The UK government has announced a three-year partnership with Breast Cancer Now to help women recognise possible signs of breast cancer, seek medical advice, and find support after treatment. The agreement, announced on Monday, 5 October, is the first partnership under the government’s Renewed Women’s Health Strategy.
The Department of Health and Social Care said the work would provide practical breast health information, particularly in underserved areas. It will also develop information for women finishing treatment, including changes that could indicate cancer has returned or spread. Healthcare professionals are to receive additional training and a toolkit to help them advise patients after treatment. The announcement did not give a start date for each part of the work.
Why the partnership was announced
Research cited by the department found that 29% of women in England who regularly check their breasts did not feel confident they would notice a change. Among women checking less than once a month, 11% said they did not know what to look for. The figures describe different groups and should not be read as a measure of all women’s awareness.
The government and Breast Cancer Now want more women to know what is normal for their bodies and to contact a GP if they notice something unusual. According to the NHS, possible symptoms include a lump or swelling in the breast, chest or armpit; skin dimpling; a change in breast size or shape; or a change in the nipple, including discharge or a new rash. Such changes can have causes other than cancer, but they should be checked.
What readers should do now
The partnership does not replace screening or create a new screening appointment. Under current NHS guidance, routine breast screening is offered to eligible women from age 50 up to their 71st birthday, usually every three years. Someone with a new or unusual breast change should contact a GP rather than wait for a screening invitation, even if they have recently had a mammogram.
