The article in the Independent says the best way to fight breast cancer is to detect it early and to take steps to prevent it.
The good news. Newly discovered gene
NRG1, a gene we all have, has been shown to act as a brake on the growth of tumours, stopping cancer cells from developing. Around one in two women with breast cancer has a damaged version of NRG1, effectively turning off the gene and thereby allowing cancer to develop.
The bad news
While genes are only responsible for a tiny percentage of breast cancers, it's worries about genetic susceptibility to breast cancer that particularly prey on women's minds.
For the increasing number of women who have a close relative diagnosed with breast cancer, there's a feeling that so many risk factors cannot be changed, with family history the number one cause for concern. But women are told they're also at greater risk if they have their first period at a younger than average age, if they are tall or thin, or if they have their first child over 30 or are childless – most of these factors beyond a woman's control.
Ways to prevent breast cancer
There's been overwhelming evidence for some years showing that taking an "often and early" approach to motherhood reduces the breast cancer. Indeed the increase in rates of breast cancer in newly prosperous countries such as India and China is thought to be largely linked to the trend in these countries for having children later in life.
Women who eat a low-fat diet have lower levels of female hormones in their blood – and this reduces the risk of breast cancer, especially in the years after the menopause when body fat is the richest source of oestrogen. There is also some evidence that the earlier you start, the greater the impact.
Soak in the sun. It's well known that breast cancer is most common in areas of the world that get the least sun. The reason seems to be that there's a correlation between breast cancer and low levels of vitamin D, which the body makes in response to the ultraviolet B rays of the sun, according to Canadian research.
Everyone needs to exercise – but it's particularly important for those at high risk of breast cancer. Recent research showed a reduction in the risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer in women who spent a minimum of three hours a week exercising from their teenage years onwards. And, once you're past the menopause, the importance of exercise becomes even more crucial.
Avoid drinking in excess. According to Cancer Research UK, drinking raises the risk of developing breast cancer – but only minimally, unless you're consuming seriously unhealthy amounts of booze.
Go for mammography. There are experts who claim that having a mammogram puts you at an increased risk of over-diagnosis and unnecessary treatment and therefore is not worthwhile. Most experts, however, say that one set of statistics should be your guide: mammography has so far detected 117,000 cancers, saving around 1,250 lives every year and bringing a 35 per cent reduction in mortality in the 50 to 69 year age group.