Resources and Education

The Sydney Breast Cancer Foundation is dedicated to increasing awareness and supporting women and men with breast cancer. Find out more below about breast cancer support, education, research and advocacy.

The 3 Step Breast Check

Are you Breast Aware? Do you have a detailed look and feel once a month for any signs of change?

Self-breast examinations could increase the chances of early detection and diagnosis, and results have shown that such early detection leads to an increase in survival rates. You know your breasts better than anyone else so if you don't already check - now is the time to start. Early detection is the best prevention. Don't leave it until it's too late.

“Forty percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump, so establishing a regular self breast examination is very important.” says Dr Cindy Mak, Director of Breast Services at Chris O'Brien Lifehouse

While mammograms can help you to detect cancer before you can feel a lump, self breast examinations help you to be familiar with how your breasts look and feel so you can alert your healthcare professional if there are any changes.

1 LOOK

Step 1 - Look

Place your hands at your sides and visually examine your breasts in the mirror, checking for anything which is not normal for your breasts – LOOK for changes in colour, size or shape, any dimpling of the skin or “pulling-in” of the nipple.

2 LIFT

Step 2 - Lift

Put your hands on your hips, push your shoulders forward to flex your chest muscles and finally, raise your hands over your head, looking again for any changes with each movement. LIFT one hand up and place it behind your head.  

3 FEEL

Step 3 - Feel

Using the pads on your fingers of your opposite hand, FEEL in small circular movements and examine all areas of your breast for anything unusual. At first, feel lightly, checking for anything near the surface. Repeat, this time press firmly, feeling for anything deeper. Be consistent and ordered in the direction you check, making sure to check the entire breast, continuing up to your collarbone and out to the armpit.

The 3 Step Breast Check Shower Card explains how to check your breasts in 3 easy steps.
It is designed to hang in your shower as a reminder to be BREAST AWARE.
The 3 Step Breast Check Shower Card is available free of charge from SBCF.

Your risk and breast cancer

Today women read and hear a lot of information about risk of breast cancer. Get the facts on the risk factors of breast cancer..

Australian Government Cancer Australia Logo

Useful sites for Breast Cancer information

There is a great deal of information on the internet about breast cancer. Whilst we suggest the following reputable sites as a good place to start sourcing information, we strongly recommend your speak with your breast cancer doctor or nurse about the relevance of any information you find, to your own particular situation.

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“I can’t know the future..., but I’m here right now”

Tania Lambert
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