Being unhappy about your breasts increases your chances of dying from cancer – because you’re less likely to check them regularly
Those with confidence issues are also less confident about having spotted changes when they happen - putting themselves at greater risk of death
WOMEN who are unhappy with the size of their breasts are less likely to check them for signs of cancer, a study reveals.
They are also not as confident about detecting tell-tale changes and more likely to delay seeing a GP.
Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University quizzed 384 British women on their breasts and attitude to cancer.
They found 31 per cent want smaller breasts and 44 per cent want larger. Some 33 per cent rarely or never examine themselves.
Just over half of women (55 per cent) said they would see a doctor immediately or as soon as possible if they noticed a worrying change.
But 8 per cent said they would delay for as long as possible and 2 per cent would not discuss the matter with their doctor at all.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in Britain, with 55,000 new cases and 11,400 deaths a year.
The NHS says women are better able to detect changes to their breasts, which may indicate cancer, if they know how they look and feel normally.
Symptoms include a change in the size or shape of one or both breasts, discharge from either of the nipples and dimpling of the skin.
The earlier cancer is detected the greater the chances of survival.
Study leader Professor Viren Swami said: “For women who are dissatisfied with their breast size, having to inspect their breasts may be experienced as a threat to their body image and so they may engage in avoidance behaviours.
“Breast size dissatisfaction may also activate negative self-conscious emotions, such as shame and embarrassment, which result in avoiding breast self-examination.”
He added: “Promoting greater breast size satisfaction may be a means of empowering women to incorporate breast self-examinations and breast awareness into their health practice.
“And promoting greater breast awareness may be a useful means of helping women view their breasts in more functional terms, rather than purely aesthetic terms.
“It is also important for healthcare practitioners to be mindful of the impact that dissatisfaction with one’s breasts may have on self-examination behaviours and outcomes.”