Posted October 7, 2010
NEW survey has revealed that nearly half of women are not checking their breasts regularly for signs of cancer.
The report, by charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer in Scotland, found that forgetting to make checks was the most common reason.
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Scotland with around 4000 women diagnosed each year. Around 1000 women die of breast cancer every year in Scotland.
Despite this, nearly half (42%) of women in Scotland do not check their breasts simply because they forget to do so, according to the survey.
More than half of women (53%) did not know that drinking alcohol could increase their risk; almost the same number (50%) did not realise putting on weight or being obese can increase the risk of breast cancer; 41% did not know that getting older increases the risk, despite increasing age being the biggest risk factor.
A similar proportion (39%) did not know that regular exercise could help reduce their risk.
In response, Breakthrough Breast Cancer launched the iBreastCheck, the UK’s first app to encourage women to be breast aware and improve understanding of the risk factors.
Radio 1 DJ Edith Bowman’s mother Eleanor was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007 following a routine mammogram.
Bowman grew up in Anstruther and her parents run the Craw’s Nest hotel in the town.
After being diagnosed with cancer, Mrs Bowman underwent surgery and six weeks of radiotherapy.
The DJ, who is working with the charity to promote their awareness-raising initiative, said: “My mum survived breast cancer, we were lucky to catch it so early, so the work that Breakthrough Breast Cancer does is incredibly close to my heart.
“Many women aren’t checking their breasts because they either don’t think they are at risk, don’t know how to check themselves or just simply forget to do it,” says Bowman.
“It’s fantastic that Breakthrough Breast Cancer has developed iBreastCheck specifically with all these considerations in mind. I’ll have it to remind me to check and hopefully thousands of women will do the same.”
Audrey Birt, director for Scotland at Breakthrough Breast Cancer admits that more work is needed to increase awareness.
She said: “It is estimated that four out of 10 breast cancers could be avoided if people adopted healthier lifestyles.”
The iBreastCheck application includes a Touch Look Check video and images which explain what women need to look out for when checking themselves. Women can enter details about themselves to assess their own risk of breast cancer.
There is an optional reminder system to enable women to set a personalised alert.
Raising awareness throughout the female population is key according to Ms Birt. “While most breast cancers are in women aged over 50, a woman can develop the disease at any time so it is vital that all women are breast aware. ”
Singer and actress Bernie Nolan, 49, was diagnosed with the disease in April and is undergoing treatment. Her sisters Linda, 51 and Anne, 59, have both recovered from breast cancer in the last 10 years.
Nolan, who recently made a television appearance sporting her newly shaven head to encourage more women to go for mammograms, welcomed the new iBreastCheck.
She said: “This is an incredible development. I only wish it had been thought of sooner. The earlier breast cancer is found, the better the chance of beating it, which is why I would urge every woman to get into the habit of being breast aware and following Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s simple Touch Look Check message – it could make all the difference.”
l iBreastCheck is free to download from iTunes and www.iBreastCheck.com
l www.breakthrough.org.uk