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Breast Health

Everything you need to know about breast cancer but were afraid to ask #timetocheck

Are you at risk?

Breast Cancer is the most common cancer in women. Breast cancer can also affect men but is relatively rare. 1 in 7 women will be affected in their lifetime and around 380 men will be diagnosed per year

As we age, the risk of cancer increases; this is due to how our cells mutate.

Other risk factors that have been reported:

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Early puberty (starting periods before age 12)

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Reaching menopause late (over 55 – the average age is 52) This is due to the increased time oestrogens are in our body

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Most breast cancer occurs in women over 50 years old and men over 60 years old

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Being tall, possibly due to the higher level of growth hormones in early years

What you can’t change:

Women typically have more breast tissue than men. Women also have a higher exposure to oestrogen. Oestrogen can stimulate cell growth, division and promote the growth of some cancers.

Higher breast density is genetic and can be influenced by environment and changes during a woman’s lifetime. This can increase the risk of breast cancer.

Please note: it is tissue density not fat! This can only be measured on a mammogram. Mammograms can be unclear for those with dense breasts, in this instance an ultrasound scan is appropriate.

Some benign (non-cancerous) breast conditions do not increase the risk but people who have atypical hyperplasia or lobular neoplasia have a slightly increased risk of breast cancer.

What you can change

There are many factors which can affect whether you get breast cancer. Some are genetic, the others are environmental and life choices including diet, weight and smoking.

Family history doesn’t always mean a higher risk

Family history doesn’t always mean a higher risk. However, significant family history should be investigated. The NHS runs a family history programme, accessed via your GP. If you have a direct family member i.e. mother, sibling or daughter, who has developed breast cancer at a young age, this can increase your risk. It is also possible to be tested for the BRCA 1 and BRCA genes.
Family history doesn’t always mean a higher risk. However, significant family history should be investigated. The NHS runs a family history programme, accessed via your GP. If you have a direct family member i.e. mother, sibling or daughter, who has developed breast cancer at a young age, this can increase your risk. It is also possible to be tested for the BRCA 1 and BRCA genes.

Lifestyle Factors

cropped-LadyMcAddenLogo-favicon.png The Pill – taking the combined contraceptive pill slightly increases the risk of breast cancer. This pill contains both oestrogen and progestogen. Within a few years of stopping taking it, this risk disappears.

cropped-LadyMcAddenLogo-favicon.png Regularly drinking alcohol is associated with a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Limiting the amount you drink can reduce your risk.

cropped-LadyMcAddenLogo-favicon.png Being overweight/obese can increase your risk, especially after the menopause.

cropped-LadyMcAddenLogo-favicon.png Lack of physical activity affects your risk as it reduces the production of certain hormones and growth.

cropped-LadyMcAddenLogo-favicon.png Smoking is now being more linked to breast cancer (evidence is growing) and it is considered the younger the woman is when she starts smoking, the higher the risk.

cropped-LadyMcAddenLogo-favicon.png Pregnancy & breast feeding are proven to have a complex effect on breast cancer risk and overall breast feeding and pregnancy slightly reduces the risk of breast cancer.

cropped-LadyMcAddenLogo-favicon.png HRT is known to increase your risk. The risk is significantly increased when using a combination medication. This is due to the oestrogen and progestogen being used. The single hormone type (oestrogen only) is known to increase risks but only after long term use, although it can also increase the risk of ovarian cancer. Both should be carefully discussed with your GP when carrying the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene.

