Per the National Breast Cancer Foundation, 1-in-8 US women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime, making it the most common form of cancer among American women. In fact, this year alone, an estimated 41,760 women will die from breast cancer in the US. It's facts like these that make checking for breast cancer so important.

The earlier breast cancer is discovered, the higher the survival rate. In fact, 62% of breast cancer cases are diagnosed at a localized stage, for which the 5-year survival rate is 99% - which gives women a fighting chance.

Now, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, online clothing retailer BooHoo has teamed up with the cancer charity CoppaFeel! to release a new line of bras that actually help the wearer check themselves for breast cancer.

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The potentially lifesaving concept was thought up by creative agency AMV BBDO and Joyride, who teamed up to design and create the bras (and matching panties) with three different patterns, each subtly showing a way for the wearer to check their breasts, armpit, and collarbone.

So, how exactly do the three bras work? Well, the wearer must use their hands and fingers to follow the pattern over their entire chest, working up to the collarbone and then under your armpit. It is important to point out that it is better to check your breasts without wearing a bra, but the idea is that the underwear gives users a guide of where to check.

It is important to know how to check yourself so you can spot any abnormalities. Please see the video below for more guidance:

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There is currently a choice of three gorgeous patterns - and each one is no better or worse for guidance.

Currently available is a bandeau bralet with zig-zag pattern (with high waist knickers) and a black bralet with a star pattern (with Brazilian knickers)- a both £15. There's also a black and white zebra pattern for £14, which also comes with a thong.

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[[imagecaption|| Credit: BooHoo]]

[[imagecaption|| Credit: BooHoo]]

Each design provides a different way of checking and learning about what feels normal for the wearer. This is important, because once you've become fully acquainted and familiar with your body, then you can know when something doesn't feel right.

If you ever spot any changes in your breasts, chest, armpit or collarbone, it is important to visit your doctor to ensure any problems are picked up as quickly as possible.

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And guys, don't forget men can also get breast cancer, so it is important that everyone is familiar with their body, and seeks help when noticing any changes.

A breast cancer awareness video has gone viral on social media this week, after a woman with a hidden camera filmed men ogling her breasts.

In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, blogger Whitney Zelig (aided by her brother Chris) installed a tiny candid camera in one of the buttons of her low-cut top.

If you don't know how to perform a self-exam, please take a look at this instructive video:

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She then took to the streets of New York City to record how many people checked out her bust as she went for her stroll. The answer, it turned out, was ''quite a lot.''

However, what was surprising was that it wasn't just men who had a cheeky glance at Whitney's chest. Indeed, as can be seen in the clip, a few women, and even a dog seemed to be gazing at her.

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Chris later uploaded the footage to his official YouTube channel and captioned it: "Ladies, don’t forget to check out your own breasts too. Early detection saves lives. Forty per cent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump, so establishing a regular breast self-exam is very important. These exams are simple and only take seconds to do. Caught early, breast cancer has a 99 per cent survival rate."

Whitney also uploaded a link to the video to her Instagram account, and captioned the post: "Don't forget to check your boobies! Did you know 1 out 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime? Raise your hand if you've been examined this year!!! Early detection saves lives [sic]."

Watch Zelig's candid camera footage below:

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According to information from the National Breast Cancer Foundation, women of all ages should check their breasts for lumps once a month, by using the pads of their fingers to feel in a circular pattern, moving from the outside to the centre. They should check the entire breast and armpit area, raising their arms to spot any abnormalities.

If you find any kind of lump, thickening, hardened knot, or discharge from the nipple, then the best course of action is to consult a doctor immediately to determine whether you require a mammogram or ultrasound reading. Sometimes lumps can be the result of fibroadenoma, cysts, or infection; but it's best to be safe rather than sorry.

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If you'd like to make a donation towards finding a cure, please visit Breast Cancer Now and help make a difference.

As many of you may know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, in which many campaigns will take place around the world to help people become aware of the signs, causes, and dangers of breast cancer.

Per BreastCancer.org, about 1 in 8 women in the US (approximately 12%) will develop an invasive form of breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. In 2019 alone, it is estimated that 268,600 women and 2,670 men will be diagnosed with the disease. More than 40,000 people will die from breast cancer in the US alone this year.

Statistics like this highlight why it is crucial that women and men become aware of the signs of this deadly disease, and that people know where to go if they suspect anything wrong with their body. One woman who attempted to do her part in all of this is journalist Ali Meyer, who works as a reporter for news outlet KFOR.

For Breast Cancer Awareness month, the 41-year-old appeared relaxed an happy as she live-streamed her preparations for what she believed would be a routine screening at the Stephenson Cancer Center in Oklahoma City last October. However, after an abnormality was found in her breast, an emotion Meyer soon revealed to the viewers that she had breast cancer.

