WITH around 55,000 people diagnosed with breast cancer each year in the UK, health chiefs are warning residents 'someone close to you may be at risk'.

NHS England in Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral is supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October and advising members of the public to be breast aware.

In the UK, breast cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer in women and around 12,000 people die from breast cancer each year.

Early detection is the best possible chance of survival and key to this is recognising the signs.

Dr Kieran Murphy, medical director for the Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral area team, in NHS England, said: “Each woman is an expert on their own body – the changes you go through or anything new and out of the ordinary.

"Therefore being ‘breast aware’ is about taking care of you and a part of that is self-examination.

“If you find a lump or notice anything different, make an appointment with your GP as soon as possible.”

Health chiefs have said a simple self-examination once a month can alert you to any abnormalities.

Dr Murphy added: "Use the pads of your fingers to examine your breast tissue, move around your entire breast in a circular motion and the tissue that extends towards your arm pit.

"Changes to look for when carrying out a breast exam include any change in the size, shape or feel of your breast, any new lumps or thickening in one breast or armpit, puckering, dimpling or redness of the skin and any changes in the position of the nipple."

NHS England in Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral commissions a breast screening programme for women aged 50 - 70.

As part the programme, women receive an invitation for a mammogram once every three years.