Thousands of women say they simply don't know how. Others forget.
So, with that in mind, here MailOnline shares a DIY guide to help you spot any changes to your breasts.
Around 55,000 women and 370 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK, says Breast Cancer Now.
Meanwhile, roughly 300,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are diagnosed in women every year in the US.
Ex-Dragons' Den star Kelly Hoppen, 63, today revealed her breast cancer diagnosis for the first time. In a first-person piece for the Daily Mail, she wrote that she 'can't believe my own stupidity' for skipping her mammogram every year for eight years.
Meanwhile, Linda Nolan, 64, who was first diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in 2005, today also revealed that her disease has spread to her brain.
Checking your breasts could help find signs of breast cancer early. This means you have a better chance of beating the disease, experts say.
It should be part of your monthly routine so you notice any unusual changes, charity CoppaFeel says.
But according to a YouGov survey commissioned by Breast Cancer Now, 39 per cent of women don't bother.
More than half who do not check their breasts simply forget to, while 16 per cent do not know how to check.
Dr Sarah Kayat, who, with the help of a topless cancer survivor, showed viewers on ITV's This Morning how to perform a breast exam, said at-home breast exams save 1,300 lives in the UK each year.
You can check in the shower, when you are lying down in bed or in the mirror before you get dressed.
Because breast tissue isn't just found in your boobs, it's also important that men and women check the tissue all the way up to their collarbone and underneath their armpit.
There is no right or wrong way to check your breasts, as long as you know how your breasts usually look and feel, says the NHS.
But one of the most popular methods online involves using the pads of your fingers.
Simply, rub and feel from top to bottom, feel in semi-circles and in a circular motion around your breast tissue to feel for any abnormalities, according to a guide shared in a blog post by the University of Nottingham.
If you spot any changes you should get it checked out by your GP.
Women aged between 50 and 70 should also be attending routine breast cancer screening.
A lump or swelling
Using your fingers feel for lumps or swellings in the breast, upper armpit and chest.
A lump or an area of thickened breast tissue that doesn't move easily is one of the first noticeable symptoms of breast cancer, says the NHS.
And according to the American Cancer Society, it's the most common symptom. It says the lumps are often hard and painless.
But when feeling for unusual lumps and bumps it is important to know what is normal for you, experts say.
The NHS advises women get used to how their breasts feel at different times of the month. This is because some women have tender and lumpy breasts, near the armpit, around the time of their period.
The feel of your breasts can also change after the menopause as normal breasts can feel softer less firm and not as lumpy.
As well as checking for lumps, visible changes to the shape and size of the breast is also important.
Changes to the skin
Another common sign of breast cancer is a change the skin.
This can usually just be seen in the mirror and includes puckering or dimpling of the skin.
![More than a third of women in the UK do not check their breasts regularly for potential signs of breast cancer, according to the charity Breast Cancer Now [File photo]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2020/10/25/23/34833556-0-image-a-18_1603669789344.jpg)
More than a third of women in the UK do not check their breasts regularly for potential signs of breast cancer, according to the charity Breast Cancer Now [File photo]
The dimpling skin is often compared to orange peel and can be associated with inflammatory breast cancer, which is a rare but aggressive form of cancer.
A change in colour is also a warning sign to get checked out, says Breast Cancer Now.
If you notice your breast looks red or inflamed, it could be a sign of cancer.
Pain is only a symptom of breast cancer in rare cases, the NHS says. But if you feel pain or discomfort in one breast that doesn't go away you should see your GP.
A nipple change
It's important to not just check your breast tissue for abnormalities, but also your nipples, experts say.
Look for rashes or crusting around the nipple.
The NHS says this could look like eczema, crusting of the skin, scaly, itchy or red skin.
You should also check the position of your nipple, the NHS advises.
If it is being pulled in or starting to point in a different way to usual, it could be a sign of breast cancer.
Another warning sign to get checked out by your GP is discharge from either nipple.
Discharge is more common in Ductal Carcinoma in situ, which is an early form of breast cancer that starts in the milk ducts.
Cancer Research says the discharge can also be blood stained.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Each year in the UK there are more than 55,000 new cases, and the disease claims the lives of 11,500 women. In the US, it strikes 266,000 each year and kills 40,000. But what causes it and how can it be treated?
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer develops from a cancerous cell which develops in the lining of a duct or lobule in one of the breasts.
When the breast cancer has spread into surrounding breast tissue it is called an 'invasive' breast cancer. Some people are diagnosed with 'carcinoma in situ', where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobule.
Most cases develop in women over the age of 50 but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men, though this is rare.
Staging means how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body.
