Time to talk about scourge of breast cancer, sooner the better

Tracie Geelan talks openly to her ten-year-old daughter Myrren about breast awareness.

There is no embarrassment. Far from it. For Tracie, who suffered breast cancer 13 years ago, she feels it is vital to ensure her daughter’s health.

It is this sort of open mother-daughter relationship that experts hope will increase early detection of breast cancer.

The number of women being diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK is growing – around 55,000 every year. However, survival rates are improving. This is largely due to improvements in screening and treatment as well as better breast awareness and earlier detection.

New research commissioned by Avon UK in association with the charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer has revealed that the mother-daughter relationship is a key factor in improving the chances of early detection of breast cancer. Although one in eight women in the UK will develop breast cancer, the study, which explored breast awareness among younger women, found that more than 80 per cent of women interviewed had never spoken with their own mothers about breast awareness and the importance of regular self-checking.

“My mum and I never spoke about it when I was younger,” says Tracie, 49, from Harrogate who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000. “She has stood by me through everything I have been through since, but when I was a teenager it wasn’t something that was discussed at that time. Attitudes towards health and your body have changed a lot since then.”

Tracie says that, like many women, she would check her breasts “when I remembered” once every two or three months but that it wasn’t really part of a regular routine. When she found a lump, she went straight to her GP who referred her for further investigation. After four medical tests including a mammogram and core biopsy, Tracie was told the day before her 36th birthday that the lump she had found in her breast was cancerous. As she had a very aggressive form of cancer, Tracie went through surgery and then six months of chemotherapy followed by a course of radiotherapy treatment. Today she is healthy and well, but it was a gruelling and traumatic experience.

“You never think it is going to happen to you; it is such a shock,” she says. “We have to educate our daughters to check their breasts regularly. People have busy lives but I think we need to stress just how important it is; you have to be proactive.”

After her treatment, Tracie was informed that she may go through an early menopause and would be unlikely to be able to have children. It was difficult news to hear, but happily Tracie did go on to conceive successfully and had a daughter, Myrren, in 2003. As a result of her own experiences, Tracie has been open and honest with Myrren about breast awareness and started discussing it with her at quite an early age.

“When she was about six years old I went back into hospital to have corrective surgery on one of my breasts,” says Tracie. “Myrren was asking me why I had to go into hospital so I started to explain to her about cancer and over the next few years we have talked about the changes that would be taking place in her body. She had seen me checking my breasts and I told her that it would be important for her to do that when she was grown up too.”

The fact that Tracie and Myrren had had this conversation was actually very helpful when Myrren, who is now developing breasts, discovered a lump herself a few weeks ago.

“She is a very shy girl and I don’t think she would have necessarily told me about it if we hadn’t already spoken about it,” says Tracie. “I’m glad I had taken the time to talk to her.” Tracie took Myrren to her GP and they were referred to the hospital and tests were carried out. Thankfully, it was nothing to worry about and Myrren is fine. “She coped really well,” says Tracie. “She was frightened but it wasn’t as terrifying as if I hadn’t been about to talk to her about it.”

Breakthrough Breast Cancer doesn’t advise young women to check their breasts until they are 18. Its research also showed that many mothers were concerned about passing on incorrect advice and this, coupled with the reluctance to discuss a potentially life-threatening condition, acted as a barrier to initiating conversations about breast health.

In order to address this, Avon UK has devised a piece of educational guidance, with the support of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, for mothers to use to talk to their daughters about how to form healthy breast habits. The guide is aimed at mothers with daughters aged 18-30 and is downloadable from Avon UK’s website. “A lot of women don’t have the courage or conviction to talk about it if they haven’t been affected by it themselves,” says Tracie. “So I think advice and guidelines are a really good idea.”

Head of public health at Breakthrough Breast Cancer Eluned Hughes believes that the importance of being breast aware has never been greater, especially as early detection can lead to less invasive and more effective treatment.

“Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and most cases are picked up by women themselves,” she says. “We know early detection is key as the earlier breast cancer is found, the better the chance of beating it. So we encourage all women to know their breasts and be aware of any changes, and if you do spot anything unusual go and check with your doctor.”

The research will be presented to the Department of Health and breast cancer research charities this month. Professor Janet Reibstein, a leading psychologist and breast cancer specialist, who acted as a key researcher and consultant on the project, feels that the results highlight an opportunity for mothers to act as a primary source of information for their daughters as well as a providing a positive example of good practice in maintaining breast health.

“There is a real opportunity to equip mothers with knowledge so that they can feel more at ease in talking about breast awareness to their daughters,” she says. “Opening up the conversation between mum and daughter is likely to instil a regular breast checking habit in daughters from younger age as we know that the earlier good health habits are developed, the more entrenched they become as normal behaviour.”

The new guidance is available from www.avon.uk.com/causes

CHECKLIST FOR EVERY WOMAN

Women should check their breasts regularly – looking at and feeling all parts of the breasts, armpits and up to the collarbone.

Signs and symptoms to look out for include:

Changes in size or shape

Changes in skin texture such as puckering or dimpling

Inverted nipple

A lump or thickening of breast tissue

Redness or a rash on the skin or around the nipple

Discharge from one or both nipples

Constant pain in the breast or armpit

Swelling in the armpit or around the collarbone.

For free, confidential support and information visit www.breastcancercare.org.uk or call the helpline on 0808 800 6000.