The Importance of Boob Checking

CoppaFeel!

coppafeel.org

CoppaFeel! is a breast cancer awareness charity, based in London. The charity focuses on promoting early detection of breast cancer by encouraging women under 30 to regularly check their breasts.

This year has been particularly tough on cancer services in the UK, with huge delays and backlogs in screening and diagnostics, and a significant decrease in diagnostic referrals.

At CoppaFeel! we know all too well the importance of early diagnosis in breast cancer, and how it can make the difference between life and death. For that reason, we share the concerns of NHS England about the impact of COVID-19 on early diagnosis. Breast awareness is more crucial than ever. The good news is, we’re here to help with that.

Our mission is to:

• Encourage young people to regularly check their boobs, pecs and chests

• Educate them about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer

• Empower them to seek medical advice if they notice anything that isn’t normal for them.

Our work is motivated by the Our work is motivated by the knowledge that early diagnosis saves lives. The relatively high survival rate for breast cancer is predicated on the fact that 75.4% of patients with breast cancer are diagnosed at stage 1 or 2. The NHS long-term plan for cancer services aims to increase that number to 90% of breast cancers diagnosed early by 2028. Self-checking is the first line of defence, so by informing and empowering people to know their bodies, we aim to stamp out late diagnosis. This is especially important at the moment, given the pressures on diagnostic cancer services.

Young women have told us how important GPs and other health and care professionals are when it comes to encouraging them to check themselves.

How to Check Your Breasts and The Signs of Breast Cancer to Look Out For

Here’s how we can help you to help them:

1. We provide breast awareness webinars for health and care professionals. Among the topics we cover are:

• information about the benefits of early detection in breast cancer • the impact of COVID on breastcancer services

• breast awareness versus breast self-exam

• information about breast awareness in pregnancy • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines for referral.

2. We offer free packs of materials for your practice or clinic, including handy wallet-sized checking cards

Go to www.coppafeel.org/at-surgeries to request your free pack.

3. Digital resources! We have a digital information pack just for doctors and nurses, a digital information pack just for midwives and health visitors, and a Code of Breast Practice for GPs.

4. We provide downloadable posters and digital slides for use in your waiting rooms.

Visit our website for more information about all the work we do! Drop us an email at clare@coppafeel.org to find out about webinars and other ways we can support you with breast awareness.

CoppaFeel! coppafeel.org