Women don't know how to cut cancer risk

Published on Monday 21 September 2009 22:05

MORE than 90 per cent of women are unaware that maintaining a healthy weight and limiting alcohol can cut their risk of breast cancer, according to a poll.

Almost a third think there is "nothing they can do" to reduce their chances of developing the disease.

A survey of 1,011 women for Breakthrough Breast Cancer found that 95 per cent of women were unaware that maintaining a healthy weight helps reduce their chance of breast cancer.

Meanwhile, 96 per cent were unaware that drinking had an effect and 91 per cent did not know that exercise cuts the chance that cancer will return.

Most (80 per cent) women said they were willing to make lifestyle changes to reduce their breast cancer risk, but 45 per cent could not name any of the basic alterations to help them on their way.

Maggie Alexander, director of policy and campaigns at Breakthrough Breast Cancer said: "Breakthrough's survey found a clear gap between women's willingness to change their lifestyles to reduce their chances of developing breast cancer, and their knowledge about the simple steps they can take to achieve this."