Breast-cancer sufferers 'can lead normal, healthy lives'

The diagnosis of pop star Kylie Minogue with breast cancer should not alarm young women, an Irish health group said today.

Action Breast Cancer said there were now more treatment options and targeted therapies.

Project leader Abby Langtry said: “There is a lot of new treatments out there that weren’t available even 10 years ago.”

Kylie, 36, has postponed her Showgirl tour of Australia while she undergoes treatment.

But early breast cancer can be treated successfully, and most women diagnosed and treated for early breast cancer do not die from the disease.

“It sounds like Kylie has caught her breast cancer early, which means she will go on to lead a normal healthy life. That’s the key factor,” said Ms Langtry.

She said that around 250 young women – aged under 45 – were diagnosed with breast cancer in the Republic of Ireland last year.

“The issues faced are fundamentally different. But body image, no matter what age, is a big issue,” she told RTÉ radio.

Breast cancer can be treated with radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery. In many cases of early breast cancer, it is possible to have a smaller operation, known as breast conserving surgery, rather than a mastectomy.

According to the latest figures from the National Cancer Registry, there were around 2,000 new cases of breast cancer in Ireland in 2001 and 671 women died from the disease.

The rate of breast cancer among men is much smaller, with 14 cases diagnosed in 2001.

Action Breast Cancer’s freephone advice number is 1800 30 90 40.