Spot breast cancer early - video transcript

Voiceover: Over the years, the size and shape of our breasts has been a constant topic of conversation for many women.

Woman: I’ve got really itsy-bitsy ones so I’m so glad my husband’s not a boob man.

Woman: I’ve never paid them too much attention - they’ve always just been there.

Woman: It’s quite good now because they are small, my breasts, so I don’t have to worry about wearing a bra.

Woman: Breasts are wonderful.

Voiceover: But as we get older, women are more at risk of breast cancer, and even though most of us know someone who’s been affected by it, many of us still don’t know the early signs and symptoms of the disease. So what do we know about breast cancer?

Woman: A lump that feels about the size of a pea.

Woman: If your breasts are painful. I don’t think I know much more about it than that.

Woman: In my case it was a yellowing of the nipple.

Woman: I’m not 100% sure, you know?

Woman: I don’t check them at all.

Dr Sarah Jarvis: Every year about 45 000 women and about 300 men are diagnosed with breast cancer. Breast cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK, and over a lifetime, about 1 in 9 women will be affected. About 8 out of 10 people who are affected are over the age of 50, but if it’s spotted early, it’s much easier to treat.

Voiceover: In this film, we’ll tell you about the early signs and symptoms of breast cancer and you’ll meet women who have had breast cancer and whose treatment has been a success.

Woman: Myth - The only symptom for breast cancer is a lump.

Voiceover: Voiceover: Fact - A breast lump is only one of many signs and symptoms of breast cancer.

Sarah Jarvis: It’s really important for women to be aware of what’s normal for them in terms of their breasts. The sort of things you should be looking out for is a change in the shape, size or feel of your breasts, perhaps a lump or thickening either in the breast or going up into the armpit. There could be redness, dimpling or puckering of the skin around the nipple or anywhere else on the breast, or a change in the position of the nipple or discharge from the nipple. Although it’s not often a problem, a new discomfort or pain, especially if it’s just in one breast, does need to be looked out for.

Woman: Myth - I do not need to go for breast screening as I check myself regularly.

Voiceover: Fact - Breast screening can often detect breast cancers before it is possible to spot them by hand. It is estimated to save 1,400 lives every year.

Voiceover: Donata Fernandez works as an administrator in her local community centre. Five years ago she knew nothing about breast cancer.

Donata Fernandez: I had come to the UK to join my husband and had been living here for 5 months when I got called for a mammogram by Charing Cross Hospital. Not knowing the meaning of a mammogram and never having done so in Bombay where I lived earlier, I felt that having no signs and symptoms, why did I have to go? A colleague of mine was also invited to a mammogram and she encouraged me to go to it and I did go to it.

Julietta Patnick: The NHS breast screening programme invites women every three years between the ages of 50 and 70 to come along and have a breast x-ray so that if a cancer is there we can find it early and treat it. A mammogram can pick up very, very small changes in the breast, too small to be felt. The female staff will place your breasts one at a time in a machine, and it does have to be clamped fairly tightly because we need to spread the tissues out so we can see everything that’s going on in the breast. To be honest that’s quite uncomfortable but most women don’t find it painful.

Voiceover: Following her mammogram, Donata was referred to a specialist who took a sample of breast tissue - a biopsy - for analysis. The test results revealed that she had breast cancer.

Donata: I was very shocked. I felt at that moment that I was going to die. I thought I would go back to my kids and get myself to Bombay but the doctor reassured me that they could do my operation and that I would be saved.

Voiceover: Donata’s treatment involved surgery and radiotherapy. Her early diagnosis meant that she received treatment at an early stage, when it's likely to be most effective.

Donata: Looking back, I feel that this mammogram has saved my life. I’ve got a second life. It has given me the opportunity to see my two new grandchildren. In the Asian community, there is a general taboo for women to go for a mammogram as it is an exposure of the breast. But I feel that all women living in this country, who are privileged and invited to go to this mammogram, should never forgo this opportunity and should go to it to check out their status.

Woman: Myth - NHS screening is not available to women over 70.

Voiceover: Fact - Screening is free after the age of 70 but you will have to make an appointment yourself. Your GP will help you to do this.

Julietta Patnick: Breast cancer risk actually rises with age, so the older you get, the more at risk you are. So after 70, we really encourage women who are fit and well to continue making their breast screening appointment every three years and we’re very happy to see them.

