Breast Cancer Awareness: Know the Signs and Understand When a Breast Ultrasound May Help
13 minute read
13 minute read
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but breast awareness matters throughout the year.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. While it mainly affects women, men can develop breast cancer too. One of the most useful things any of us can do is understand what is normal for our own breasts or chest and seek medical advice when something changes.
Finding breast cancer earlier can improve the likelihood of successful treatment. However, awareness is not about becoming anxious about every ache or lump. Many breast changes are caused by benign conditions. The important point is not to diagnose yourself. If you notice something unusual, get it assessed.
At Private GP Clinic, patients can access private GP consultations and diagnostic services including breast ultrasound scans, with no GP referral required for most ultrasound scans. Breast ultrasound is available as part of the clinic’s diagnostic ultrasound service, currently priced at £175 for one breast or £300 for both breasts.
But what changes should you look for? And where does ultrasound fit into breast assessment?
There is no single “normal” breast.
Breasts vary between people, and your own breasts can change during:
The objective is therefore not to compare yourself with somebody else.
It is to become familiar with your normal.
The NHS advises checking your breasts or chest regularly, around once a month, so that changes are easier to recognise.
This does not require a complicated examination technique.
Look.
Feel.
Notice anything that is different.
And if something does not seem normal for you, speak to a healthcare professional.
Most breast symptoms do not turn out to be cancer. Nevertheless, certain changes deserve medical assessment.
A new lump in the breast, chest or armpit is one of the better-known signs that should be checked.
Breast lumps are common and many are benign, including cysts and fibroadenomas. However, it is not possible to reliably determine the cause yourself simply by feeling a lump.
If you find a new lump, arrange a GP assessment.
Breasts are rarely completely symmetrical.
What matters is a new change.
If one breast changes shape, size or appearance in a way that is unusual for you, it should be assessed.
Look for changes to the skin, including:
Skin colour changes can appear differently depending on skin tone.
Contact a GP if you notice a new nipple change, such as:
These changes can have causes other than cancer, but they still deserve assessment.
Fluid coming from the nipple when you are not pregnant or breastfeeding should be discussed with a clinician, particularly if it contains blood.
Changes are not limited to the breast itself.
A new lump or swelling in the armpit should also be checked because lymph nodes in this area form part of breast assessment.
Breast pain is extremely common and, on its own, is not usually a symptom of breast cancer.
That does not mean persistent pain should automatically be ignored.
Speak to a GP if pain:
A clinician can determine whether investigation is appropriate.
First, try not to jump to conclusions.
Most breast lumps are not cancerous. Common benign causes include fluid-filled cysts and fibroadenomas.
But do not attempt to diagnose the lump yourself.
The NHS advises seeing a GP if you find a breast or armpit lump or another unusual breast change.
A GP may:
If there is a concerning breast symptom, you may need referral to a specialist breast clinic.
A breast ultrasound scan uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of breast tissue.
It does not use ionising radiation.
During the scan, a sonographer places gel on the skin and moves a small handheld ultrasound probe over the area being investigated.
The sound waves are converted into images that can be assessed by the healthcare professional.
Breast ultrasound can be particularly helpful when investigating a specific lump or area of concern.
For example, ultrasound can help establish whether a lump appears:
It may also be used to examine lymph nodes within the armpit.
Not necessarily.
This is an important distinction.
Ultrasound can provide valuable information about the appearance and characteristics of a breast lump, but ultrasound alone cannot always establish whether a lump is cancerous.
If an abnormal or solid area is identified, additional investigations may be necessary.
These can include:
A biopsy involves taking tissue from the suspicious area for laboratory examination and is the definitive method used to determine whether breast tissue is cancerous.
This is why breast ultrasound should be understood as one part of the diagnostic process rather than a standalone cancer test.
This is one of the most common areas of confusion.
Ultrasound uses sound waves.
It can be useful for assessing a specific breast lump or area and can help distinguish between solid tissue and a fluid-filled cyst.
A mammogram is a specialised X-ray of the breasts.
Mammography is the test used by the NHS Breast Screening Programme to look for early breast cancers before symptoms develop.
These are therefore complementary tests, not interchangeable alternatives.
At a specialist breast clinic, patients may have a combination of:
This is sometimes referred to as triple assessment.
No.
This is particularly important.
A private breast ultrasound should not be regarded as a replacement for routine NHS mammography when you are eligible for screening.
In England, women registered with a GP are automatically invited for their first NHS breast screening between ages 50 and 53, then approximately every three years until their 71st birthday. Women aged 71 or over can contact their local breast screening service themselves if they wish to continue screening.
The purpose of screening is different from investigating a symptom.
You have no symptoms, and the programme looks for early signs of cancer.
You already have a symptom or area of concern, such as a lump, and healthcare professionals investigate its cause.
Do not wait for your next routine screening appointment if you notice a new breast change.
Speak to a GP.
Breast tissue tends to be denser in younger people.
Cancer Research UK notes that women under 40 with a breast lump are more likely to have ultrasound as the first imaging test because denser breast tissue can make mammograms harder to interpret.
