Hassi Shah-Leverett wants more women to carry out self-checks on their breasts in a bid to spot lumps and changes earlier.

Her plea comes at the start of Breast Cancer Awareness month and in the wake of one charity uncovering how few women actually check themselves.

Breakthrough Breast Cancer found that only 35 per cent of women check their breasts and a third of those who admitted they didn't carry out self-examinations said it was because they didn't know how or what to look for.

Mrs Shah-Leverett was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 after she found a lump in her breast herself.

The 49-year-old said: 'I'd been on a workshop a few years back that stressed the need to check your breasts regularly and I used to check myself. I felt a lump in around April 2004 and I had a mastectomy in July.

'I never imagined I could get it. I thought I had the perfect healthy life style.

'For me the message is check yourself whatever your health background because cancer is totally regardless.

'Women need to get into a routine and check themselves.'
Mrs Shah-Leverett, of Titchfield Park Road, Fareham, added: 'I used to check my breasts regularly and I got to know my body quite well.

'I go round every friend I meet and ask them if they've checked their breasts lately.

'It's become a running joke but I don't care if it saves just one life.'
Dr Sarah Cant, policy manager at Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: 'We know that the earlier breast cancer is diagnosed the more likely it is that treatment will be successful.

'Showing your breasts some TLC by regularly touching, looking for changes and checking anything unusual out with your doctor, and attending breast screening if you are over 50, are the best ways to ensure this.

'Checking your breasts isn't complicated and there's no need to follow a fancy routine.'