22/09/1999

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Sandra Laville

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Women 'ignorant about breast cancer risks'

WOMEN remain ignorant about the risks of developing breast cancer despite the tens of millions of pounds a year spent raising awareness of the disease.

Nine out of 10 women do not know at which age they are most at risk, according to a survey by the Imperial Cancer Research Fund published in the run-up to next month's Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Prof Jane Wardle, of the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, said: "Women who felt they had poorer knowledge about breast cancer were more likely to report that they were worried about it and were more pessimistic about surviving breast cancer.

"The results of this survey show there is considerable room for improvement in women's knowledge about breast cancer. Knowing more about the disease may also reduce anxiety about breast cancer."

The people who are most worried appear to be 16 to 24-year-olds, who are least at risk. But those who are most at risk, women aged between 60-80, consider that they are at a lower risk.

As a result of the survey, the Imperial Cancer Research Fund will change its awareness campaigning and specifically target older women. Only five per cent of the women questioned correctly identified women in the 60-80 age group as those standing most chance of developing breast cancer.