Breast Cancer Awareness: How to Check Your Breasts and When to See a Doctor

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, when pink ribbons appear on buildings, social media and hospital noticeboards across Oman and around the world. Behind the colour is a simple and important message: knowing what is normal for your breasts, and acting quickly on changes, gives the best chance of finding breast cancer early. This guide from Avicen Online explains how to check your breasts, which changes to report, how screening works in Oman and a few everyday habits that help lower your risk.

Breast cancer is a topic many families find hard to talk about, but it is common, and early action saves lives. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breast cancer caused an estimated 694,000 deaths worldwide in 2024 and was the most common cancer in women in 164 of 186 countries. In Oman, Ministry of Health figures showed breast cancer was the most common cancer among Omanis in 2020. The good news is that, as WHO notes, deaths are reduced when breast cancer is found and treated early. Looking after your breasts is one part of a wider approach to women's health in Oman, alongside regular check-ups, good nutrition and staying active.

Why Breast Awareness Matters for Every Woman

You do not need a family history to be at risk. WHO reports that around 80% of breast cancers occur in women who have no specific risk factor other than being female and getting older. That is why doctors encourage every adult woman, not only those with a relative who had breast cancer, to be "breast aware".

Breast awareness simply means getting to know how your breasts usually look and feel, so you notice anything new. It is not about finding cancer yourself or examining your breasts like a doctor. It is about spotting a change early and getting it checked by a professional.

How to Check Your Breasts: Touch, Look, Check

The UK charity Breast Cancer Now uses an easy way to remember the routine, called TLC. There is no special technique and you do not need any training.

• Touch your breasts. Feel for anything new or unusual. Many women find it easiest in the shower or while applying lotion.
• Look for changes. Stand in front of a mirror with your arms by your sides, then raised, and look at the shape, skin and nipples.
• Check any new or unusual change with a doctor.

Remember to check the whole area: all of each breast, up to your collarbone and into your armpits, because breast tissue extends there too.

How often should you check?

There is no fixed rule. The aim is to check regularly enough that you become familiar with what is normal for you. Breasts can feel different at different times of the month. The NHS notes that period-related breast pain can start up to two weeks before a period and ease when the period ends, so pay attention to your own pattern. After menopause, when monthly changes stop, a regular reminder, such as the first day of each month, can help you keep the habit.

Signs and Symptoms to Look Out For

The NHS lists these possible symptoms of breast cancer in women:

• a lump or swelling in the breast, chest or armpit
• a change in the skin of the breast, such as dimpling
• a change in the colour of the skin on the breast
• a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts
• nipple discharge when you are not pregnant or breastfeeding, which may contain blood
• a change in the shape or look of the nipple, such as it turning inwards

WHO also mentions redness or pitting of the skin, and changes to the area around the nipple (the areola).

Please do not panic if you find something. Most breast changes, including lumps, are not cancer; they can be caused by cysts, hormonal changes or other harmless conditions. But only a doctor can tell the difference, so every new change deserves a check.

What about breast pain?

According to the NHS, breast pain on its own is not usually a sign of breast cancer. It is often linked to periods or hormones. A properly fitted bra during the day and a soft bra at night can help, and simple pain relief may ease discomfort; follow the leaflet or ask your pharmacist which option suits you. See a doctor if the pain is not improving, painkillers do not help, or you have a family history of breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Screening in Oman

Screening means checking women who have no symptoms, usually with a mammogram (a low-dose X-ray of the breast). A mammogram can find changes that are too small to feel.

• International guidance: WHO describes organised mammography screening for apparently healthy women, usually aged 50 to 69.
• In Oman: the Oman Cancer Association has run a Mobile Mammography Unit since November 2009, offering free breast screening for women over the age of 40.
• Your own plan: when to start and how often to repeat a mammogram depends on your age and personal risk. Ask at your local health centre or speak to your doctor, especially if close relatives have had breast or ovarian cancer.

Screening does not replace breast awareness. Even if you had a normal mammogram recently, see a doctor if you notice a change before your next one.

Everyday Habits That Help Lower Your Risk

Some risk factors, such as age and family history, cannot be changed. WHO lists others that can, including obesity, alcohol, tobacco use and postmenopausal hormone therapy. Cancer Research UK highlights several practical steps:

• Keep a healthy weight. A healthy weight reduces the risk of at least 13 types of cancer, including breast cancer. A simple bathroom weighing scale can help you keep track of changes over time.
• Stay active. Being physically active helps you keep a healthy weight. In Oman's heat, early-morning or evening walks, mall walking or home workouts make it easier to stay consistent.
• Avoid alcohol and tobacco. Cutting down on alcohol lowers breast cancer risk, and not smoking protects your overall health.
• Breastfeed if you can. Breastfeeding lowers the risk of breast cancer, and the longer you breastfeed, the more the risk is reduced. If you are expecting a baby, it is worth planning ahead; breast pumps can help working mothers keep breastfeeding after returning to work.
• Eat well. Build meals around vegetables, fruit, whole grains, pulses and fish. If your diet is limited, a women's multivitamin such as Wellwoman 50+ can help fill nutritional gaps, but supplements are not a way to prevent breast cancer.

Breast checks fit naturally alongside other routine health checks. If you are already keeping an eye on your health at home, for example checking your blood pressure, add a monthly breast check to the same routine.

Men Can Get Breast Cancer Too

It is rare, but men have breast tissue and can develop breast cancer. WHO estimates that around 0.5 to 1% of breast cancers occur in men. Breast Cancer Now notes that the most common symptom in men is a lump in the chest area. Men should also see a doctor about nipple changes, discharge or swelling. It is a useful point to share with fathers, brothers and husbands as part of wider men's health awareness.

When to See a Doctor

Book an appointment with your doctor or health centre if you notice:

• any new lump or swelling in the breast, chest or armpit
• skin dimpling, puckering, redness or a change in skin colour
• a change in breast size or shape that is new for you
• nipple discharge (especially if bloody) when you are not pregnant or breastfeeding
• a nipple that has turned inwards or changed shape
• breast pain that does not improve, or pain with fever, warmth or a hard lump

Do not wait for your next screening appointment and do not feel embarrassed. Doctors deal with breast concerns regularly, and most breast changes turn out not to be cancer. You can ask whether a female doctor is available if that makes you more comfortable.

Frequently Asked Questions

At what age should I start checking my breasts?
Breast awareness is useful for all adult women. The earlier you get to know what is normal for you, the easier it is to notice something new.

Is every breast lump cancer?
No. Most breast lumps are not cancer and may be cysts or other harmless changes. However, any new lump should be checked by a doctor so the cause can be confirmed.

Where can I get a mammogram in Oman?
Ask at your local health centre or your doctor, who can advise you based on your age and risk. The Oman Cancer Association's Mobile Mammography Unit also offers free screening for women over 40.

Should I still check my breasts if my last mammogram was normal?
Yes. Screening and breast awareness work together. If you notice a new change between screening appointments, see your doctor rather than waiting for your next mammogram.

I have a family history of breast cancer. What should I do?
Tell your doctor which relatives were affected and at what age. They can advise whether you need earlier or more frequent screening, or a referral for further assessment.

The Takeaway

Breast awareness takes only a few minutes: touch, look and check any change with a doctor. Combine it with screening when you are eligible, a healthy weight, regular activity and breastfeeding where possible. This October, share the message with the women in your family and encourage each other to make breast checks a habit all year round.

Find everyday essentials for women's health in our women care collection at Avicen Online, with free delivery across Oman on orders above OMR 10. Our pharmacists are happy to help you choose.

This article is for general information and does not replace advice from your doctor or pharmacist.