Breast Cancer UK

Breast Cancer UK Tells You About Current Medical Trends in the UK

Breast cancer is common in the UK, too. In fact, it is the most common cancer to be found in the United Kingdom.  Almost 50,000 women had a new diagnosis of breast cancer in 2006.  This amounts to 125 women per day.  Even men are diagnosed. Breast cancer UK statistics show that men are diagnosed with breast cancer in UK at a rate of about 300 men per year.

The breast cancer UK statistics also show an increase in breast cancer rates.  There have been more than 50% more women diagnosed with breast cancer in the last 25 years.  Breast cancer has increased in incidence by a factor of 6 percent over the last 10 years.  Some of the incidence increase is from increased mammogram testing.

Breast Cancer Survival Rates in the UK

More mammograms mean more people being diagnosed at an earlier stage.  This means that the breast cancer survival rates are better.  Nevertheless, 80 percent of women are diagnosed at age 50 or greater.  Because most women in the UK are white and are from Europe, breast cancer UK statistics say they have an increased rate of breast cancer than other parts of the world.

Women are surviving breast cancer in UK more than they have before.  The breast cancer survival rates are increasing because of early diagnosis and better treatments for cancer.  Eighty percent of breast cancer patients are surviving past five years—a time when a woman is generally considered in remission.

The breast cancer survival rates are better when a woman has more money as compared to poor women.  Early diagnosis is important.  Stage I cancer has a 90 percent survival rate.  On the other hand, 10 percent or less survive stage IV breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Awareness Programs

Breast Cancer UK has several national programs increasing breast cancer awareness.  There are breast cancer walks and other breast cancer fundraisers.  The breast cancer walks are for those who have breast cancer and those who support women with breast cancer.

Other fundraisers for breast cancer besides breast cancer walks include dinners for breast cancer survivors and the sale of breast cancer products.  There are some of the same symbols for breast cancer, such as the pink ribbon, used to identify breast cancer products.  There are other pink breast cancer products for sale at Breast Cancer UK and Breast Cancer Research UK.  The breast cancer products are used to raise money for breast cancer research and for breast cancer awareness.

Breast Cancer UK and Carcinogens

Breast Cancer UK is an organization concerned about environmental carcinogens that can cause breast cancer.  There are estrogen disruptors in the environment that act like estrogen and cause breast cancer to rise.  Breast cancer UK believes that these environmental carcinogens should be removed from the environment.  This means getting rid of a chemical called Bisphenol A or BPA.  It is used in clear, shatterproof plastics called polycarbonate plastics.  BPA is currently being used in baby bottles.   Breast Cancer UK wants Bisphenol A removed from the making of baby bottles.

And that is just a start.  They want to uncover all estrogen-related environmental carcinogens and reduce their use in the environment.  They want fewer women to be exposed to these agents.  They want very young children to have no exposure to the chemical. This is because it can build up in their body and cause problems later in life.

How to Detect Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer UK is in support of regular breast exams, both by the person and by the doctor.  They want women to get used to examining their breasts.  They want women to know what their normal breast feels like so they can tell if there is an abnormality.

In the UK, it is believed that women find many breast cancers themselves.  This is different from recommendations in the US, which are going away from focusing on breast self exam because it is believed it is not as helpful as other tests.

They are focused on “looking”, “feeling” and “checking” the breast with the doctor if abnormalities are found. They want women to look at their breasts to see what shape they are.  They want women to feel the breast for normal lumps and bumps.  They want you to check with the doctor in order to see if any abnormality is cancer or not cancer.

Mammograms are important in Breast Cancer UK protocol.  Mammograms are recommended after the age of forty and sooner if a woman has a breast cancer history in her family.  Mammograms are to be done on a yearly basis.  Regular mammograms have the effect of improving breast cancer survival rates because the breast cancers are found earlier than if one waits to feel a lump.