McInnes supports "Join the Fight for Women's Survival" Campaign (Alison McInnes)

Alison McInnes <info@alisonmcinnes.co.uk>

McInnes supports "Join the Fight for Women's Survival" Campaign

September 28, 2009 12:00 AM

Cancer Research UK is urging all women to be breast aware as they launch their new campaign - "Join the fight for women's survival", during Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Alison McInnes MSP, in support of the campaign, said:

"Women must be aware of changes in their breasts to reduce the risk of breast cancer and enable early detection, which has the best chance of successful treatment. There are some easy measures we can all take to reduce our risk of the disease: attend screening when invited; cut down on alcohol; maintain a healthy body weight; keep moderately active for half an hour, five days a week; if possible breastfeed your children for at least six months.

"Breast cancer is the UK's most common cancer, one in nine women contract the disease in their lifetime, but as research has progressed so have the survival rates. Around 80% of diagnosed cases occur in women over the age of 50, but this is an important issue for all women no matter what age they are."

Dr Lesley Walker, Cancer Research UK's director of cancer information, said:

"Cancer Research UK's world class scientist and doctors have made a huge amount of progress in improving the detection and treatment of breast cancer, with more women surviving than ever before. We know that early detection is crucial and that many more lives could be saved if every woman was breast aware and attended screening when invited. But with over 12,000 women still losing their lives to breast cancer each year, we need everyone's help to push forward with our life-saving research."

Ends.