Women blind to cancer risk

Women are “shockingly unaware” that they are most at risk of breast cancer in older age, a new study has revealed.

According to the findings, those over 70 are most likely to contract the disease but are the least well informed about its dangers.

The study, commissioned by charity Breast Cancer Campaign, also found that awareness of the greatest breast cancer threat – increasing age – was “alarmingly” low across the board.

Less than 2 per cent of women surveyed correctly identified those aged 70 and above as being most at risk of breast cancer.

They mistakenly believed that women aged 40-49 (32 per cent) or 50-59 (32 per cent) stood a greater chance of contracting the disease.