The cancerous cells are graded from low, which means a slow growth, to high, which is fast-growing. High-grade cancers are more likely to come back after they have first been treated.
What causes breast cancer?
A cancerous tumour starts from one abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. It is thought that something damages or alters certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and multiply 'out of control'.
Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are some risk factors that can increase the chance of developing breast cancer, such as genetics.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most breast lumps are not cancerous and are fluid filled cysts, which are benign.
The first place that breast cancer usually spreads to is the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this occurs you will develop a swelling or lump in an armpit.
How is breast cancer diagnosed?
If you are confirmed to have breast cancer, further tests may be needed to assess if it has spread. For example, blood tests, an ultrasound scan of the liver or a chest X-ray.
How is breast cancer treated?
Treatment options which may be considered include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. Often a combination of two or more of these treatments are used.
How successful is treatment?
The outlook is best in those who are diagnosed when the cancer is still small, and has not spread. Surgical removal of a tumour in an early stage may then give a good chance of cure.
The routine mammography offered to women between the ages of 50 and 70 means more breast cancers are being diagnosed and treated at an early stage.
For more information visit breastcancernow.org or call its free helpline on 0808 800 6000
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11906537/Ultimate-DIY-guide-checking-breasts-cancer.html
A fish oil supplement may hold the key to treating one of the world's leading cause of blindness, a study suggests.
A fish oil supplement may hold the key to treating one of the world's leading cause of blindness, a study suggests.
Researchers have created a new form of omega-3 fatty acid that is capable of crossing into the eye’s retina to ward off vision loss related to Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and other diseases.
In a study on mice, the supplement was able to first be absorbed from the intestine into the bloodstream and then cross from the bloodstream into the retina. This prevented age related macular degeneration (AMD).
The mice that were fed the new type of supplement showed nearly 100 percent improvement after six months in the amount of crucial omega-3 known as DHA in their retinas.
The lab-made version of the omega-3 known as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was able to be absorbed from the intestine into the bloodstream and then cross from the bloodstream into the retina, unlike the type that makes up common fish oil supplements currently on the market.
Scientists have been investigating for years whether dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids can slow vision loss, primarily AMD, a common cause of severe vision loss in older people.
There are currently no treatments for AMD, and doctors will be relegated to provide elderly patients with glasses or other vision aids.
The substance, commonly found in fish and krill oil supplements typically comes in a form called triacylglycerol (TAG) DHA which cannot travel from the bloodstream into the retina.
Professor Sugasini Dhavamani in the Department of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago and lead author of the report said: ‘Dietary LPC-DHA is enormously superior to TAG-DHA in enriching retinal DHA and could be potentially beneficial for various retinopathies in patients.’
‘This approach provides a novel therapeutic approach for the prevention or mitigation of retinal dysfunction associated with Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes.’
Studies of the specific omega 3 acid in humans have yet to begin. But the promising early results suggest that more than 23 million people – the total number of Americans with either retinopathy linked to diabetes or age-related macular degeneration – could benefit from a newly formulated dietary supplement.
People with Alzheimer’s disease, as well as those with diabetes, a group of rare eye diseases called retinitis pigmentosa, age-related macular degeneration, and peroxisomal disorders that affect the metabolism often have abnormally low levels of retinal DHA, resulting in visual impairments.
While omega-3s come in supplement form, they are also found naturally in many foods including salmon and other fish, leafy vegetables, wholewheat bread and walnuts.
The researchers tested their LPC-DHA supplement in mice bred to exhibit processes similar to those found in early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.
After six months, mice that were fed LPC-DHA daily showed a 96 percent improvement in retinal DHA content as well as preserved retinal structure and function.
Meanwhile, TAG-DHA supplements had no effect on retinal DHA levels or function.
In healthy eyes, DHA is concentrated in the retina, where it helps maintain photoreceptors, the cells that convert light into signals that are sent to the brain. Healthy levels of DHA in the retinas protect against damage from bright light exposure and oxidative stress.
Recent research has also shown that people with a higher blood DHA level have higher protection against Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
Professor Dhavamani said: ‘Increasing the retinal DHA at clinically feasible doses has not been possible until now because of the specificity of the blood–retinal barrier that is incompatible with the specificity of the intestinal barrier.
‘This study uses the novel approach of dietary LPC-DHA that overcomes both intestinal and blood–retinal barriers and improves retinal function.’
The dosage of their LPC-DHA was equivalent to about 250 to 500 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids per day in humans, roughly the same range recommended by the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association.
A flight expert has revealed the terrifying reason you should never wear leggings on a plane and also advised against taking off your shoes whilst in the air.
