HEALTH workers are making people aware of the common signs and symptoms of breast cancer in a bid to increase the chances of early diagnosis.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK with around 41,300 women and 400 men being diagnosed each year.

Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust’s health improvement service wants to highlight the fact that the earlier breast cancer is found, the better the chance of beating it.

Kim Wood, a health improvement practitioner, said: “It’s so important that regular monthly checks are performed as in many cases breast cancer is found by noticing changes in the breasts, nipple or armpit area. “Breast cancer can have a number of symptoms but the most common is usually a lump or thickening in the breast tissue.

“Anything that feels or looks unusual including changes in the shape or texture should be checked out by your doctor.”