Woman: Myth - I should monitor a symptom for a while before going to my GP.

Voiceover: Fact - you should tell your GP about any unusual changes to your breast immediately.

Voiceover: Janet Tucker is an active member of her local rambling group. Five years ago, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Janet Tucker: I first noticed there was something wrong when I was in the bath. My nipple didn’t look right, it was a bit inverted. I put that down to the cold weather. I didn’t particularly want to go to the doctor straight away because I had so much happening. We were moving house and we were waiting to complete and exchange but after a week or two, I decided that I ought to get it checked out which I did and the doctor immediately arrange for me to got to the local hospital to meet the breast surgeon.

Amanda Ramirez: We’ve been trying to understand why older women, who are more likely to develop breast cancer than younger women, are reluctant to go to the doctor if they discover a symptom. And one if the most important reasons we have discovered is the nature of the symptom, what the symptom is. So if a woman discovers a painless lump, she is likely to go to the doctor. If however she discovers one of the symptoms that’s not a painless lump, so for example her nipple is turned in, she has an inverted nipple, or she’s got a change to her skin - it’s got caught up or puckered - then she’s less likely to go straight to the doctor.

Voiceover: Although Janet had delayed going to see her GP, his immediate referral meant that she received a quick diagnosis.

Janet Tucker: When I was told it was cancer, my heart sank to my boots. I knew I would have to have an operation and it’s very difficult when you have family - it is a worry. Janet’s treatment involved surgery, followed by chemotherapy. I went into hospital for a lumpectomy on the Monday, where a small lump of breast tissue was removed with the cancer and I came out the following Friday. I moved on the day I came out of hospital so I had lots to look forward to. I’ve been line-dancing now for 12 years. I found the other members of my club were very supportive when I was going through my treatment, and I used to go along and watch the dancing even if I couldn’t go up and dance. I would say to any woman who notices anything wrong with her breasts to get it checked out as soon as possible. Hopefully there won’t be anything wrong but if you do need treatment the sooner it’s started the better. I’ve had so many good things happen to me since I’ve had my treatment.

Woman: Myth - Breast cancer means I will have to have my whole breast removed.

Voiceover: Fact - If breast cancer is spotted early, often only part of the breast has to be removed.

Woman: Myth - Breast cancer always runs in the family.

Voiceover: Fact - Most women who are diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease.

Sarah Jarvis: Some people do have a tendency to breast cancer which runs in the family, through their genes. But actually this is quite uncommon. The vast majority of people don’t have an increased risk just because one other member of their family has got breast cancer.

Woman: Myth - I need to check my breasts on the same day every month.

Voiceover: Fact - You should check your breasts at any time that suits you. Know what is normal for you and report any changes to your GP without delay.

Woman: Myth - if I notice a symptom of breast cancer, I should see my first available GP.

Voiceover: Fact - when you call to make an appointment you can ask to see a male or female GP. If one is available they will be keen to see you.

Amanda Ramirez: The message we want to get across to older women is that they need to feel first of all aware that because of their age they need to be breast cancer aware, and secondly if they do discover a breast change, any breast change, to go straight to the doctor. And if it is, in a minority of cases something serious, and at the worst case a cancer, then something can be done about it quickly and the chance of a treatment that’s not severe or disfiguring is extremely high.

Voiceover: Janet and Donata’s stories show that breast cancer is treatable, but it’s vital to spot the disease early so that treatment has a better chance of success. Breast screening can pick up cancers when they are too small to see or feel, so regularly attending your screening appointments is vital. Knowing what is normal for you is crucial. Be breast aware, and if you have any of these symptoms, make an appointment to see your doctor. And if your symptoms persist, keep going back. [List of symptoms appears]

Sheila Hancock: Well over 20 years ago I was diagnosed with cancer - breast cancer - and I was terrified. But thanks to medical science, here I still am. And the most important thing was that although the prognosis in those days wasn’t very good, I actually detected mine quite early and how did I do that? I did it myself by regularly feeling my breasts and feeling that something was amiss. And my instinct told me that I needed to pursue it, which I did. The most important thing is to get tested early or better still, know your own body. And with the help of your husband or your partner maybe, discover anything slightly different and do something about it. Don’t be frightened. Be like me, be hale and hearty when you’re old, despite breast cancer.