Woman's 'My Left Boob' Twitter account is sharing breast cancer warning sign that few know

A young British woman has taken to twitter to share her breast cancer journey via a specially created account: "My Left Boob".

In an "unedited brain dump" of "rational and not-so-rational" thoughts, Claire Warner, 41, is raising awareness of a little-known warning sign of breast cancer: a barely noticeable dimple.

Warner also posted a picture of her breast to Facebook on 5 July to highlight the cancer red flag among her circle of family and friends. The photo quickly went viral and has since been shared over 16,000 times before being removed by Facebook.

Along with the picture, Warner wrote of the dimple: "Blink and you'd miss it. I only spotted it thanks to a post shared by an amazing friend." Warner noted that she can't feel the lump and doesn't have any other symptoms.

The mum has been documenting her journey since June 20 when she first tweeted about finding the dimple and making an appointment to see her doctor.

In an update the same day she wrote:

In a series of raw tweets, Warner spoke of her tearfulness, panic and denial while she waited for results.

"I already know I'm married to someone to someone amazing," she tweeted "but my body's insistence on testing the 'in sickness and health clause has proved it."

On July 1 Warner's worst fears were confirmed. She wrote:

"I'm 41 years old, wife of one, mother of two and I have cancer," she added.

Writing that she's now dreaming "in cancer," the mum also shared with her followers that she's written a will. She is also preparing to undergo surgery, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Since receiving her diagnosis, Warner has been urging women, and men, to be vigilant and #CheckForTheDimple.

"If I can help one other person, the way I was helped, then it's been worth showing my soon-to-be-reduced left tit to the world," she wrote.

Her awareness campaign comes as 36-year-old Sydney publicist Roxy Jacenko revealed that she, too, has been diagnosed with breast cancer after finding a lump in the shower. 

A 28-year-old Sydney mother-of-two, Nayana Saad, knows all too well what Warren and Jacenko are going through. Saad has just completed her treatment for triple negative breast cancer, the young mum diagnosed when her youngest child was only six months old. 

"Cancer doesn't discriminate," she says, "and the idea that breast cancer is an older woman's disease is a scary assumption to make."

Noting that if she'd made the same assumption and not visited the doctor to get herself checked, "I might not be here today."

"Some women are confused about what to look for," Saad adds, "but the most important thing is to know what's normal for you and make sure there are no changes from what was normal the previous month.

"It takes five minutes," she says, "and it might just save your life."

So what do young women need to know about breast cancer?

A statement released on July 13 by government agency, Cancer Australia highlights that every day, 2 women under the age of 40 are diagnosed with breast cancer. Early detection, the agency notes, provides the best chance of surviving the disease.

And breast awareness is the most effective way to find cancer early.

Cancer Australia notes that some of the breast changes to be aware of include:

• A new lump, or lumpiness, especially if it's only in one breast
• a change in the shape or size of your breast
• a change to the nipple, such as crusting, ulcer, redness or inversion a nipple discharge that occurs without squeezing
• a change in the skin over your breast such as redness or dimpling
• or an unusual pain that doesn't go away.

Cancer Australia further recommends: "For women of all ages who are at increased risk of developing breast cancer it is recommended that an individualised surveillance program be developed in consultation with the woman's general practitioner and/or specialist."

The agency has an online, interactive calculator designed to help women understand their level of risk for breast cancer, compared to other women in their age group. Women are also advised however, to see their doctor about any changes regardless of their calculated level of risk.

What about mammograms? Cancer Australia further notes that, "While mammographic screening is effective in older women, there is no evidence to support the use of mammographic screening in women under 40. This is largely due to the dense nature of breast tissue in younger women.  "

The National Breast Cancer Foundation echoes the need for women to be breast aware. "If a woman does find a suspicious breast change, her GP will refer her to imaging tests to confirm the presence of the change. If the imaging results appear suspicious, she will be referred for a biopsy for confirmation and diagnosis."

You can watch a short Cancer Australia video about breast changes here:

Follow Warner and her journey on Twitter here.

Other useful links:

Cancer Australia: https://canceraustralia.gov.au

National Breast Cancer Foundation: http://nbcf.org.au

Cancer Council Australia: http://www.cancer.org.au