do you?
 

Check your breasts?
I was talking to a female friend the other day and she said that she never does...

I was wondering if other women (and men... yes it is possible for men to get breast cancer) and if you know how to do it properly.

i have one of those gloves from the chemist, makes it a lot easier and comes with an instructional dvd.

Can we keep it clean please? I dont want this moving to over 18's

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Yes I do, quite often really (not sure how often youre meant to though)

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I do almost everyday, usually when i'm in the shower. Although i'm only 24 and Breast Cancer doesn't run in the family you never know.

Of course men can get Breast Cancer, it is very rare and less than 1% of all Breast Cancers occur in men. They still have the breast tissue than cancer usually occurs in. It is very little studied as it is so rare. Last year in America whilst 211,400 women were diagnosed only 1,690 men got it.

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Not to stray too far off the thread but how many men check their bits for lumps etc? its along the same lines really

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heres the link to the nhs direct page....

Am I checking my breasts correctly? - Health Questions - NHS Direct

Bonny boy... men CAN get breast cancer

Cancer of the breast, male Introduction - Health encyclopaedia - NHS Direct

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yes I do hun....more so than ever now, I found a lump last year and spent many agonising months at the hospital, manograms ...blood tests etc, being embarrassed sat topless in front the doctor, luckily I finally got the all clear but I urge every woman to check at least once a week....x

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I agree JJ. It will only take you 5 mins whilst your in the shower or getting dressed.

This thread makes me think of that episode of Ab Fab when Patsy thought she found a lump and needed Saffy to check. It was hilarious but dealt with a difficult subject very well.

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I check sometimes :o

In the shower about a week after my period!

Men should check their balls too;)

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I do indeed...........:D daily......

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I do check mine daily, I know too many people just recently that are going through this and I would not like to join them:(

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Once a month should be enough.......but not around the time of a period....as many women get lumpy breasts around that time.
If you DO find anything out of the ordinary....do not panic. Go to see your Doctor and he will check you over.
My sisters Father in law was one of the unlucky 1% of men who get breast cancer.....his wife also died from breast cancer.

I heartily endorse the tactic of men feeling their bits for any lumps.......and also that men over 50 get checked for prostate problems.

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check your breasts regularly and 'get to know them' that way you are more likely to notice quickly if something changes....

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yes, my mum died of cancer and that started in her breast, she had a mastectomy, as did her aunt and as some of you may have read on page three of last weeks observer my cousin has just died of cancer, my grandad also died of cancer...i check my breasts at least once a week, call me over cautious but i'd rather catch it early if i where ever to find any lumps, my nan on the other side of my family also died from cancer, cervical cancer

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oh and you are supposed to lie flat on your back with your arm raised above your head to properly check them, i was taught that from a very young age

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I didnt know that you had to lie down, i've always done it with my arms raised though

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You should also stand in front of a mirror to check the symmetry of the breasts......and you should check under your arms as well.

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women should always go for their 3 or 5 yearly smear test too;)

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I check my balls....

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this is the glove that i have.....

Lloydspharmacy Breast Sense Glove

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only over 25 are given smear tests now as they are not fully mature until then. i had my 3rd last year.

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I check , and I have a smear once a year due to an irregular result a couple of years back.
Better safe than sorry.

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which i think is daft!!

i had my first one at 18, when i first went on the pill:rolleyes:

just had my latest one and it came back normal:D

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Probably don't check mine as often as I should, went for a mammogram last year and always have my smears.

My mate had a lump removed last year then radio-therapy and there was a man from Oswaldtwisle having the same op and treatment at same time as her. So you fellas should be just as aware

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well.... apparently the cervix isnt fully mature until 25 and can show as having abnormal cells even tho its fine.

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well i never knew that!!

Once over you had to have a smear if you started having sex!!

does that not count anymore??:confused:

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they actually recommend you start going for smears when you become sexually active

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yeah your right, thats exactly when you have to start going

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Yes......smears are essential from the time you become sexually active.(regardless of age)

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yep

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but they have now changed it to over 25!

thats the daft thing

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and why does anyone feel the need to use a glove? not being funny but to me that is just a pointless waste of money

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Cervical problems are linked to Human Papilloma Virus(which can be transmitted through sexual contact.

Women who have never been sexually active never get Cancer of the Cervix

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they have never changed it to 25

Pap Smears -- familydoctor.org

How often should I have a Pap smear?
You should have your first Pap smear when you start having sex or by age 18.

Continue having a Pap smear once a year until you've had at least 3 normal ones. After this, you should have a Pap smear at least every 3 years, unless your doctor thinks you need them more often. Keep having Pap smears throughout your life, even after you've gone through menopause.

