Pink October is often about ribbons, fundraisers and morning teas, and those are all wonderful ways to show support. Yet the heart of the month is more personal: taking a few quiet minutes to check in on your own health. This guide is for anyone in Hope Island, Sanctuary Cove and across the northern Gold Coast who has been meaning to do exactly that.

Marketplace Medical & Skin Clinic is at 99 to 103 Broadwater Avenue, Hope Island Marketplace. Our GPs, skin clinic, psychologists and midwives work under one roof, and we bulk bill eligible Medicare patients, including children under 16 and DVA, concession and pension card holders. We are open six days a week, and you can reach us on (07) 5510 9222. Here is how we think about breast health during Breast Cancer Awareness Month: as one important part of looking after the whole person.

Know your normal, and know that normal changes over time

Breast tissue changes across a lifetime. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health explains that breast tenderness can increase during the perimenopausal years as hormone levels shift, and that fibrocystic breast condition, thought to affect more than 60 per cent of women, causes non-cancerous lumps in one or both breasts. Breastfeeding can bring its own challenges, such as mastitis or cracked nipples, and it is worth raising these with a doctor or maternal health nurse if they affect feeding or your wellbeing.

That is why knowing your own normal is more useful than any rigid checklist. The BCNA guide to checking your breasts encourages you to look and feel for anything that seems different for you, such as a change in shape or size, dimpling or puckering, a rash or crusty skin on the nipple, or a nipple that suddenly turns inward. If you notice anything new or unusual, see your doctor as soon as possible. Our GPs and midwives are here for these conversations, whether you are pregnant, postnatal, breastfeeding or many years beyond.

Where family history fits in

Family history is often the first thing people worry about, so it helps to see it in context. BreastScreen Queensland notes that most breast cancers, around 95 per cent, occur in women with no family history, and that most women who do have a relative with breast cancer are not at increased risk. Details matter, including the gender of the relative and how old they were at diagnosis. Being female and getting older are the two biggest risk factors, and research has found that drinking alcohol increases risk.

A small number of women with a very strong family history follow a different pathway, and BreastScreen Queensland mentions a Breast Cancer Family Clinic for women aged 30 to 49 who meet Cancer Australia’s high risk criteria. You can read more about risk and protective factors on the Cancer Australia website. If you are unsure where you sit, bring what you know about your relatives to a GP appointment: who was affected, which type of cancer, and roughly what age. Our team includes GPs with a special interest in women’s health who are glad to talk it through with you.

Screening: who can go and what to expect

A breast screen is a low-dose X-ray of the breasts for people without symptoms. BreastScreen Queensland recommends screening every two years for women aged 50 to 74, and women in their 40s and those aged 75 and over are also eligible for a free breast screen. You do not need a referral. Appointments are one-on-one with a female health professional and take around 30 minutes, and you can book on 13 20 50.

A few details can help you feel prepared. Dense breast tissue can make it harder to see changes on a mammogram, because both dense tissue and cancers can appear white, and density is one of many risk factors. Most women with breast implants can be screened, although the procedure is different and longer appointments are available. Breast screening is considered safe while breastfeeding, though it may be more uncomfortable than usual. If you have noticed a change in your breasts, please see your GP first rather than waiting for a screening slot. The BreastScreen Queensland Gold Coast service has more information on local screening.

Looking after the emotional side

Waiting for an appointment or a result can bring worry, and so can supporting a friend or family member through their own experience. Reaching out is a healthy step. Our clinical psychologists provide care for mental wellbeing, and Breast Cancer Network Australia runs a free and confidential helpline, an online network and a range of resources for anyone affected by breast cancer; you can start at the BCNA website.

Cancer Council also offers information and support on 13 11 20, and the Cancer Council Queensland breast cancer pages explain risk factors, diagnosis and treatment in plain language. Talking with a friend, a family member or a GP can all help. You do not have to work through it alone.

One visit, two conversations: pair it with a skin check

Queensland’s sunshine is one of the reasons we love living here, and it is also why whole-of-body awareness matters. Our dedicated skin clinic offers skin checks using dermatoscopic examination, with on-site treatment and minor procedures where suitable. Bulk-billed skin checks are available for eligible patients, so please call reception to confirm your eligibility.

Cancer Council Queensland’s prevention hub covers sun protection alongside physical activity, healthy eating and limiting alcohol. If you are already booking a GP visit to talk about breast health, ask our team whether it makes sense to book a skin check on the same day. It is a simple way to make one trip to Hope Island Marketplace count for two health conversations.

Small steps you can take this month

Pink October does not have to mean a big commitment. You might book a breast screen if you are due, sit down with a relative to compare family health history, or set a monthly reminder to check in with your own breasts. You could also join a friend for the Pink Ribbon Breakfast, which supports breast cancer research through the National Breast Cancer Foundation, with a featured day on Thursday 22 October.

Whichever step you choose, it is a step for you. We look after patients from Hope Island, Sanctuary Cove, Paradise Point, Helensvale, Coomera, Runaway Bay, Oxenford, Upper Coomera, Southport and Labrador, and we would be pleased to see you.

Book your Pink October check-in

Whether you want to talk about your breast health, family history, screening or simply which check is right for you, you can book online through the Marketplace Medical & Skin Clinic website or call (07) 5510 9222. You can also learn more about our general medicine and allied health services. Bulk billing is available for eligible patients.