Chest Check 101
Chest Check 101
Learn about how people of all genders can get breast cancer
Everyone has breast tissue and people of all genders can get breast cancer. This page is for people who are trans or non-binary, and anyone else who wants to know about checking and changes during transition. OUTpatients and CoppaFeel! have produced these resources to ensure all people are empowered with the information they need to get to know their bodies.
This information was co-created with a trans focus group. We chose to use the terms ‘chest’ and ‘breast’ on this page. We use the term ‘chest’ to be inclusive of all bodies and genders, and ‘breast’ when we need to be clinically accurate, for example when we talk about breast cancer. You might prefer to call your chest something else, and that’s ok!
Knowing your normal
Everyone is different and knowing your normal is a process, but you can start here for the need-to-know on all the bits you need-to-know.
1.
Check regularly:
If dysphoria is making this difficult, you could try different methods, positions or settings, like checking without a mirror, beneath loose clothing or on days when you feel less dysphoric.
2.
Look and Feel:
Check all parts of your chest, including your armpits, up to your collarbones and your nipples. If you have developed breasts as part of your transition, have implants (or are planning to get them) this will not affect how you need to check yourself. However, it’s still really important to get to know your new normal.
3.
If in doubt, get checked out:
Even if you have had top surgery, some tissue usually remains around the nipple. under the collarbone and in the armpit that needs to be checked – this may be referred to as ‘breast tissue’ by healthcare professionals. When breast cancer is detected early it is more easily treated and the survival rate is higher.
The signs and symptoms of breast cancer
Breast cancer can affect people of any age or gender, so it’s really important to get to know what’s normal for your body and understand how it could change if you are transitioning. Click the button for more information.
Download our posters
We worked in collaboration with our focus group to design a series of posters for trans and non-binary people. Our posters give information on the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and guidance on how to check, with tips on how to get started, how to deal with dysphoria when checking, and information on how having implants or getting top-surgery might affect how you check. We encourage you to display them in clinics, social spaces or anywhere you can spread the positive message of chest checking!
FAQ's
We want to show the signs of breast cancer in a way that everybody can understand, whatever their body type. Some breast cancer imagery can cause dysphoria in some people, so we wanted to show something different to these typically masculine or feminine images. Signs and symptoms of breast cancer do not change, but they might vary in how they look on different bodies or skin types and colours. It is important for you to get to know what is normal for you, so that you can recognise any changes. We used fruit to show these signs and symptoms of breast cancer to avoid a ‘one size fits all’ depiction.
It’s very common to experience changes during transition. These changes could be due to hormone treatment or surgery. Whatever the reason for the change, you will need to get to know your new normal. This can be strange at first, while you get used to the difference. Perhaps you have scar tissue or more breast tissue than before, just get to know your changes and contact your doctor if you have concerns. It is natural to feel some pain in your chest during transition, but contact your doctor if you have bad pain or unexplained changes.
You have the right to describe your body in the way you choose and your doctor should respect that. You might use the term chest, pecs, breasts, boobs, or something else, and that is fine. The doctor may at times refer to ‘breast tissue’ as this is the clinical name for the tissue that is at risk of breast cancer.
Transition is a process that can happen at any age. We created this information with CoppaFeel! who are a charity aimed at younger people, but this information is important and intended for every person, of any age.
It’s very common to experience changes during transition. These changes could be due to hormone treatment or surgery. Whatever the reason for the change, you will need to get to know your new normal. This can be strange at first, while you get used to the difference. Perhaps you have scar tissue or more breast tissue than before, just get to know your changes and contact your doctor if you have concerns. It is natural to feel some pain in your chest during transition, but contact your doctor if you have bad pain or unexplained changes.
Yes! Everyone needs to check. If you have had top surgery, once everything has healed, you will need to get to know your new normal by checking your chest regularly. Make sure you check areas that might still contain breast tissue. This may include tissue under your armpits and up to your collarbone, and your nipples.
We appreciate that dysphoria can be a barrier to touching and looking at your chest. However, regular checking is important for everyone. If you’re experiencing dysphoria, try looking at your chest without using a mirror. You could also try touching your chest beneath loose clothing, or checking your chest on days when you are feeling less dysphoric. Checking might feel easier on some days than others, but getting to know what’s normal for you is a process and a practice. Keep going!
You cannot have mammograms after top surgery because most of your breast tissue is removed. However, it is important that you continue to check your chest regularly. Make sure you check areas that still contain breast tissue. This might include tissue under your armpits and up to your collarbone, and your nipples. If you do need to be sent for a scan, your doctor will arrange for the right test based on your body and circumstances.