Myleene Klass has urged women to check their breasts after she discovered two lumps while watching Wimbledon.
In an Instagram post, the presenter said subsequent tests found three cysts, and she has since been given the all-clear. But, as anyone who has ever waited for a health result to come back will know, receiving the all-clear doesn't cancel out the frightening uncertainty that comes first.
‘Girls. A massive reminder to check yourselves,’ she wrote. ‘I accidentally felt a lump when I was at Wimbledon watching the tennis. I casually folded my arms and there it was. Then a second one. The subsequent days went both quickly and agonisingly slowly.’
What Myleene Klass has said about finding breast lumps
Klass said the period between noticing something new and knowing what it means had reordered her life around a fresh set of ‘what ifs’.
‘3 cysts and 3 lymph nodes later, I’m ok BUT the days of waiting meant I reorganised my life into a new set of priorities and “what ifs” only to thankfully get the all clear and then experience the weird “reordering” of going back to “normal”,' she said.
‘I have close friends going through similar experiences atm and it’s sobering, humbling and terrifying,’ she continued. ‘It’s the having kids that anyone who experiences anything near this will know to be the first and final concern.’
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She also described having an ultrasound for the first time since experiencing multiple miscarriages – saying ‘that too was pretty sobering’.
She wants women to feel able to speak out about health worries that scare them, adding: ‘All this to say, as a fierce advocate for women’s health and not hiding what’s uncomfortable, right now, check yourself and go get a second opinion’.
Breast lumps are common – but should always be checked
Finding a lump can be alarming, but most breast lumps are harmless.
That said, the NHS' advice is pretty clear: it recommends seeing a GP if you notice a lump in your breast or armpit or any other unusual changes in your breasts – such as the nipple turning inwards, dimpled skin or bloodstained nipple discharge.
Your GP may examine you and, if needed, refer you to a breast clinic for further tests such as an ultrasound, mammogram or biopsy.
Signs to look for when checking your breasts
The NHS recommends checking your breasts or chest regularly (around once a month) – mainly so you learn what looks and feels normal for you. This makes it easier to notice any changes that could be a sign of a condition such as breast cancer.
Symptoms to look and feel for include:
- A lump or swelling in your breast, chest or armpit
- A change in the skin of your breast, such as dimpling (it may look like orange peel) or redness, which may be harder to see on black or brown skin
- A change in size or shape of one or both breasts, or either side of your chest – it’s common for breasts to be different sizes, but check for any changes that are not normal for you
- Nipple discharge (if you're not pregnant or breastfeeding), which may have blood in it
- A change in the shape or look of your nipple, such as it turning inwards (inverted nipple) or a rash on it (it may look like eczema)
- Sores or ulcers on your chest
What to do if you notice a change
Book an appointment with your GP. You do not need to wait for your next breast-screening invitation, nor should you feel embarrassed about getting a symptom checked.
Most changes will not be cancer, but getting assessed will give you answers and, if treatment is needed, means you can get help as early as possible.
For more information on how to check your breasts and the changes to look out for, visit the NHS breast-awareness guide or Breast Cancer Now’s Touch Look Check
With a decade in journalism – in print, online and social – at national newspapers and lifestyle magazines, Alice has tackled just about everything when it comes to health and fitness. A former competitive swimmer, sport has shaped her life from a young age, leading her to take on marathons, an Ironman 70.3, and even cycle up Alpe d’Huez. From sweat-testing the latest (and weirdest) fitness fads to living off a diary-free, meat-free, caffeine-free, fun-free diet at an extreme Ayurvedic retreat in Sri Lanka, she’s tried it all – always in pursuit of peak performance and, of course, a great story.
Alice began her career with a five-year stint at The Telegraph, where she wrote for the Telegraph Magazine's ‘Worth leaving the sofa for?’ fitness column and was the face of the Telegraph running newsletter, documenting her journey over 16 weeks training for the London Marathon. She worked as the Special Reports Commissioning Editor and as a Lifestyle Commissioning Editor before stepping into the world of freelance journalism.
As a freelance lifestyle writer, her work appeared in Women’s Health, Elle, Stylist, Grazia, The Independent, Glamour, Marie Claire, Glorious Sport, The Metro, Conde Nast Traveller, Country and Town House, Queen of Retreats and The Wedding Edition.
In 2022, Alice joined Hearst Magazines as Runner’s World’s Commissioning Editor and now oversees food content as Women’s Health’s Nutrition Editor. With a ‘food first’ ethos, she is here to help you decipher exactly which foods will support your health, and which macro-counting, pasta-replacing, intermittent-fasting, 13-day cleanse is just, well, a scam. A keen baker and host, she firmly believes that no dessert beats a pavlova – especially when topped with summer berries and a generous helping of whipped cream. Delish.
You can keep up with her latest adventures on Instagram at @al_barraclough.
