During recent times, when my life was really full of stress, I had a routine breast scan which showed an abnormality.

I was actually lucky - but that comes later.

At the time, as I've described to you on my website,I was dealing with terminal illness in my Dad, unemployment in my husband, a house move and a rebellious, debt ridden child.

Just the time for a breast cancer scare then!

As I went off for the follow up scan I was quite surprisingly angry. I begrudged the time spent on checking up on my breast, I thought it was a really inappropriate time for this to happen ( like when is there ever an appropriate time!) and I just wanted to get on with sorting out the chaos which was my life at that time.

This strange reaction actually helped me. I wasn't particularly nervous about the scan and when I met the staff they were helpful, kind and supportive.

Instead of this scare being top of my stress list it was actually quite a way down it - and that really helped.

Luckily for me the results came through as negative and all was OK. But it did make me focus on just how important it is to show our breasts some TLC. I've put together some helpful tips which can easily be followed.

• Touch your breasts - do you feel anything even slightly unusual?

• Look for changes - be especially aware of shape and texture

• Check with your doctor if you find anything you are worried about

• Ask your friends if you are worried

Here are some more detailed changes you need to look out for.

• Size or shape - one breast may become larger or lower than the other

• Skin texture - is there any dimpling or puckering?

• Nipples - have they changed - does one turn in now? does one look different?

• Discharge - is there a blood stained discharge to one or both nipple? - Go to your doctor immediately

• Rash - is there a rash or crusting around the nipple?

• Lumps - is there a lump in the breast or armpit area? Whatever the size, even tiny, get it checked

• After a period - is there still a thickening or lumpy area of the breast tissue?

• Pain - is there pain in part of the breast or armpit that is unrelated to periods?

Being breast aware is vital to your future health.

Nearly 80% of all breast cancers are detected by women who report changes to their doctor.

Being breast aware is crucial for early diagnosis and treatment.

GET TO KNOW YOUR BREASTS TODAY

There is lots of helpful information for you to follow up on breast cancer, its causes, treatments etc on my website and there are lots of networks out there to give you loving and kind support.

I've listed a few sites for you to look at and learn more from. I hope they are helpful to you and can really help you to ensure that breast cancer facts and care is always available to you.

Christina Vickery

Hi I used to run Stress Awareness presentations within companies throughout the south of England. Then I moved to the New Forest and decided to set up my website on stress, based on my own experiences over the last few traumatic years. The website has proved to be cathartic and I am now adding to it, to include a much wider overview of stress and the anxieties which come with it. Life is a huge rollercoaster and as long as we can keep learning from our experiences then we will always be able to handle stress and its affects on our lives - I must say I have sometimes questioned just how much I have needed to experience some of the learning curves that have been thrown at us! I am passionate in my belief that the world is full of kind and helpful people, and that together we can share our experiences and knowledge to become much happier and evolved souls - sounds a bit "New Age" I know but what is the alternative - shut your door and not share with others - that's never going to help anyone. If we learn to trust and share with others then most of us will be amazed the level of love and support which we can not only give but also receive. There ends the sermon! Seriously though friends and loved ones can help us through the darkest times of our lives and so we must trust more and express ourselves more without feeling ashamed or embarrassed - a bit difficult for us Brits at times. My future plans are to build my website and make a warm and welcoming place for people to visit to get support, advice and information.