Here's how to check your breasts properly for any signs of cancer

Knowing your boobs could save your life.

By Harriet Keane, Glamour

I’m lucky enough to find myself surrounded by eight or more (inspirational) women on a regular basis. From the strong women who dominate my family, the incredible group of girlfriends who inspire me every day, to the array of hard-working women I work alongside in the workplace, I don’t have to look far.
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That is why, when faced with the stark and frankly, terrifying statistic that 1 in 8 women will experience breast cancer in their lifetime, you realise how important spreading breast cancer charity, CoppaFeel’s, message to ‘Cop a Feel’ of your boobs is.

Supporting the promotion of this message, beauty giant AVON has teamed up with CoppaFeel to create ‘CoppaCollage’ as part of AVON's 25 year Breast Cancer Promise, which sets out to ensure that women are breast health aware.

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CoppaCollege is a free digital learning tool, available to download via an app to your phone, iPad and other devices, set out to educate thousands of women on HOW to check their boobs and what symptoms to look out for – all in their own privacy.

[post_ads]If, like me, you had never checked your boobs and wouldn’t even know where to start, this fool-proof app can guide you along the way. Discover risks, signs, symptoms and where to get help if need be. With a quarter of women still unsure how to check their breasts, CoppaCollege is making the revolutionary step as the first e-learning tool for a UK breast cancer charity, fully equipped with a ‘boobipedia’ of information.

When talking to GLAMOUR, AVON’s Representative Ambassador and patron of CoppaFeel, Giovanna Fletcher said: ‘CoppaCollege encourages the message that knowing your boobs can save your life!’

She revealed: ‘I check my boobs every time I have a shower – it's part of my beauty regime. It's as simple and effective as pampering with a face mask.’

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We prioritise brushing our teeth, we prioritise having a shower, yet checking our boobs takes less time and even less faff - so why does the average woman not do this nearly as regularly?
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Coppa Feel and Avon believe that the answer is simple - women need to be educated on just how easy it is to check their boobs. Through CoppaCollege, the brands promote that ‘being breast aware simply means knowing what is normal for YOUR boobs.’ That this is not only a preventative measure but also enables you to become familiar with your boobs, allowing you to recognise change as ‘they will naturally change as part of your cycle in month.’

With both powerhouses coming together, AVON and Coppafeel have created an innovative app which is not only empowering for women worldwide but has the protentional to save thousands of lives – just at the touch of a boob.

What to LOOK for when checking your boobs:

- Changes in skin texture
- Nipple discharge
- Swelling in your armpit or around collarbone
- A sudden change in size or shape
- A rash or crusting of the nipple or surrounding area
- Nipple inversion

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What to FEEL for when checking your boobs:

- It is important to get to now the normal rhythm of your boobs so you will detect anything abnormal quickly.

- Feel for irregular lumps (which can be relatively small) that are firm and solid.

To discover CoppaCollege for yourself and find our more about AVON Breast Cancer Promise Visit: www.avon.uk.com/causes

See more at: Glamour