April, 20253 MIN READ

I’ve Noticed A Change In My Chest - What Do I Do Next?

What to do if you find something unusual

If you do notice a change in your breasts, there is no need to panic. This could include changes in breast size, breast skin changes, changes in nipple colour and more. Our bodies change, and the fact that you have noticed, shows you’ve been doing a great job in getting to know your normal in the first place! There are lots of reasons why you might have changes and most of these are natural and harmless. It is also good to keep in mind that 9 out of 10 people who are referred to the breast clinic are not given a cancer diagnosis. Make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.

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What to expect when you contact the doctor

During your appointment your doctor will probably want to examine your breast tissue, which is found across the chest area and might include the area under your armpits and up to your collarbone too. You might find it helpful to wear loose clothing or a separate top and bottoms. Try not to feel embarrassed talking to your doctor about your chest, they have seen it all before - plus what is embarrassing about advocating for your own body and health!

Tips for your appointment

Here are our top tips for your doctor appointment:
- If you would prefer a female doctor, you can request this when you book the appointment. Equally, you can ask to see a male doctor if you prefer.
- Ask a family member or a friend to be with you for support.
- Write down any questions for your doctor beforehand.
- Write down when you first spotted the changes, to tell the doctor.
- If you have periods, make a note of when your last one was, as the doctor might ask.
- Try to find out if you have any family history of breast cancer, as the doctor might ask you about that too.

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Need some more help?

If you’d like some more help with understanding how to check and how to get started, the CoppaFeel! Self-Checkout is the tool for you! This health promotion tool exists to guide people through the steps of getting started with breast checking, and it provides practical tools to build the confidence to do this on a regular basis. The tool includes a ‘check-in’ count, a step-by-step guide and share function as well as important SMS, email, calendar and shower sticker reminders, downloadable checklists, and video content.

Hopefully you are feeling much clearer about what to do if you notice a change in your chest - or how to advise a friend or loved one if they do. The simple message - if in doubt - get checked, is all you need to remember and hopefully this blog has helped remove some of the fear around noticing changes. Head to CoppaFeel.org to sign up for handy free text messages that will remind you to get checking or to the information and advice page on our website for more information about breast cancer.