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45% 'don't often check breasts'
Almost half of women do not regularly check their breasts for possible cancerous tumours, a poll by charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer suggests.
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Pop singer Anastacia undergoes double mastectomy
Pop star Anastacia has undergone a double mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time earlier this year.
The US singer, whose hits include I'm Outta Love, cancelled her planned European tour in February after the second diagnosis. She was first diagnosed with the disease in 2003.
Anastacia, 45, is in the final stages of recovery following her surgery, and said in a statement to fans that she wanted to bring attention to Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a cause "particularly close to my heart".
"It has been an intense journey but l am feeling great and ready to start the next chapter," she said. "Early detection has saved my life twice. I will continue to battle and lend my voice in anyway I can."
In May, film star Angelina Jolie announced that she had undergone a double mastectomy after learning that she had a 87% chance of developing breast cancer.
Anastacia's announcement follows a report from a leading cancer charity which says that up to 185,000 women could die from breast cancer by 2030 if action is not taken over critical research gaps.
Cancer charity: 185,000 could die if research gaps not closed
A report by a leading cancer charity says up to 185,000 women could die from breast cancer by 2030 if action over critical research gaps is not taken.
Breast Cancer Campaign has identified ten fundamental research gaps where action is needed.
The report also claims that breast cancer can be "overcome" by 2050 if its recommendations are followed.
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'Early diagnosis saves lives' says health campaigner
Early diagnosis of breast cancer is the "key to saving lives" of those battling the disease, said leading health campaigner.
Breakthrough Breast Cancer's head of public health, Eluned Hughes, was speaking as part of a campaign to get women to check their breasts regularly.
'Under a third' of mums talk about breast cancer
Just under a third of mothers have not spoken to their daughters about breast cancer or explained how to spot the symptoms, data has shown.
Beauty company Avon found almost 31% have never spoken with their daughters about breast cancer.
The five most common signs of breast cancer are:
- A lump
- A change to skin texture
- A rash or crusting
- A change in appearance of the nipple
- Nipple discharge
Half of women 'do not check their breasts regularly'
Almost half of women do not check their breasts regularly for possible cancerous tumours, a poll conducted by Breakthrough Breast Cancer suggests.
Most cases of the disease are found by women noticing unusual changes in their breasts but 45% do not check themselves on a regular basis, according to the survey.
Only 9% felt "very confident" they would notice a change when checking their breasts, according to the poll which was conducted on 1,000 women from across the UK.
Some 6% of respondents could identify five or more common symptoms of the disease without any prompting but when presented with a list, 75% were able to correctly pick five symptoms.