Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK with around 50,000 people in the UK being diagnosed each year. Every year breastcancercare.org  work hard to raise awareness of breast cancer and the importance of becoming more "breast aware".

The lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is 1 in 8 . This means that 1 in 8 women in the UK will develop breast cancer at some point in their life – but of course it also means that 7 out of 8 women won’t develop breast cancer in their lifetime.

Both women and men get breast cancer. Just over 49,000 women and 300 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK.

Estimated risk of developing breast cancer according to age

• - Risk up to age 29, 1 in 2,000
• - Risk up to age 39, 1 in 215
• - Risk up to age 49, 1 in 50
• - Risk up to age 59, 1 in 22
• - Risk up to age 69, 1 in 13
• - Lifetime risk, 1 in 8

Whatever your age, size or shape it’s important to take care of your breasts. Being breast aware is an important part of caring for your body. It means getting to know how your breasts look and feel, so you know what is normal for you.

To help raise awareness of breast cancer,  breastcancercare.org.uk have put together an information pack full of tips and advice to help you become more breast aware. It includes infomation on how to check your breasts regularly and the changes in your breasts that you should look out for.

Your Breasts, Your Health : A Quick Quide To Breast Health

There’s no right or wrong way to check your breasts. Try to get used to looking at and feeling your breasts regularly. You can do this in the bath or shower, when you use body lotion, or when you get dressed. There’s really no need to change your everyday routine. Just decide what you are comfortable with and what suits you best.

Remember to check all parts of your breast, your armpits and up to your collarbone.

The breast awareness 5-point code:

• 1.You should know what is normal for you
• 2.Know what changes to look for
• 3.Look and feel
• 4.Tell your GP about any changes straight away
• 5.Go for breast screening when invited

If you notice a change, please see your GP straight away. Don't worry about making a fuss, and do remember that most breast changes will not be cancer, even if they need treatment or follow-up appointments.

Your GP may be able to reassure you after examining your breasts, or you may be asked to come back at a different time in your menstrual cycle to rule out a hormonal cause.

Breast Cancer Care have a free, confidential Helpline which is there to answer any questions about breast cancer or breast health.

Calls are answered by nurses and trained staff with experience of breast cancer. Whatever your concern, you can be confident they understand the issues you might be facing, and that the information you’ll receive is clear and up-to-date.

Telephone: 0808 800 6000

or visit: http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/  

* Information and statistics from http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/