However, the correct imaging pathway depends on:
It should therefore be determined clinically rather than choosing a scan solely based on age.
A breast ultrasound is generally straightforward.
There is usually no special preparation required.
During the appointment:
Cancer Research UK states that a typical breast ultrasound takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes, although appointment duration can vary depending on the circumstances.
Ultrasound itself does not involve radiation.
Private GP Clinic states that patients can self-refer for most ultrasound scans, although an NHS GP can also refer patients to its private ultrasound service.
The clinic currently lists:
Breast and axillary ultrasound are also included within the diagnostic ultrasound services described by the clinic.
Where symptoms could indicate breast cancer, however, an ultrasound appointment should not delay appropriate GP or specialist breast assessment.
If you have developed a new breast symptom, a clinical assessment is an important first step.
Speak to a GP if you notice:
Your GP can determine the most appropriate pathway and arrange specialist referral when required.
Private GP Clinic offers private GP appointments alongside its ultrasound service, allowing patients to discuss symptoms with a doctor where appropriate. Its doctors can arrange diagnostic tests and specialist referrals when further investigation is required.
The next step depends entirely on what is seen.
You may not require further investigations, depending on the clinical circumstances.
A fluid-filled lump may be consistent with a breast cyst. Some require no further intervention, while others may require management depending on symptoms and clinical findings.
You may require specialist breast assessment, mammography or biopsy.
Cancer Research UK notes that if ultrasound shows a solid lump, further tests may include mammography or tissue sampling.
The important point is:
an abnormal ultrasound result should lead to appropriate clinical follow-up, not self-diagnosis.
Breast cancer in men is uncommon, but it does occur.
Potential symptoms in men include:
Any new chest or nipple change should be assessed by a GP.
Men with suspected breast cancer may also undergo breast and axillary ultrasound as part of their diagnostic assessment.
Having relatives with breast or ovarian cancer does not mean you will develop breast cancer.
However, family history can affect your individual risk.
When you discuss a breast concern with your doctor, mention:
Your GP can determine whether further assessment or specialist genetic advice may be appropriate.
Awareness campaigns are useful only if they lead to action.
Become familiar with how your breasts or chest normally look and feel.
The NHS suggests checking around once a month.
Do not assume that feeling well means screening has no value. NHS breast screening is designed to detect changes before symptoms necessarily appear.
Do not wait several months hoping a new lump or visible change will disappear.
Breast ultrasound can be extremely useful when clinically appropriate, but it forms part of a wider diagnostic pathway.
Private GP Clinic offers diagnostic ultrasound services as part of its wider private healthcare provision.
The ultrasound service is led by Mrs Gurjit Rai-Tidbury MSc, DMU, DCR, a Consultant Sonographer whose areas of ultrasound practice include breast imaging and other small-parts imaging. She is registered with professional organisations including HCPC, and Private GP Clinic states that she works across its clinics.
Private GP Clinic’s wider network includes clinics in:
Ultrasound service availability varies by clinic and appointment, so patients should confirm the relevant location when booking.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month provides an important reminder, but breast awareness should continue every month of the year.
Most breast lumps and breast changes are not cancer.
But that is not something you should try to decide yourself.
If you find something new or unusual:
get it checked.
Private GP Clinic provides access to experienced GPs and diagnostic breast ultrasound, with private appointments designed to help patients obtain timely assessment.
If you are concerned about a breast lump or other breast change, you can contact Private GP Clinic on 0300 124 7600 to discuss an appropriate appointment.
For information about diagnostic ultrasound, including current breast ultrasound pricing and booking options, visit the Ultrasound Diagnostic Scans service page.
If your symptoms may require urgent specialist assessment, the clinician will advise on the appropriate referral pathway.
Breast ultrasound can identify and characterise abnormalities within breast tissue, but it cannot always determine by itself whether an abnormality is cancerous. Further imaging or biopsy may be required.
No. Ultrasound uses sound waves. Mammography uses low-dose X-rays. They have different roles and may be used together during breast assessment.
A diagnostic breast ultrasound should not be considered a replacement for routine mammographic breast screening when you are eligible for the NHS programme.
Private GP Clinic states that patients can self-refer for most ultrasound scans. An NHS GP can also refer patients to the service.
At the time of writing, Private GP Clinic lists breast ultrasound at £175 for one breast and £300 for both breasts. Pricing should be confirmed when booking.
Diagnostic ultrasound does not use ionising radiation and is considered a very safe examination.
Cancer Research UK states that breast ultrasound commonly takes around 10 to 15 minutes, although the actual appointment may vary.
Do not wait until you become eligible for routine screening. A new breast lump should be assessed by a GP regardless of your age. Younger women with a breast lump are often initially investigated using ultrasound, depending on the clinical circumstances.
No. Most breast lumps are benign. Cysts and fibroadenomas are two common non-cancerous causes. Nevertheless, every new breast lump should be appropriately assessed rather than self-diagnosed.
No. Routine screening is intended mainly for people without symptoms. If you notice a new lump or another unusual breast change, contact a GP rather than waiting for your next screening invitation.