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Actress Dona Croll - Be Clear on Cancer Campaign Ambassador
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Be Clear on Cancer
Britain's National Health Service (NHS) has launched a new ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ public awareness campaign highlighting the fact that the older you get, the higher your chances of getting breast cancer, with one third of women diagnosed with the disease each year being aged 70 or over.
Surprisingly, two thirds of women aged 70 and over (67 per cent) wrongly think women of all ages are equally likely to get breast cancer, when in fact a woman’s risk of breast cancer increases with age.
The ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ campaign also encourages women from black African and Caribbean communities to know the signs and symptoms, talk to their daughters or daughters-in-laws and visit their doctor if they spot any changes in their breasts.
With many only on the lookout for a lump in the breast, other signs of the disease are often overlooked. The ‘Be Clear on Cancer’ campaign pushes women to identify several lesser-known but equally important signs of the disease, including:
- pain in the breast or armpit;
- changes to the nipples, size or shape of the breasts
Dr Yvonne Doyle, Regional Director at Public Health England, said: “Research shows that women aged over 70 have low symptom awareness and are more likely to delay presenting to their GP with breast cancer, which could ultimately affect their chance of survival.
“Added to this are the cultural taboos and embarrassment that are specifically associated with the discussion and education about breast cancer amongst older black Caribbean and African women.
“Women cannot afford to ignore the statistics - one in three women who get breast cancer are over 70, so don’t assume you’re past it or dismiss any symptoms as a sign of ageing and most importantly don’t be afraid to talk to your GP.”
The campaign is urging daughters to engage older female members of their families in conversations about cancer to help detect the disease. The earlier breast cancer is diagnosed, the higher the chance of survival. Therefore black Caribbean and African women are encouraged to talk about the issue.
The campaign has received celebrity support, with actress Dona Croll featuring in an infomercial designed for black African and Caribbean communities. Speaking on her role in the project, Dona commented: “If losing precious lives to breast cancer can be avoided, then we must take every step necessary to prevent this. Educating women – specifically older woman from our communities – on the importance of discussion and subsequently, early diagnosis is vitally important. I am keen to help spread awareness and encourage women to monitor their health more vigilantly.”
The Be Clear on Cancer campaign is part of the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative, run in partnership with Cancer Research UK, to improve England’s cancer survival rates.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women in England with around 41,500 women diagnosed each year.
More than 13,500 women aged 70 and over are diagnosed with breast cancer in England each year, and around 5,400 women in this age group die from the disease annually.
Further information on breast cancer in women over 70 is available at nhs.uk/breastcancer70