Aviation journalist Christine Negroni has written about air travel for decades and is the author of the New York Times bestseller, The Crash Detectives.
Speaking to the Sun, the writer explained that no matter how tempting it may be to get cosy on your long haul flight - it's probably not worth the risk in the event of a disaster onboard.
She explained: 'You might have to escape through a cabin fire or there could be a separate fire on the ground once you leave the aircraft.
'Everyone is wearing yoga pants on planes now, but I avoid all artificial fibres because they are more likely to burn and stick to you if there is a fire.
'I'd advise wearing cotton clothes or anything made of natural fibres.'
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| Christine Negroni says leggings can be extremely dangerous to wear on a flight |
And don't even think about taking off your shoes because in the same situation you would have a rather painful walk to the emergency slide and safety.
She continued: 'If you escape an aircraft, the floor could be very hot or cold, it might be covered in oil or on fire, or in a cornfield – you won't want to be barefoot.
'Mainly err on the side of caution. Pick sneakers over high heels, pick natural fibres over synthetic, and take tight-fitting clothes over loose-fitting.'
In other news, the urban myth that waste from passenger aircraft is released mid-flight has been debunked.
Veteran Air Canada Dreamliner captain Doug Morris explains that lavatories on planes are actually serviced at airports, on ‘most ground stops on long-haul flights and less so for short-hop flights’.
The waste is flushed to holding tanks at the rear of the plane.
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| Veteran Air Canada Dreamliner captain Doug Morris explains that lavatories on planes are serviced at airports - and that emptying the tanks is a sought-after job |
In his fascinating book This Is Your Captain Speaking (ECW Press), Captain Morris explains: ‘There is an access panel near the rear (no pun intended) of the airplane to allow the holding tanks to be sucked of human sewage.’
What’s more, the job of emptying the tanks, he reveals, is ‘sought after at many airlines among the ramp attendants, because if they get it, that becomes their only duty’.
He continues: ‘They drive from airplane rear to airplane rear with possible extended breaks.
‘Special biohazard suits and masks are worn by these “lavologists”. And the sewage must be “dumped” at a designated biohazard site at the airport.’
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-11907621/Im-frequent-flyer-NEVER-wear-leggings-yoga-pants-plane.html
An enlarged liver can throw the body into an inflammatory state, causing different types of pain.
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| Liver scarring can cause pain in a person's right shoulder (Image: Getty) |
Cleveland Clinic warns that cirrhosis can become increasingly painful as the condition worsens.
"Pain is reported by up to 82 percent of people who have cirrhosis and more than half of these individuals say their pain is long-lasting (chronic)," explains the health body.
Most people with the condition experience this pain in the upper right portion of their abdomen under their ribs.
The pain, however, can come both from the diseases that lead to cirrhosis and/or cirrhosis can make the pain from existing diseases worse.
READ MORE: Nation's favourite foods could raise your risk of liver disease
Because the disease throws the body into an inflammatory state it may also exacerbate pre-existing issues.
"Inflammation and your body's reaction to inflammation can cause general pain," explains Cleveland Clinic.
When in an inflammatory state, a person's osteoarthritis may become increasingly apparent.
Though pain is typically described in the abdomen, cirrhosis patients also complain of pain in the back, shoulders, and neck.
Cancer Research confirms that a swollen and enlarged liver can cause pain in a person's right shoulder.
"This is because the enlarged liver stimulates nerves that connect to nerves in the shoulders. This is called a referred pain," says the health body.
Joint pain, medically known as arthralgia, is another common problem that can present with or without arthritis.
In fact, there is a variety of different liver diseases that co-exist with arthralgia (joint pain) and arthritis.
READ MORE: Five warning signs of potentially 'life-threatening' liver scarring
Often, diffuse joint pain is described in patients suffering acute hepatitis that may mimic other rheumatic diseases.
"Approximately 50 percent of patients with hepatitis B and C have joint pain associated with cryoglobulinemia," explains the Rheumatology Advisor.
In one case report, the Liver Doctor described the case of a patient named Hana who experienced pain specifically in her right wrist.
"Hana initially thought it was due to all the computer work she does, but when both wrists became painful and swollen she decided to see her doctor," explained the Liver Doctor.
Though fatty liver disease symptoms can appear in the short timeframe of five years, in most cases they'll emerge between 20 and 30 years after the condition has been diagnosed.
One can prevent these complications by adhering to certain dietary rules and reducing their body weight if they are overweight.
Additionally, a person should aim to do at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week to keep their liver in good health.
"If you're trying to lose weight, you might find that exercise is helpful," notes the Mayo Clinic.
https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1751398/fatty-liver-disease-symptoms-pain
