Grab life by the boobs: Meet Southampton’s Uni Boob Team

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month


Did you know that 23 per cent of breast cancer cases in the UK are preventable? Or that 400 men are diagnosed with breast cancer every year? Or that one in seven women will be affected by breast cancer at some point in their life?

Being breast aware is the most beneficial thing all individuals can do to avoid late detection and to get to know their body and their normal. It is important for everyone to check themselves regularly and be aware of what to do if something doesn’t feel right.

Signs and symptoms

The signs and symptoms of breast cancer vary depending on your boobs and individual cases. Ultimately it is important to get to know yourself, and what is normal for you, and that way you can note changes in your body more easily.

Despite this, it is important to look for changes, whether you are a guy, gal or non-binary pal, in the look or feel of your skin, a new lump, thickening or bumpy area in one breast or armpit, nipple discharge that’s not milky, sudden changes in shape and size, changes in the appearance of the nipples and rashes or crusting. It is also suggested you feel for lumps and thickening and note constant or unusual pain in the breast and surrounding areas.

Next steps

If you think you’ve found something abnormal, or something that doesn’t feel right, it is important you seek help from your doctor. They will be able to offer advice on your next steps and support you all the way. It is important you feel able to fight for yourself and your body, because you know you the best.

Sometimes it can be easy to forget to check, especially during these weird and unknown times. There is a free text service which you can sign up for to get monthly reminders to check yourself: simply text UBT SOTON to 70500.

UBT

The Uni Boob Team is a group of individuals at the university who work together to put on fun and exciting fundraising events and raise awareness of breast cancer in young people. From hijacking your showers with our waterproof tool to social media takeovers, you will always find us encouraging people to check themselves and educating you how to go about this.

We hold regular events including clothes sales, raffles and bake off’s to help fundraise and reach our annual target of £1,000. We have already raised £341 this year, and we can’t wait to see how high we can get that total… with your help, of course!

If you love all things boob, come and get involved with our Uni Boob Team. Find us on Facebook or Instagram to get involved with our fundraising events and keep up to date with what we are up to!

Check out our fundraising page too and read our story!

Find out more

For more information about CoppaFeel! head to their website, – you can also find helpful resources and videos here!

If you think you have found something that doesn’t feel right, call your GP or the NHS 111 Helpline and they can help direct and support you!

One final thing…

I just want to leave you with one final message. We aren’t here to exaggerate the risks or to be scaremongers, we just think it’s important for everyone to get to know their body and grab life by the boobs (or pecs)! Most importantly, have fun and squeeze the day!

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