Certain things put you at higher risk of cervical cancer. Your doctor will consider these when recommending how often you should have a Pap smear.

If you're older than 65, talk with your doctor about how often you need a Pap smear. If you've been having Pap smears regularly and they've been normal, you may not need to keep having them

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Yep thats right, so why change it to over 25:rolleyes:

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they have:(
BBC - Health - Womens health - Cervical smear test

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I don't know, but when I worked on the Gynae unit we did smears on everyone who was sexually active.

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they have changed it to over 25's

Cervical screening test Who can have it? - Health encyclopaedia - NHS Direct

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and i bought the glove because it came with a dvd to show you how to check properly and the glove makes your hand more sensetive and you can find smaller lumps that you would otherwise miss..

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If I lie down my breasts, what little I have, disappear and look like 2 smarties on a draining board. :(

I hope I would notice any lumps straight away as there is nothing else there that is protruding. :(

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Seems a bit daft offering the new vaccination but not offering smear tests!!!

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Don't knock having little ones......you knw what they say.....more than a handful(or a mouthful) is wasted.

I always wanted a large chest when I was younger.......I have one now(it's not a chest, it's a chestrfield) and would swap it every time for a smaller version.

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its in our family Lilly, so please check them as often as you can, Auntie Flora had breast cancer as did my mum and of course Siobhan and your great uncle Archie died of cancer, just keep an eye on them

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Sorry flashy but thats an american site, they do things differently

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There does seem to be a lot of it about, doesn't there? :(

It said in the paper that Siobhan had lost 8 family members to cancer.

That's more than I realised.

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i dont think its all from our side though

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Can't say I have ever been taught how to check my breasts, still don't know to be honest but I still have a good feel for anything different quite often.

I have a friend who has never been for a smear and says she is too embarrassed to ever go, which I find worrying. Not quite the same as checking your breasts but it is still very important and many young girls neglect doing it. Doesn't help with policies that the NHS introduce saying that girls dont NEED them til 25yrs of age. Anything to cut back on spending :(

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Always check mine regular . Had a scare last year after I found a lump and like jj went through many months of worry and hospital treatment. Thankfully given all clear with the exception of Breast calcifications. am very aware these days though and would encourage all women (and men!!) to do a regular check.

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a friend of mine found a lump it was cancer, she had the lump removed left her with a little hall .she had the treatment and now in remission its been going on two year now.

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no i dont, but if anyone wants help.:D

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I do check mine quite regularly... but as for only giving smears to over 25's

That's ridiculous!!!!!!

Unless I am a very unusual case.... luckily I was caught very early with cancerous cells in my cervix at the age of 22 after having my 2nd child... in fact have just looked at the info I got and it was called carcinoma insitu.

I still have to go for annual smears instead of every 3 years as I am classed as a high risk and I cannot take certain contraceptives due to the hormonal combination..

so if it had only been for over 25's when I was younger I probably wouldn't be here now :( and my children would be motherless

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keep it clean please.. :D i want this kept in the main forum.

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someone i know cancelled their smear three times before sternly being told not to waste time she was so nervous and really was worrying all day

but then she quite happily went and had a colonic irrigation ?!!? i dont understand the logic in that

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i had my smear test when i was 18 and then every 3 years

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it only takes a minute if that!

i think the more worrying part is receiving the letter for the results:(, now that makes ya heart thump:rolleyes:

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Ive been having smear tests since i was 18 (well I was 19 by the time I got round to it tbh) when I went for my second one at 22 the nurse said that they have changed it and now only request that you go for a test at 22 (so this must have changed between 1999 and 2002) but she said that seen as I was there she would test me. Lucky really, on that test they found pre-cancerous cells and a few months after I had treatment to remove them. Have been having them evey 12 months since (other that when I was pregnant with the boys) Nothing has shown up as abnormal since thank god but its always better to be checked than just to ignore the test, they are there for a reason.

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:p:p I know it's a serious topic but I just knew that a bloke would interject with some proper humor.

Cashy, sounds like it could be a good business venture eh?:p:p

BEA

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I think that the embarassment factor is very real, and potentially dangerous. For men it is the rectal and the prostrate exam (hey Cashy, having your prostrate tickled can be fun) ... but considering the high incidence of prostrate cancer, men should forget about the embarassment and have it done. If the choice is between being embarassed and being dead, it's a real no brainer.

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CHECK YOUR BREASTS!!!!!

this has just become even more important to me as i have just found out my grandma has breast cancer...

CHECK YOUR BREASTS!!!!!

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Oh my goodness Em when did she find out?

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I dont know, havent been able to get hold of her yet, my dads just told me :(

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Will say a prayer for her

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thanks bernie :)