Often there are no outward signs of breast cancer that you can see or feel. If there are outward signs, the more common ones include a lump, an area of thickening, or a dimple in the breast. Less common signs include breast swelling and redness or an enlarged underarm lymph node.

But even if you have one or more of these signs, it still doesn't mean you have breast cancer. Remember that most breast lumps turn out to be benign (not cancerous) but they should be checked.

Being breast aware, reporting any changes and, for women aged between 50 and 70, attending NHS mammogram screenings help to identify breast cancer early. Women with a strong family history may be offered screening before 50.

The incidence of breast cancer appears to be rising, probably due to better screening. Fortunately, cure rates are also rising. During the past decade, deaths from breast cancer have fallen by 20 per cent