October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month: an opportunity to learn what is normal for your breasts, recognise changes and seek medical advice when something does not feel right. Breast awareness matters throughout the year, because a new change can appear at any time, regardless of when your next screening appointment is due.
At Dottore London, we are supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2026 with 15% off breast ultrasound scans booked and carried out during October, subject to availability. A breast ultrasound can help a clinician investigate a particular area of concern. However, the right assessment depends on your symptoms, age, medical history and clinical examination.
If you have noticed a new lump or another unusual breast change, arrange a clinical assessment promptly. Do not wait for a promotional appointment or assume that an ultrasound alone will provide every answer. Most breast changes are not cancer, but they should still be checked.
Explore Our October Breast Ultrasound Offer
What breast changes should you look out for?
A lump is one possible sign of breast cancer, but it is not the only one. According to Breast Cancer Now’s guidance on signs and symptoms, changes worth discussing with a GP include:
- A lump or swelling in the breast, upper chest or armpit.
- Skin that looks dimpled or puckered.
- A change in breast colour, including an area that looks darker, red or inflamed.
- A nipple that has become pulled in.
- A rash or crusting around the nipple.
- Unusual discharge from either nipple.
- A change in the size or shape of a breast.
Breast pain on its own is not usually a sign of breast cancer. However, pain in the breast or armpit that is present all or almost all the time should also be discussed with a clinician. These changes can have many causes. The aim is to understand what is causing your symptom rather than trying to diagnose it yourself.
Breast cancer can also affect men, although this is rare. Anyone who notices a new or unusual change in their breast or chest area should seek medical advice.
How to check your breasts: Touch, Look, Check
There is no special technique you need to learn to become breast aware. Breast Cancer Now recommends the simple Touch, Look, Check approach:
- Touch: Feel your breasts and the surrounding area, including your upper chest up to the collarbone and your armpits. Notice any new lump, swelling or other unusual feeling.
- Look: Notice changes in the skin, nipples, colour, size or shape of your breasts. You can do this while getting dressed or after a shower.
- Check: Speak to a GP about any new or unusual change.
Getting familiar with how your breasts usually look and feel makes it easier to notice when something changes. Breasts can also change during your menstrual cycle, pregnancy, breastfeeding or menopause. What matters is recognising what is unusual for you.
Checking your breasts regularly does not replace NHS breast screening. Equally, a normal screening result does not mean you should ignore a change that appears later. Seek advice if you notice something new, even if you have recently had a mammogram.
What is a breast ultrasound scan?
A breast ultrasound scan uses sound waves to produce images of breast tissue. A clinician may use it to examine a particular lump or area of concern. Depending on your circumstances, it may be performed alongside a clinical examination, a mammogram or other tests.
Breast ultrasound does not use X-rays. During the examination, gel is placed on the skin and a handheld probe is moved over the area being assessed. The images help the clinical team investigate the area and decide whether any further assessment is needed. In some cases, further tests, including a biopsy, may be recommended.
If you are booking because of a particular symptom, explain it when you contact the clinic. This allows the team to advise you on the appropriate route of care rather than treating the scan as a stand-alone answer.
Is a breast ultrasound the same as a mammogram?
No. A mammogram is a specialised breast X-ray and is the test used in the NHS breast screening programme. A breast ultrasound uses sound waves and can provide additional information about a particular area being investigated.
Some people need one test, while others may need both or further investigations. Ultrasound is not a replacement for a mammogram or routine breast screening. The right test should be chosen with clinical guidance based on your individual circumstances.
If you have received an NHS breast screening invitation, Dottore London’s ultrasound offer should not be treated as a substitute for that appointment.
Learn More About Breast Ultrasound
When should you seek medical advice?
Arrange an assessment if you find a new breast or armpit lump, notice a nipple or skin change, see unusual discharge, or identify another change that is not normal for you. Your GP may examine you, arrange a follow-up or refer you to a breast clinic. A referral does not mean you have breast cancer; it means the change needs a closer look.
If you already have a symptom, tell the booking team about it. This helps ensure you are directed towards the right clinical assessment and that any imaging forms part of an appropriate care plan. If a symptom continues or changes after a scan, seek further medical advice, even if the initial result was reassuring.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a reminder to take concerns seriously without assuming the worst. Most breast changes are not cancer. Getting them checked is the way to find out what is happening.
Can you reduce your risk of breast cancer?
No lifestyle choice can guarantee that someone will not develop breast cancer, and many factors are outside a person’s control. However, there are steps that may help reduce risk. Breast Cancer Now recommends limiting alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight and being physically active regularly.
These are long-term habits, not reasons to blame someone who receives a diagnosis. If you are concerned about your personal risk because of your family history, previous breast problems or another medical factor, speak to your GP. They can advise whether you need a different approach to assessment or screening.
For further information, you can also read The Royal Marsden’s article on reducing breast cancer risk.
Dottore London’s October 2026 breast ultrasound offer
To mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Dottore London is offering 15% off breast ultrasound scans booked and carried out during October 2026, subject to availability.
The standard prices for the campaign are £190 for a unilateral breast ultrasound and £280 for a bilateral breast ultrasound. With the 15% discount, the prices are £161.50 and £238, respectively. Please confirm the scan type and final price with the team when booking.
This offer gives you an opportunity to enquire about the service and arrange an appointment where appropriate. If you have noticed a new or unusual breast change, explain your symptoms when you get in touch. An ultrasound may be helpful, but it may not be the only assessment you need.
Make breast awareness part of your routine
Breast awareness does not require a complicated schedule. Take a few moments regularly to notice how your breasts and chest normally look and feel. Remember the area around your armpits and up to your collarbone. If something changes, make an appointment rather than waiting to see whether the change matches a picture you have found online.
This October, use Breast Cancer Awareness Month as a prompt to learn the signs, keep up with any breast screening invitations you receive and speak to a clinician about your concerns. If you would like to enquire about Dottore London’s breast ultrasound service and October offer, visit our campaign page.
Offer applies to breast ultrasound scans booked and carried out during October 2026, subject to availability. A breast ultrasound does not replace a mammogram, NHS breast screening or clinical assessment of a new symptom.