Itty Titty Stickies Campaign: How to Examine Your Breasts

How well do you know your body? You may know the back of your hand, like well, the back of your hand. And maybe you’ve inspected your pores under a 10x magnifying mirror more times than you’d like to admit out loud. But could you say the same for your breasts? With recent reports showing that nearly 64% of women aged 18-35 are not checking their breasts regularly, we wanted to do something to get everyone talking and checking their chest as part of the daily routine. Cue our Itty Titty Stickies campaign… 

What’s the Itty Titty Stickies campaign?

Empowering people to take control of their health, we’ve launched the Itty Titty Stickies campaign to get us talking openly about breast checking and the importance of regular at-home examinations. 

For a limited time only, you will receive a free Itty Titty Stickie leaflet when you order contraceptive pills through our Online Doctor contraception service or collect your pill from selected pharmacy stores (London The Strand, Battersea, Islington and Manchester-Piccadilly).

This leaflet includes 12 sets of Itty Titty Stickers – enough to last you a full year – that will help act as a visual reminder to check your breasts for abnormalities. By placing them on your pill packs, we hope it will be the nudge you need to do a quick check as part of your day-to-day routine. 

Caris Newson, our Head of Healthcare Services, says: “This campaign is a brilliant and simple way of integrating a reminder to check your chest into people’s everyday lives using habits they already have.”

Why we should all be checking our breasts regularly

Did you know that 1 in 7 women are affected by breast cancer in their lifetime? Checking your breasts regularly not only helps spot abnormalities but can also give you peace of mind. 

Our medical ambassador, Dr Sara Kayat, says: “Self-examination of your breasts can be an important way of diagnosing breast cancer early. Breast awareness means knowing what your “normal” looks and feels like, and by regularly examining your breasts, you will be able to notice any changes to your breasts quickly. Early detection of breast cancer improves your chance of a full recovery.” 

The more we check and understand our bodies, the more likely we are to notice abnormalities and ultimately save lives – nearly 80% of young women diagnosed with breast cancer find the abnormality themselves. And that all starts with getting better acquainted with our bodies and performing quick checks regularly. 

4 tips for checking your breasts or pecs

There’s no wrong way to check yourself out. Whether that’s in the shower, in front of your mirror or even when you’re lying in bed. It’s all good, as long as you know what to feel for and do so regularly

1. Know what feels ‘normal’ for you

 Everyone’s breasts are different so try not to compare yours to how they ‘should’ look and feel. Instead, take time to feel your chest and learn what’s normal for you. The better you know your breasts, the easier it will be to feel if anything changes. 

2. Keep it consistent

You should check in on your chest at least once a month, so you’ll notice any changes quickly. And by examining more regularly, you’ll also get used to how your breasts change throughout your cycle, and if something isn’t typical for you, you’ll spot the change right away. 

3. When in doubt, get it checked out

If you notice a change or you’re not quite sure, you should speak to your doctor. Getting a check-up is quick and easy, and they’ll be able to give you a full examination and advice if needed. 

4. Learn what to look out for

Breast cancer isn’t always just a lump, so learning the different symptoms puts you in a better position to spot an issue. It can cause changes to the shape and texture of your breasts and can even cause changes to your nipples.

If you experience any of the following, you should see your GP:

· a new lump or new area of thickened tissue in either breast

· a swelling or lump in either of your armpits

· changes to the shape or size of one or both breasts

· change to the skin on your breasts, such as puckering, redness or a rash

· discharge from either of your nipples

· changes in the appearance of either nipple like becoming inverted or your skin developing a rash, crust or scale-like texture.