Breast Cancer Awareness Month - October 2026

How to check your breasts

Checking your breasts or chest only takes a few minutes. There's no special technique. And you don’t need any training.

It's as simple as TLC: Touch Look Check

• Touch your whole breast area, including up to your collarbone and armpits. Feel for any lumps or swelling, puckered skin or anything else new or unusual.

• Look for any changes, like a rash, dimpled skin, a change in colour, nipple changes, unusual liquid from the nipple, or a change in the size or shape of the breast.

• Check anything you notice with a GP. Most breast changes are not cancer. But the sooner breast cancer is found, the more successful treatment is likely to be.

Your breasts can change for lots of reasons – like the menopause, pregnancy and breastfeeding, puberty or even during your period. So, get into the habit of checking yourself regularly. It’ll help make it easier to spot any new or unusual changes.