WATCH: "I have breast cancer and I don’t have a tonne of answers yet..."

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Ali, dressed in a hospital patient gown, told viewers: "Alright, so I was hoping for a routine little mammogram, and that's not how this went. I was just sure we'd have nothing today, but here we are. I have breast cancer and I don't have a tonne of answers yet."

After further tests, Meyer was diagnosed with non-invasive ductile breast cancer in her right breast, which is, fortunately, one of the most survivable forms of the disease. What was devastating for Ali was finding out that she would have to have her entire right breast removed. Opening up about her mastectomy, she said: "It felt like forced mutilation, like cancer was stealing away part of my body."

Conversations with doctors eventually led to Meyer becoming more comfortable with the procedure - even letting news cameras record plastic surgeon Dr Oscar Masters perform her reconstruction surgery.

The video below shows a detailed method on how to check your body for signs of breast cancer:

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Thankfully, Ali’s surgery was a success and she is now free of cancer. Doctors have also informed the reporter that she is "most likely to be completely cured" as a result of her decisions to get checked and undergo the mastectomy.

She explained: ‘My outcome was better because my mammogram found the cancer before I even knew it was there.’

You can see Ali full journey in the video below:

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We wish Meyer all the best for her future, and would like to remind all of you to regularly check your body for any abnormalities, and if you do find something, book an appointment with your doctor.

Undergoing a vasectomy can provoke a lot of complicated feelings in women who have survived cancer. Even if the procedure is successful and the disease goes into remission, the removal of one or both breasts can be traumatic and have a profound impact on a person's self-image and body confidence. One woman who was forced to contend with this is former lawyer Lisa Andrews.

Lisa was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2015 and went through a mastectomy to remove her left breast, being given the all-clear later that year. But while vacationing in the Maldives to celebrate her good health, she was dismayed by the fact that none of the lingerie and swimwear available accommodated women who had been through her kind of surgery.

To that end, she decided to take matters into her own hands. She's now launched About The Girl - a bikini and lingerie fashion line with the unique selling-point of catering entirely to women who have been through mastectomies. Lisa's venture has been a smash success, and she hopes that her bespoke clothes will help other cancer survivors regain their self-esteem.

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Commenting on her business venture in a recent interview, Lisa stated: "I’ve always liked nice underwear and a nice bikini so I started looking online for new swimwear. But all I could find for anyone who has had a mastectomy was bolster holders and granny pants.

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"I went into normal shops with my fake boob in my bag to see if I could find anything nice to wear on the beach, but there was nothing out there to suit my style and mimic what I’d have worn before. I thought, ‘I’ve got to do something about this,’ which eventually led me to launch my website, About The Girl."

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She added: "I eventually found some bikinis by the Australian brand Seafolly that worked. After I got back from the Maldives, having thought about it a lot while I was away, I found their agent in the UK and pitched my business idea to them.

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"Serendipity then stepped and put me and a lady in touch who’d previously had a shop called About The Girl and had begun to set up a website but was looking to sell it. A woman wants to feel empowered when she takes her clothes off for the beach or at home and the lingerie and swimwear we are selling really can make her feel that."

 

Thanks to the exclusive deal with Seafolly, Lisa can now adapt her beachwear to accommodate prosthetics; by sewing pockets into the bra tops for a prosthetic boob to slot into, she and other cancer survivors can still wear it. Customers can also order 'beanies' - lightweight inserts that can be worn in place of heavier silicone prosthetics, making them safe for swimming.

If you or anyone else you know has been affected by the issues raised in this article, then please don't hesitate to visit Breast Cancer Care for advice, support, and further information.