The Witham Hub

Unit 17, The Grove Shopping Centre, Witham, Essex CM8 2YT

Collected 622 Bras

Raised £457

Morrisons Witham

Braintree Rd, Witham CM8 2GD

Collected 939 Bras

Raised £788

Morley Nurseries

Southend Rd, Great Wakering, Essex SS3 0PU

Collected 280 Bras

Raised £224

My Fairytale Wardrobe

Bell St, Great Baddow, Chelmsford CM2 7JS

Collected 275 Bras

Raised £238

Hollywood Babes - Thorpe Bay

Hollywood Babes , 186 The Broadwat, Thorpe Bay, Essex SS1 3ES

Collected 174 Bras

Raised £121

Coco Boo

49 Rectory Grove Leigh on Sea SS9 2HA

Collected 595 Bras

Raised £491

The Bra Consultancy

16 Edward’s Walk, Maldon CM9 5PS

Collected 395 Bras

Raised £315

Morrisons Maldon

Limebrook Way, Maldon CM9 6GG

Collected 669 Bras

Raised £602

Harwich Library

Upper Kingsway, Dovercourt, Harwich CO12 3JT

Collected 382

Raised £291

Frinton Library

59 Old Rd, Frinton-on-Sea CO13 9DA

Bras Collected 415

Amount raised £320

Brentwood Library

New Rd, Brentwood CM14 4BP

Ingatestone Library

High Street, Ingatestone CM4 9EU

Nationwide Leigh on Sea

73 The Broadway, Leigh-on-Sea, Southend-on-Sea, Leigh-on-Sea SS9 1PW

Funky Barnets

714 Southchurch Road , Southend-on-Sea SS1 2PS

Total collected 464

Raising £370

Tracies Nails & Beauty

108 Rectory Road, Pitsea SS13 2AH

Tesco Pitsea

Off High Road, Pitsea SS13 3JU

My Secret Wardrobe

Wickford, Essex info@mysecretwardrobe.uk

Basildon Library

Basildon Centre, The St. Martins Square, Basildon SS14 1EE

Vange Library

Southview Road, Basildon SS16 4ET

Fryerns Library

Whitmore Way, Basildon SS14 2NN

Morrisons 284 Hadleigh

175 London Rd, Hadleigh, Benfleet SS7 2RB

Collected 2157 Bras

Raised £1662

Morrisons Canvey Island

Northwick Rd, Canvey Island SS8 0SW

Collected 1675 Bras

Raised £1323

Rochford Nail Bar

8 West St, Rochford SS4 1AJ

Collected £468 Bras

Raised £370

The HAPPY Hub

Eastgate Shopping Centre Basildon SS14 1AE

Collected 602 Bras

Raised £509

Orsett Surgery

63 Rowley Rd, Orsett, Grays RM16 3ET

Collected 865 Bras

Raised £621

Mane Attraction

Hylands Parade, Wood St, Chelmsford CM2 8BW

Collected 153 Bras

Raised £140

Boo Boutique

11 Heralds Way, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford CM3 5TQ

Collected 300 Bras

Raised £232

Longfield and Tollesbury Surgeries

Princes Rd, Maldon CM9 5DF

Collected 869 Bras

Raised £473

Morrisons Grays

1 London Rd, Grays RM17 5XZ

Collected 491 Bras

Raised £316

Clacton Library

 Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea CO15 1SF

Total collected 298

Total raised £193

Rochford Library

 8 Roche Close, Rochford SS4 1PX

Shenfield Library

 Adult Community College, Hutton, Brentwood CM13 1BD

Collected 239 bras

Raising £169

Chipping Ongar Library

 The Pleasance, High St, Chipping Ongar, Ongar CM5 9AB

The Ironworks - Southend

90 High St, Southend-on-Sea SS1 1JN 

Waitrose and Partners Leigh on Sea

1231/1241 London Road, Leigh on Sea SS9 3JQ 

Total collected 91

Total raised £75 

Vange Library

Southview Road, Basildon SS16 4ET 

Total collected 56

Total raised £50

Pitsea Library

Maydells, Pitsea, Basildon SS13 3DU

Total collected 91

Total raised £75 

Christ Church - Stock

Christ Church, Stock, Ingatestone CM4 9BN

Westerings Primary Academy PTA

Contact The PTA, Sunny Road, Hockley, SS5 4NZ

Total collected 360

Total raised £296

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Copyright ©

Lady McAdden Breast Cancer Trust
Registered Charity in England (1062236)
Registered company in England (03334552)

203 Elmsleigh Drive, Leigh on Sea, Essex, SS9 4JH

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This website has been funded by The Pink Ribbon Foundation

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This website has been funded by The National Lottery

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Registered company in England (03334552).
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