Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK, and around one in eight women is diagnosed with the disease in her lifetime.
On Sunday, Sarah Harding’s mother Marie announced that the former Girls Aloud singer had died of the disease.
The news comes just over a year after Harding revealed that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer and that it had spread to other parts of the body in August 2020.
In an Instagram post, her mother Marie mentioned that Sarah had “peacefully slipped away” Sunday morning. He described his “beautiful daughter” as a “shining star.”
“Many of you will know of Sarah’s battle with cancer and that she fought so hard from her diagnosis to her last day,” he continued.
“I would like to thank everyone for their kind support over the past year. It meant a lot to Sarah and gave her great strength and comfort to know that she was loved.
“I know you will not want to be remembered for her fight against this terrible disease; she was a shining star and I hope that is how she is remembered,” the statement said.
According to the latest statistics from Cancer Research UK, breast cancer accounted for 15 percent of all new cancer cases in 2017.
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Despite this, a large number of women do not regularly check their breasts for changes.
A study by Bupa and HCA Healthcare UK revealed that one in four women admit that they have never had their breasts examined or that they do not remember the last time they had it.
Joanna Franks, Consultant Breast and Oncoplastic Surgeon at HCA Healthcare UK, explained: “Early diagnosis of breast cancer is very important as it can prevent patients from having to undergo complex surgeries and drug treatments.”
“90 percent of women diagnosed at an early stage will be alive and well five years after diagnosis, however this drops to only 15 percent for those diagnosed at a later stage.”
For this reason, it is vital that women examine themselves, but how do you do it and what should you look for? Here is everything you need to know.
How should my breasts feel?
Before you start thinking about the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, it is important to become familiar with your own breasts and how they usually look and feel. That way, you can spot any changes and report them to your GP quickly.
Every woman’s breasts are different in size, shape and consistency, and the NHS states that it is normal for one breast to be larger than the other.
She also says that you may notice that your breasts feel different at different times of the month due to your menstrual cycle. Similarly, after menopause, some women’s breasts may feel softer and less firm.
How do I examine my breasts?
When it comes to checking your breasts for anything unusual, the NHS mentions that standing in front of a mirror can be helpful.
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