Our supportive community
Breastmates Central Facebook Group
Our private Facebook group is home to a wonderful community of over 1,000 women, all at different stages of their breast cancer journey, from newly diagnosed to in treatment or remission. Wherever you are on your path, you’re not alone. We’re here for you.
We can also offer one-to-one support sessions and help with referrals to trusted services such as Macmillan Cancer Care, specialist bra fittings, counselling, wig fittings, and medical tattooing.
Whether you’re seeking practical advice, emotional support, or simply someone to talk to, you’ll always find a friendly face and a listening ear in our community.
Join Breastmates Central
Black & Asian Breastmates Central
Every Woman, Every Story, One Community
Supporting Black and Asian women across the West Midlands affected by breast cancer, including their families, friends and supporters.
We provide a safe space to share cultural experiences in a warm and friendly environment.
Get in touch
Coffee Mornings
Alongside our supportive Facebook community, we host weekly coffee mornings, the perfect way to connect, chat, and share a smile. Everyone is welcome, and we promise you’ll leave feeling uplifted.
Our Coffee Mornings take place in and around Birmingham and Worcestershire. To see when and where the next one is happening, join our Breastmates Central Facebook group and check out the Events section. Alternatively get in touch and we can add you to our mailing list.
Craft Events
We also love getting creative together! Our regular craft sessions are a wonderful way for ladies to unwind, chat, and enjoy some “me time” in a friendly, relaxed space.
Activities vary from vase painting and tealight decorating to card making, duck painting, and seasonal wreaths. No experience needed, just bring your enthusiasm and we’ll provide the rest!
Join Breastmates CentralLFBC Choir
Our Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer wellbeing choir meets every week to practise and connect at the Midlands Arts Centre, Birmingham.
We also have two fun, joyful and supportive WhatsApp groups for our choir; one which contains lyrics and vocal arrangements and one that is purely for the social side!
The choir, which was set up in 2018, has performed at prestigious national venues including Birmingham Town Hall, Symphony Hall and the London Palladium. The choir has even performed an amazing flash mob, supported by the wonderful Got To Sing choir, at Birmingham’s New Street station.
The choir, which is led by a professional vocal coach, is open to singers of all abilities. Once a month we stay after choir for a social catch up together – any excuse to eat cake!
Whether you’re a fighter, survivor or supporter, come and sing your heart out!
Breast Cancer – What to look out for
Perform monthly self-exams. Look out for:
- Changes in size or shape of your breasts
- A lump or thickening that feels different from the rest of your breast tissue
- Redness or a rash on the skin or around the nipple
- Skin changes such as puckering or dimpling
- Discharge from the nipple without squeezing
- An inverted nipple or changes in nipple shape/position
- Swelling in the armpit or around the collarbone
- Constant pain in the breast or armpit
Your Guide to Breast Cancer Awareness
What are the survival rates for breast cancer?
Although the number of people being diagnosed with breast cancer is increasing, survival rates are improving.
How common is breast cancer in the UK?
Nearly 55,000 people are diagnosed every year — that’s about 150 people every day, or one person every 10 minutes.
How many people die from breast cancer in the UK each year?
Almost 11,500 people die from breast cancer annually.
Is breast cancer one of the leading causes of death in women?
Yes. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in women, after lung cancer.
What are the biggest risk factors for breast cancer?
The main risk factor, after being female, is age. Around 80% of breast cancers occur in women over 50.
How common is breast cancer in younger women?
Among women aged 25–49, breast cancer accounts for 45% of all female cancers.
Are there different types of breast cancer?
Yes. Breast cancer is not a single disease — there are several different types.
Does breast cancer always run in families?
No. Less than 10% of all breast cancers are hereditary. Having a family history does not always mean you are at higher risk.
Does breast cancer always show as a lump?
No. Not all breast cancers show as a lump, and not all breast lumps are cancer.
Breast Cancer in Men
Can men get breast cancer?
Yes, though it is rare. Around 400 men are diagnosed each year in the UK. It affects about 1 in every 100,000 men.
Where does breast cancer in men develop?
It usually develops in the small amount of breast tissue men have behind their nipples.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer in men?
The most common symptom is a hard, painless lump in one of the breasts. Other warning signs include nipple retraction, ulceration, or discharge.
Are all lumps in men’s breasts cancerous?
No. Most lumps are caused by gynaecomastia — a common, non-cancerous enlargement of male breast tissue.
When should men seek medical advice?
You should see your GP if you notice a lump, nipple changes, or discharge. These problems are often not cancer, but they should always be checked.
