Breast Cancer Care comment on new research in to the effect of environmental factors on breast cancer

Tuesday, 1 April 2008 12:00 AM

Comment on research from the Health and Environment Alliance and the CHEM Trust which claims that continued exposure to hormone disrupting chemicals can cause breast cancer.

Tara Beaumont, Clinical Nurse Specialist at Breast Cancer Care, said:

"There is currently no conclusive evidence to suggest any clear links between environmental factors and breast cancer.

"It is very difficult to isolate the effects of specific environmental as well as lifestyle factors. While this research is interesting, we are still a long way off fully determining the many and complex root causes of this disease.

"What we do know is that five to ten percent of the cases diagnosed each year are genetically inherited. However, gender and age still remain by far the biggest risk factors for developing breast cancer.

"As well as accepting invitations to regular breast screening, it is vital that women of any age remain breast aware throughout their life, by being familiar with how their breasts normally look and feel so that any changes unusual for them can be picked up quickly and reported to their doctor without delay."

Ends

Notes to editors:

For further media information, please contact

Laura Grossart
020 7960 3473

Iaurag@breastcancercare.org.uk

Breast Cancer Care has been working for over 30 years to make a difference in the lives of people affected by breast cancer. We provide accurate, easy to understand information as well as practical and emotional support. We are the only charity working across the UK to provide these services. Every year we receive almost two million requests for support and information through our services including our helpline, website, publications, person to person support and health promoting activities, all of which are offered free. We are committed to campaigning for better treatment and support for people with breast cancer and their families.
Anyone with breast cancer or breast health concerns can get free, confidential support and information from the Breast Cancer Care helpline on 0808 800 6000 or by visiting www.breastcancercare.org.uk.

Breast cancer in England survey 2008 - we need your views!

If you have received a diagnosis of primary breast cancer in the last three years, or are living with secondary breast cancer, we would like you to tell us about your experiences of treatment and care. The findings will be crucial in informing our future campaigning activities and helping us lobby for improvements in breast cancer treatment and care. For more information and a copy of our survey visit http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/content.php?page_id=11473 or telephone Laura Brandon on 0845 092 0800.

Breast Cancer Care

Registered office: 5-13 Great Suffolk Street, London SE1 0NS
Company registered in England and Wales: number 2447182
Charity registration numbers: 1017658 in England and Wales, SC038104 in
Scotland

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