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Breast cancer ignorance revealed From
BBC news online, September
19, 2003 Three quarters of
women over the age of 50 do not realise that breast cancer is more common
as women age, according to a survey.
One
in five women over 50 do not check their breasts for changes from time to
time, and the same percentage fail to attend breast screening. It
is hoped the survey, commissioned by charity Breast Cancer Care, will
boost women's knowledge about the disease. The
charity's chief executive Christine Fogg said: "It is crucial that
all women - and especially women over 50 - understand that the strongest
risk factor for breast cancer is age, and that 80% of breast cancers occur
in women over 50. "We
are worried that the lack of knowledge in women may delay detection of
breast cancer." Breast
cancer is now the most common cancer for women in the UK - a woman has a
one in nine risk of developing it at some point in her life. Experts
say that to speed early detection - but cut false alarms - women should be
"aware" of their breasts and any new changes such as lumps, and
should make sure they attend breast screening sessions. But
fewer than half of the women in the survey, which was supported by high
street chemist chain Boots, said they were confident they would know which
changes were worthy of being reported to their GP. Another
13% mistakenly said they did not think that women were at risk after the
age of 70. Screening
age limit
Emma
Pennery, from the Royal College of Nursing's Breast Care Forum, said:
"It is very disturbing to see that so many older women are still not
aware of the basic facts of cancer and breast awareness. "Women
themselves can play such an important role in early detection, which can
mean simpler treatments and better survival rates." Age
Concern wants the upper age recommendation on organised breast screening
to be raised beyond the current limit of 70 years. Director
General Gordan Lishman said: "This important survey highlights a
dangerous misconception which still persists: that breast cancer is more
likely to affect younger rather than older women. "Yet the
reality is that 80% of breast cancers occur in women over 50 and the risk
of being affected usually increases with age." Copyright
© 2002 Global Action on Aging |
Many
are also ignorant about other facts which doctors say could save their
lives by allowing them to seek treatment early.