OCTOBER is Breast Cancer Awareness Month so it’s a good time to remind women how to check their breasts.
A survey has found that while 93 per cent of women are aware a lump in the breast can be a sign of cancer, fewer than half know other danger signs.
NHS GP Dr Zoe Williams answers health questions sent in by readersThe Sun
First of all, make a habit of checking roughly once a month – the more you feel, the more you get used to what is normal for you.
CoppaFeel! sends free monthly text reminders (sign up on its website) or pop a reminder in your calendar.
For a step-by-step video guide on how to check, see my Instagram page @drzoewilliams.
Check your breasts anywhere that’s comfy for you – in the mirror, in the shower or lying down.
Look and feel all areas of the breasts around the breasts, armpits and collarbone for lumps, swelling or thickening. Use the pads of your fingers to press relatively firmly, in circular or patting motions.
Have your breasts changed in size or shape, or is there pain in the area?
Look for changes in skin texture, such as puckering or dimpling that might resemble orange peel, or a rash.
Check your nipples for discharge, a rash or inversion (flat or point inward).
There are many causes of lumps. In fact, 90 per cent of those referred by their GP do not have cancer.
Similarly, pain is rarely a feature of breast cancer, but any persistent or unexplained pain should always be explored.
It’s worth remembering men get breast cancer too – with the most common symptom a painless lump.
Don’t try to self-diagnose, always see your GP if you’re concerned.
Check out the new charity Moobs – the first ever male breast cancer awareness campaign.
Meanwhile, here’s a selection of what readers asked me this week.
Q: I AM a 77-year-old pensioner and since starting taking 20mg of statin, I have developed pain in my right shoulder.
A: Statins can indeed lead to muscle pain, and it’s important to let the doctor know when there are any potential side effects of a new drug.
They can assess you to see if any tests are required.
If the start of the shoulder pain coincided with commencing the statin, they may want to do a blood test to check for something called creatine kinase, which is likely to be elevated if there is damage to the muscle.
This is a rare side effect of statins.
Your GP will decide whether the drug needs to be changed or stopped and also consider other potential causes of the symptoms.
In the meantime, while waiting, it would be sensible to stop taking the statin, just in case it is causing any damage.
You can try applying heat or ice to the affected area to reduce pain and inflammation and see which works better for you.
Do gentle exercises and stretches to keep the muscles and joint mobile and flexible.
This might help ease muscle discomfort.
Lastly, don’t forget to stay hydrated. Dehydration can contribute to muscle pain.
Q: A COUPLE of weeks ago I had the most excruciating stomach pain and vomiting, which was black and can only be described as ground coffee.
I Googled it and it said to seek medical help immediately.
I called 111, and they sent out an ambulance.
In hospital, I had a CT scan, which showed inflammation and thickening of the transverse colon wall. I am now waiting on a colonoscopy.
I’m still unsure exactly what this means.
A: While Google gave you the correct advice here, it may connect you to great resources online, or less reliable ones.
So in future consider using the NHS website and patient.info.
Ground-coffee-like vomit suggests you were vomiting digested blood.
Your digestive system is a long tube that processes food and extracts nutrients.
One part is called the “transverse colon”, which runs across the abdomen.
“Inflammation” means that this part of the tube has become irritated and swollen.
Inflammation in the colon can happen for various reasons, such as infection or certain medical conditions, including ulcerative colitis.
“Thickening of the transverse colon wall” means the inner lining of this tube has become thicker than usual.
Think of it like the fabric of a hose pipe thickening, making the inside narrower.
This thickening can be due to other issues in the colon, one of which is cancer.
If the transverse colon wall becomes significantly thickened, it might block the flow of food and waste through your digestive system.
A blockage in your colon could lead to severe pain, bowel obstruction, or other complications.
A colonoscopy allows the doctor to see the inside of the tube, by using a small camera, and take a sample of tissue to be analysed further.
It is the best way to make a definite diagnosis.
Do I have high cholesterol?
Q: MY mum, dad and brother all have high cholesterol. How can I get mine checked?
A: Around one in 250 people have a condition where their high cholesterol is caused by family links.
It’s called familial hypercholesterolemia and it’s down to a genetic mutation.
You don’t say how old you or your brother are.
But if you’re under the age of 40, it’s definitely worth seeing your GP or nurse practitioner to chat about your concerns.
They will probably offer you a blood test to check your cholesterol levels.
If you’re 40 or over, you’re entitled to a free NHS health check that can be done at your GP surgery or local pharmacy. It includes a cholesterol check.
When you book, make sure you have your family history to hand if you can.
Let them know the ages that your parents and your brother were diagnosed with high cholesterol, what medicines they take and their cholesterol levels if possible.
This will help them assess if you could be at risk of a genetic link to high cholesterol or whether it is more likely lifestyle-related in the case of your relatives.
The quality of a person’s diet, their weight, how much they exercise, their alcohol intake and whether they smoke or not can all be contributory factors to high cholesterol.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any symptoms of high cholesterol and it won’t make itself noticeable until it causes conditions like heart disease or high blood pressure so you are right to be proactive about checking it.