Sophie Kirby
Health and Services Manager, CoppaFeel!
Breast cancer can affect anyone, yet there’s a misconception that it doesn’t affect young people. Around 2,500 people under the age of 40 are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK.1
CoppaFeel! is a youth-focused breast cancer awareness charity, founded in 2009 by Kris Hallenga and her twin sister Maren, after Kris was diagnosed with incurable breast cancer at the age of 23. We exist to educate young people on the signs of breast cancer, encourage them to check their chest monthly and empower them to speak to their GP if they notice a change that’s unusual for them.
Why breast awareness matters
In England, the majority of breast cancers are diagnosed through primary care referral after a person notices a symptom themselves. When diagnosed at stage 1, most women (almost 100%) will survive their cancer for five years or more after diagnosis.2 Because of this, breast awareness is crucial for early diagnosis.
Monthly checking can lead to early detection, and we know that early detection can save lives. That’s because when diagnosed early, breast cancer treatments are more effective, and survival rates are higher.
Monthly checking can lead to
early detection, and we know that
early detection can save lives.
Helping you check with our ‘Self-Checkout’ tool
The Self-Checkout is our online checking tool, which guides people through the process in three steps: look, feel and notice. Feeling uncertain while checking for the first time is completely normal; even people who already check monthly might need tips to help build their confidence.
Our interactive tool allows people to choose their preferred term to describe their body: boobs, pecs, chest, breasts — making the experience more personal and inclusive. Through engaging animations, the tool highlights the signs of breast cancer, including how they present on a range of skin tones. It offers guidance on how to check and what steps to take if you notice a change that’s unusual for you.
To support you in making checking part of your monthly routine, you can also sign up for monthly text, email or calendar reminders.
Visit The Self-Checkout at self-checkout.coppafeel.org, check your chest today and every month after that.
- Cancer Research UK. 2024.
- NHS England. 2023. Cancer survival in England, cancers diagnosed 2016 to 2020, followed up to 2021.
