Women unaware of breast cancer risk

A MISTAKEN belief that breast cancer only runs in families or is limited to the over-50s are two of the main reasons women who notice a breast change fail to go to the doctor.

This delay in seeking medical attention can reduce their survival chance, an issue highlighted by the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) at yesterday’s launch of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The ICS presented the preliminary findings of a study outlining why some women diagnosed with breast cancer did not go to the family doctor after noting concerning breast changes. Alarmingly, 4% of the women who took part in the study failed to report breast changes for a year and a half.