As men and women, we are constantly told to check our bodies for cancer. Whether it's checking your breasts or your testicles, it is encouraged that you monitor your body for any signs of cancer and if you do have any suspicions, you should seek medical help as quickly as possible. However, for one woman in Rockwall, Texas, her breast cancer didn't present itself as a tumour or a lump. For Jennifer Cordts, her cancer appeared as a tinge of red skin akin to sunburn on the side of her breast. "I really want this to educate. I really want someone to say 'Oh my gosh, I have redness in my breast. I better push past the mammogram and ask for some more tests'" said Cordts, 46, a mother of two daughters. Jennifer's journey initially began two years ago, when she noticed the slight discolouring on her body and alerted her primary care doctor who order that she do a test. "I went and got a mammogram and it came back normal. Everything looked fine," she explained. The mammogram showed no lump, no tumour and her blood pressure was normal. Her doctor dismissed the worry and naturally so did Jennifer, who was relieved to be told that it was nothing serious. "I was told crazy enough that my bra was too small," she recalled as a reason given by a doctor. However, despite buying a load of new bras and taking antibiotics prescribed by another doctor, the light spot on her breast refused to go away. Jennifer decided to Google her symptoms, and she was shocked by what she saw. "IBC came up. Inflammatory Breast Cancer," she said. "It was the first thing that popped up. And it was late at night. Everybody was asleep. And I was terrified. I just had a bad feeling." After 11 months of misdiagnosis, Jennifer had a biopsy which confirmed what a mammogram could not. "It took my breath away," she said. "I remember him saying inflammatory breast cancer. And all I could think about was what I Googled. Because what I Googled said everybody dies. That nobody survives. So, I knew my fate right then." Jennifer's cancer was stage four. Since the diagnosis, she has been treated by Dr. Joyce O'Shaughnessy in Texas Oncology, at Baylor Scott & White Hospital. Although the medicine being used cannot stop the IBC, it has begun to successfully slow it down. "The doctors gave us three to five years. That was a year and a half ago. We're hoping for five, right?" said Rob Cordts, Jennifer’s husband. Every three months Jennifer has to go for another scan to see if the cancer is spreading, meaning the anxiety sets in for the couple once more. "You're trying to stay positive for the kids and the wife but I cry every day," said Rob, 46. "Here's the thing. This is so rare that many gynaecologists and primary care providers – they don't see this stuff. They don't see it so they'll come up with every excuse that it's something else than what it is. This is how it goes undetected," said Dr. Shannon Poppito, a clinical psychologist at Baylor Scott and White. Dr. Poppito says that the treatment is as much about Jennifer's mental health as it is about her medical health. "The head and the heart is 90 percent of the battle because she's carrying around with her the awareness that she will die from this cancer," added Poppito. Jennifer says that she now plans on creating as many memories as she can before she dies, with her family set to go on an Alaskan cruise and she recently went to see Celine Dion in Las Vegas. "I wouldn't be truthful to you or anybody else if I didn't say I was sad. And maybe a little mad. But mostly sad," said the brave mother. Jennifer wants this story to serve as a warning other women to push for more tests if they’re concerned. "I'm not necessarily afraid to die but I'm very afraid to say goodbye," she said. It's a fear that she never expected to face, but her bravery and honesty must be applauded.

New York Fashion Week is commonly known for its glamorous catwalk shows featuring some of the most renowned models in the world, however, this week the catwalk featured some of the most inspiring and strong women in the world. On Sunday afternoon, a group of breast cancer survivors proudly took to the catwalk to strut their stuff in an empowering runway show. The Cancerland show saw dozens of women take to the runway in lingerie designed by Ana Ono. Many of the women chose to proudly show off their mastectomy scars as they walked down the catwalk. "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to show that these inspiring individuals walking our runway are no different than any other person walking New York Fashion Week, or sitting in the audience or even riding the subway or walking into your neighborhood coffee shop," said Donna Donofree, an Ana Ono designer and breast cancer survivor; "We want to show that whether you have been diagnosed with breast cancer or have a genetic marker, have breasts or have none, have visible scarring or even tattoos in place of nipples, it doesn’t matter. You are still empowered, strong and sexy." It's the second time the event has been held at fashion week, with it being founded by cancer sufferer and activist Champagne Joy, who sadly passed away in March 2017. Despite this, her legacy has carried on by others who work for the organization, with them being on a "mission to redefine the face of the illness". "Through discussions of topics such as intimacy during and after treatment or the harsh financial realities of cancer, #Cancerland provides a platform to address breast cancer’s often ignored realities," the group's website explains. "Cancerland advocates for research into therapies that will extend the lives of terminally ill cancer patients, and eventually turn Stage IV disease into a chronic condition, not a death sentence. It rejects the notion that this disease defines the people who battle it. We are not victims marching to our pink ribbon deaths. We choose to live our lives fully and completely, while accepting the highs and lows of a disease that afflicts 1-in-8 women every year and kills 108 Americans every day." The show was emceed by Oscar-winning actress Mira Sorvino and saw dozens of women take to the catwalk in order to raise thousands of dollars for breast cancer research and awareness. "It was a beautiful show featuring many beautiful faces,' the organizers wrote on the non-profit's official Facebook group. It was an incredible event to be a part of, meeting new people and hearing everyone's stories." Anna Crolland, 27, from North Carolina, was a participant at this year's show. Talking to New & Observer, she revealed that she decided to sign up for the event after watching the inaugural show on Facebook Live last year. "Last year I watched the Cancerland X AnaOno fashion show on Facebook Live and sobbed tears of joy." "The power and pride of seeing women who looked like me, and knew what I have been through, walk the runway greatly impacted me. The show was recognized worldwide and helped draw attention to the realities of metastatic breast cancer—the only kind of breast cancer that kills. Breast cancer is more than pink ribbons and 5ks – it is real women like me dying in their 20s, 30s and 40s." All of the women that took part in the show and deserve all the plaudits that they are receiving. What an amazing way of raising awareness for breast cancer and showing sufferers that they are not alone and that they are powerful.