25 October 2021

#TouchLookCheck campaign promotes regular breast and chest checking, as research shows over half of women forget to do so

  • New research from Breast Cancer Now has found that over a third (39%) of British women do not check their breasts regularly
  • The main reasons women gave included over half of women forgetting to check (53%), a fifth (19%) not feeling confident in checking, and not knowing how to check (16%)
  • This is deeply worrying when two thirds of breast cancers are found by women noticing new or unusual breast changes and getting these checked out by their GP
  • Furthermore, the sooner breast cancer is found, the more successful treatment is likely to be
  • In response, the charity has teamed up with Twitter to launch its #TouchLookCheck campaign during Breast Cancer Awareness Month
  • Celebrities including Geri Horner, Lisa Snowdon and Cara De la Hoyde-Massey have Tweeted their support
  • The campaign will include the first-ever uncensored live breast check at 8pm on Thursday 28th October, hosted on the @BreastCancerNow Twitter feed, showing people how to check their breasts and chests

Charity Breast Cancer Now has joined forces with Twitter to launch its #TouchLookCheck campaign today to encourage people to regularly check their breasts and chests for any new or unusual changes.

Launching at the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month the campaign will include the first-ever fully uncensored live breast check, to be hosted on the Breast Cancer Now Twitter feed on Thursday 28th October at 8pm. During the live, an expert nurse from the charity will share how to do a breast or chest check with two women and a man - as around 55,000 women and 370 men are diagnosed with this devastating disease each year in the UK.

The campaign has been backed by celebrities including Geri Horner, Lisa Snowdon, Cara de la Hoyde-Massey and Lisa Riley, who have shown their support by tweeting, encouraging their followers to check their own breasts and chests.

The launch of the #TouchLookCheck campaign comes as new research from Breast Cancer Now reveals that over a third (39%) of women in Britain don’t regularly check their breasts for potential signs and symptoms of breast cancer.[1]

The main reasons women gave for this included over half (53%) forgetting to check, over a third (39%) not being in the habit of checking, a fifth (19%) not feeling confident in checking their breasts, not knowing how to check (16%), not knowing what to look for (12%) and being worried about finding a new or unusual change (11%).

According to the YouGov survey commissioned by the charity, generously funded by Asda [2], a third (33%) of those who do check their breasts for possible signs and symptoms don’t feel confident that they would notice a change.

Baroness Delyth Morgan, Chief Executive at Breast Cancer Now, says:

“With barriers continuing to get in the way of many women regularly checking their breasts for potential signs and symptoms of breast cancer, it’s critical we do all we can to ensure everyone makes checking their breasts or chests ‘a habit of a lifetime’, as anyone can be affected by this devastating disease.

“Checking your breasts or chest takes just a couple of minutes but could make all the difference - two thirds of breast cancers are found by women noticing unusual breast changes and getting them checked by a GP. That’s why we’re so excited to have teamed up with Twitter to launch the UK’s first ever live uncensored breast check on Twitter, where we’ll share vital information on how to check your breasts and chests, and possible signs and symptoms of breast cancer.

“There’s no special technique for checking your breasts or chests, it’s all about looking and feeling to get to know what’s normal for you. Making this part of your routine – such as in the shower – can help you to do it regularly. While most breast changes won’t be cancer, it’s vital to contact your GP if you find anything new or unusual as the sooner breast cancer is found, the more successful treatment is likely to be.”

Katy Minshall, Head of UK Public Policy & Philanthropy at Twitter says:

“It’s been fantastic to team up with Breast Cancer Now to launch the first-ever uncensored live breast check on the platform. #TouchLookCheck amplifies such an important health message and we hope it will encourage Tweeters to feel comfortable and confident to check their breasts and chests regularly.”

To watch the #TouchLookCheck live breast check, tune into the @BreastCancerNow Twitter profile on Thursday 28th October at 8pm.

For more information on the signs and symptoms of breast cancer visit breastcancernow.org/checkthem

ENDS

Notes To Editors

1 All statistics from results from a quantitative YouGov survey of 1,042 women who agreed to take the survey. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+). Fieldwork was undertaken between 28th - 29th September 2021 and the survey was carried out online.

The 39% of women defined as not ‘regularly’ checking their breasts was made up of women responding that they checked their breasts at least once every 3 months; at least once every 6 months; at least once a year; less than once a year; or never. Alternatively, ‘regular’ breast checking included those who check their breasts at least once a week; at least once a month; and at least once every 6 weeks.

2 Asda Tickled Pink proudly funds Breast Cancer Now’s breast awareness work, including Touch Look Check (TLC), and generously funded the YouGov survey commissioned by the charity.

About Breast Cancer Now

  • Breast Cancer Now is the UK’s first comprehensive breast cancer charity, combining world-class research and life-changing care.
  • Breast Cancer Now’s ambition is that, by 2050, everyone who develops breast cancer will live and be supported to live well.
  • Breast Cancer Now, the research and care charity, launched in October 2019, created by the merger of specialist support and information charity Breast Cancer Care and leading research charity Breast Cancer Now.
  • Visit breastcancernow.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram
  • Anyone looking for support or information can call Breast Cancer Now’s free Helpline on 0808 800 6000.

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