A woman from Greater Manchester who is receiving treatment for breast cancer is urging people to check their armpits after she discovered a lump there.
Jackie Nixon began chemotherapy in January this year and will undergo immunotherapy treatment until April 2025.
She is now urging women to check other areas of their breasts.
Jackie expressed: “They keep going on about checking your breasts, but they don’t make a big thing about checking your armpits.”
“I mean maybe if I had found it earlier on it would have saved me from going through chemo.”
“All you wanna do is just to be able to get your life back, not having to worry about going out and catching something,” she added.
Breast cancer is one of the most common cancer types found in women. A recent study shows that only 69% of Salford residents accept invitations to attend breast screenings.
Breast screening nurse Geri Murphy, who conducts over 50 mammograms daily, explains that some women are scared of attending screenings due to the perception that the procedure can be painful.
Nurse Murphy explained: “To some ladies it can feel a bit uncomfortable, but because they say that to other ladies it can put them off from coming,” she explained.
“Really, it’s probably better to say, just try it yourself,” she urges.
Carolyn Durkin, who is a breast cancer survivor, spotted her illness between NHS screenings.
Carolyn said: “One of the things that made me think about self-examination was the posters that go up on the back of changing room doors and shops.
“And I know that one of the symptoms that I had, was on that poster and without seeing that I wouldnt really have known,” she added.
Early diagnosis can help detect symptoms earlier, making the treatment process faster and more effective.
There has also been an increase in breast cancer in younger women.
The NHS says that women of all age ranges need to attend screenings and regularly check their breasts.