Women 'miss breast cancer signs'

Many older women are unaware of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, according to new research.

More than half do not know that nipple rash, skin redness or a change in breast size can be a sign of the disease, which kills around 13,000 women in the UK each year.

The study, published in the British Journal of Cancer, involved 712 UK women aged 67 to 73.

They answered questionnaires on what they knew about breast cancer symptoms, the chances they may develop the disease and whether they felt confident examining their own breasts.

Women over the age of 70 are not routinely invited for NHS breast screening in England although plans to include those aged 70 to 73 are being rolled out.

The researchers found that while 85% knew a lump was a sign of breast cancer, "knowledge of non-lump symptoms was limited" and "knowledge of risk was poor".

Half the women thought the lifetime risk of developing breast cancer was one in 100 instead of one in nine.

And three out of four (75%) did not know that getting older was a major risk factor for developing breast cancer.

The authors added: "Thirty-one per cent of women reported low levels of confidence to detect a breast change and 19% rarely or never checked their breasts."

Professor Amanda Ramirez, director of the Cancer Research UK London psychosocial group and lead author of the report, said: "The lack of awareness about breast cancer among older women is especially serious as they are more at risk of breast cancer, more likely to delay going to the doctor with symptoms, and also have poorer survival from the disease."

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