Health & Wellbeing

Louise Grimsdell, Clinical Nurse Specialist at Breast Cancer Now, is here to help.

If you have relatives who’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, it’s natural to worry about your own risk. However, only a small proportion of people will have an increased risk of the disease because of family history.

The first step is to talk to your GP. They will ask about any close relatives and more distant relatives. Your GP will then let you know if you need to be referred for further assessment.

If you’ve got any questions you can also call Breast Cancer Now’s free Helpline on 0808 800 6000.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, so check your breasts regularly, including the upper chest and armpits, and get to know what’s normal for you.

It’s as simple as TLC: Touch, Look, Check. While most breast changes won’t be cancer, report anything different or new to your GP. The sooner breast cancer is diagnosed, the more effective treatment may be.