Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK and almost 46,000 new cases are diagnosed every year.

Sadly more than 12,300 women in the UK still die of breast cancer each year. Men can also get breast cancer but it is rare (around 300 cases are diagnosed each year).

The good news is, thanks to earlier detection and improved treatment , breast cancer death rates in the UK have fallen by a fifth over the last ten years. Of those women diagnosed with breast cancer today, two-thirds are likely to survive for at least 20 years.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with breast cancer, you can find more detailed information on our patient information site, CancerHelp UK.

Reducing your risk of breast cancer

The risk of developing breast cancer is strongly linked to age. Four out of five of all cases of breast cancer occur in women aged 50 and over. But some aspects of your lifestyle also affect your risk.

Being overweight after the menopause, for example, can increase a woman's risk of breast cancer. So try to maintain a healthy body weight by combining a balanced, low fat diet with regular exercise.

Hormonal and reproductive factors also play a significant part. For example, having children later in life (or not having children at all) and not breastfeeding can increase breast cancer risk.

Drinking alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer, so try to limit the amount of alcohol you drink each day.

Stay breast aware

It is important to be breast aware (PDF, 2MB) and you should tell your doctor if you notice any changes in the look or feel of a breast. Be sure to attend breast screenings if you are 50 or over. You can still ask for breast screening after the age of 70, just phone or write to your local breast screening unit or GP.

Talk to your GP

If you are worried about having a family history of breast cancer, you can speak to your GP about a referral to a breast clinic.

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