A brave mum who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer has shared a photo on Facebook in a bid to raise awareness of some of the lesser known symptoms of the disease. While a lump or swelling are most commonly associated with breast cancer, other changes such as dimpling can also be indicative – as was the case for Sherrie Rhodes.
Having seen a Facebook post about dimples being a sign of the disease, she went to her GP to check two dimples at the right side of her breast. She was referred to a breast clinic for further checks and was delivered the news that she had breast cancer on Monday. Sherrie wasted no time in spreading the word on social media, posting a photo of the dimples on her breast along with a message encouraging women to check for all abnormalities on their breasts.
Sherrie Rhodes shared this photo to raise awareness of breast cancer symptoms
"Yesterday I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It came as a total shock as this dimpling (in the pic) is the only symptom I had. I noticed it end of June, two days later I went to my GP who referred me to the breast clinic," she wrote. "I went there just over a week ago and had a scan which revealed a mass, I then had a mammogram which confirmed it so had some biopsies done the same day. I wasn't too worried as there was no lump or anything. Unfortunately it came back as breast cancer."
Sherrie added: "Please check your breast regularly and don't ignore anything that is different. If I hadn't seen a post like this previously I wouldn't have known that dimpling was a sign of cancer. Please share and raise awareness."
Breast cancer can have a number of symptoms, with a lump or area of thickened breast tissue the first things that people typically notice. The NHS says that you should also see your GP if you notice any of the following symptoms…
- A change in the size or shape of one or both breasts
- Discharge from either of your nipples, which may be streaked with blood
- A lump or swelling in either of your armpits
- Dimpling on the skin of your breasts
- A rash on or around your nipple
- A change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast
Seek professional advice from a GP if you think you may have any of the symptoms above.