Letter: Breast aware

IN RESPONSE to Heather Goodare (Letters, 22 September), the Breakthrough Generations Study is the largest, most comprehensive scientific study into the causes of breast cancer.

It will follow more than 100,000 women in the UK over 40 years. Scientific evidence indicates that breast cancer is caused by a complex mixture of factors - some to do with lifestyle, some to do with environmental factors and some genetic.

The study aims to identify these factors, how they change through life and how they combine with each other to cause breast cancer.

An event in Edinburgh Castle this week launched breast cancer awareness month in Scotland this October. All breast cancer charities in Scotland - along with the Scottish Government - were keen to emphasise the importance of women being breast aware, with breast cancer affecting more women in Scotland than any other cancer.

AUDREY BIRT

Director for Scotland

Breakthrough Breast Cancer

Thistle Street, Edinburgh