Breast Cancer
What support is there in Plymouth?
Here in Plymouth we are lucky to have the Primrose Foundation who support people with Breast Cancer. Take a look at their 'Love Yourself Enough to Be Breast Aware' campaign.
Breast Cancer Screening
Any female, between the ages of 50 and 71, registered with a GP will be invited for NHS breast screening every 3 years.
They will receive a letter in the post inviting them to screening. (If English is not your first language you can ask your GP to send your post in your preferred language.)
During breast screening usually 4 breast X-rays will be taken (2 for each breast). These are called mammograms.
The mammograms are done by a specialist called a mammographer. The mammographer will be female. The whole appointment should take about 30 minutes.
How people feel during a mammogram is highly individual — some people find them painful and some don’t.
When you have a mammogram you are asked to stand close to a special X-ray machine and a technician places your breast on a plastic platform. Another plastic plate gradually presses down on your breast, flattening it and holding it in place. The technician will ask you to hold still and may ask you to hold your breath while your breast is compressed for about 10 to 15 seconds. This is when a specialized camera attached to the plates takes X-ray pictures of the breast. You repeat the process several times, as the technician takes several images of each breast from different directions.
Can men get breast cancer?
Although rare, Breast Cancer can also develop in men. Cancer UK says "This is because men have breast tissue around the nipple area. There are around 370 men diagnosed each year in the UK. This compares to around 55,500 cases in women."
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