Women can touch and feel the mannequin's breast

Women touch and feel the mannequin's breasts to get an idea of what a potentially cancerous lump feels like.

Researchers at the University of Warwick believe it could be particularly helpful for women with learning difficulties.

They have started work on another mannequin to help men spot signs of testicular cancer.

Dr Nick Tucker, a plastics engineer at the university, decided to develop the mannequin after being approached by local nurses.

Breast awareness

They wanted an aid to help them to teach breast awareness and self-inspection to women with learning difficulties.

Many of these women had difficulty reading or understanding the health literature telling them how to spot the signs of cancer.

This will help doctors, nurses, clinics and schools to teach women and girls to check for breast abnormalities early Pete Gathercole

The mannequin consists of a fibreglass torso, which can be fitted with four different interchangeable types of breast implants, three of which contain lumps.

The torso with the silicone rubber breast implants is covered by a latex covering of 'skin', which makes the model appear and feel true to life.

The mannequin is being tested at a GP surgery, a residential home for people with learning disabilities and a cancer treatment centre.

Early results from these trials show it can help women to spot potentially cancerous lumps.

The mannequin was developed for free by staff at Micron Machining. The company is now seeking a grant to enable it to mass produce the mannequin.

"We think it could be used quite extensively," Dr Tucker told BBC News Online.

"There are a lot of places where training for breast cancer awareness is done. Having a mannequin could help women to learn how to examine their breasts."

Positive feedback

Pete Gathercole, one of the nurses involved in the project, said they had received good feedback from people who have used it.

"A company which runs learning disability homes has used it and they have been very positive about how it works," he said.

"This will help doctors, nurses, clinics and schools to teach women and girls to check for breast abnormalities early and hopefully detect the disease earlier."

Over 40,989 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK. It is now the commonest cancer in the UK and by far the most common cancer in women.

Experts advise women to be aware of their breast and what is normal for them, the feel, the look and the shape.