‘WRITTEN OFF'
One in 4 breast cancer cases in the UK could be prevented – 5 ways you can ward off killer
Read on to find out some of the surprising ways you can reduce your risk
ONE in four breast cancer cases in Britain could be prevented, a major study shows.
Thousands of women develop the disease every year because of low breastfeeding rates or drinking too much alcohol, researchers found.
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They said the disease is still “poorly understood” by politicians and even some healthcare professionals, leaving many patients feeling “written off”.
Professor Charlotte Coles, of the University of Cambridge, said: “Recent improvements in breast cancer survival represent a great success of modern medicine.
“However, we can’t ignore how many patients are being systematically left behind.
“We hope that, by highlighting these inequities and hidden costs and suffering in breast cancer, they can be better recognised and addressed by health care professionals and policymakers in partnership with patients and the public around the world.”
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Around 55,000 women and 400 men are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.
Researchers estimate new cases will rise from 2.3million in 2020 to 3million by 20240 around the world.
Despite it being the most common form of cancer across the globe, there are still significant gaps in knowledge around it, researchers said.
The Lancet Breast Cancer Commission aimed to address some of these to improve treatment, care and diagnosis.
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Researchers looked at what lifestyle choices could be increasing people’s chances of developing the disease.
Modifiable risk factors included postmenopausal overweight or obesity, with more than 110,000 cases worldwide attributed to obesity in 2012.
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Up to 13 per cent of breast cancers are linked to obesity in high-income countries like the UK, researchers said.
One in 20 cases of breast cancer in the UK were caused by women not breastfeeding after birth.
And alcohol was to blame for around one in 10 breast cancer in the UK — around 4,000 a year.
Some patients have told me that they feel ‘written off’
Lesley Stephen
Researchers said ministers should consider smoking-style restrictions on wine.
They also found that women with certain types of breast cancer are being left behind, with the number of women with metastatic breast cancer — meaning it has spread to other parts of the body — still unknown.
Breast cancer patient and advocate Lesley Stephen said: “Metastatic breast cancer remains poorly understood by the public, policymakers, and even health care professionals.
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“Some patients have told me that they feel ‘written off’.
“This sense of being ignored and left behind can mean they are less likely to seek help or engage with research that could help them.”
5 ways you can ward off killer breast cancer and other surprising changes you can make to cut your risk
Researchers found you could lower your risk of the disease by:
- Not being overweight or obese after menopause
- Lowering how much alcohol you drink — there is “no so-called safe consumption threshold”, according to the report
- Breastfeeding after giving birth if you are able to
- Being more physically active
- Avoiding taking combined oestrogen-progestogen HRT or combined oral contraception for too long
Previous research has found other surprising ways may include:
- Watching less TV
- Drinking coffee and tea
- Improving your vitamin D levels
- Limiting shift work if you can
- Avoiding barbecued meat in general - and marinating meat if you do have it on the grill
- Reducing how long you spend sitting down
You should consult a doctor before making any changes to your medication or lifestyle.