October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and the emphasis is on being 'breast aware' and checking for lumps. Emma Harrison talks to three York women about their experiences.

These three York women each have their own stories to tell about coping with breast cancer, but one goal they all share is to encourage women to check themselves and be aware of any changes in their breasts.

Sally Deakin (main picture), from Acomb, found a lump in her breast four years ago at the age of 31.

Until that point Sally had never checked herself and hadn't really considered that breast cancer could hit someone so young.

She was given six to 12 months to live - but now aged 35 she is fit and healthy and keen to tell other women to be aware.

"I was lying in bed one night and I could feel a lump quite high up above my breast. I had never really checked myself - but this was a painful lump which is unusual for breast cancer.

"I told my husband and he too found it straight away. I envisioned losing my breast and I have to admit to being terrified."

Sally had a melanoma on her leg several years before and doctors at first believed the cancer in her breast was secondary.

But the cancer was primary and a lumpectomy at York District Hospital followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy led Sally onto the road to recovery.

"It was a very difficult time especially as I had two children under ten," she says.

Sally realises that it will be important to teach her daughter Louise, now seven, how to check for lumps.

"Because I had breast cancer at such a young age, it means Louise is high risk. I shall explain to her as soon as is necessary.

"I would encourage all women to examine themselves and if they find anything, don't leave it. Go to see your doctor and don't panic."

Lynne Reed (see left), 47, from Huntington, York, found a lump in her right breast two years ago.

Lynne had a lumpectomy and chemotherapy at York District Hospital and radiotherapy at Cookridge Hospital in Leeds.

Today, she is fit and healthy and has returned to work at Asda, Monks Cross.

Like Sally, Lynne had never checked he breasts, but noticed an almond-shaped lump while she was washing herself.

"I knew it hadn't been there before and immediately realised something was wrong.

"It felt like I was walking around with an alien in my body.

"I told my husband but went back to work as normal and never mentioned it to anybody.

"I was terrified but tried to ignore it for about six weeks. Finally my husband talked me into seeing my GP."

Now on the anti-cancer drug Tamoxifen, Lynne said she cannot impress on women enough to check themselves.

"Although I couldn't face what was happening to me at first and to be honest I was pretty hysterical it is a problem that can be dealt with.

"Now I check myself regularly and I do worry a little when I have to go for my six-monthly check, but I know it's essential for my health and the future of my family.

"I'm here for at least another 30 years and if my story only manages to save one woman's life it will be worth it."

At the age of 59, Carole Job (far right) went for a regular mammogram at York District Hospital and a small cancerous lump was found in her right breast.

Carole had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy and was off work for more than five months.

"I was absolutely shattered when I found out I had cancer. My husband was even worse.

"I would never have known I had a lump. It was really deep down near my chest wall.

"If I hadn't gone for my mammogram I don't know what kind of position I would have been in now.

"I cannot emphasise enough the vital importance for women over 50 to go for mammograms.

"It is frightening when a lump is found. But it cannot be ignored.

"I am a living example that it can be dealt with successfully."

Fact file

u A quarter of all women have never carried out a breast self-examination.

u The lifetime risk of women developing breast cancer in the UK is one in ten.

u More than 35,000 women and 200 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.

u 1,000 women die every month from this disease.

u 80 per cent of breast cancers occur in post-menopausal women.

u Approximately one in four of all cancers in women in the UK occur in the breast.

u Nine out of ten breast changes will prove to be harmless.

u Thanks to early detection and progressive treatments there is a continuing decline in mortality rates.

Useful numbers: The Cancer Research Campaign at www.crc.org.uk, the national hotline on 0800 226237 or the Wetherby office which covers York and North Yorkshire on 01937 588855. Breast Cancer Care on 0808 800 6000.