Test ALL women for breast cancer from age 30 - one in five are 'at higher risk', warns top expert
Currently, all women aged between 50 and 70 are invited for screening every three years, with the first invitation between the age of 50 and 53.
But every year, more than 10,000 British women who are too young to be offered a check are diagnosed with the disease, with 2,000 deaths among those below the age of 50.
Now, a groundbreaking new trial has found almost one in five women tested in their thirties have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
Dr Sacha Howell, a consultant at the world-renowned Christie hospital in Manchester who led the study, said all women should now undergo a 'comprehensive risk assessment' from the age of 30.
He was also Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding's consultant when she was being treated at the Christie.
She was 39 when she died from triple negative breast cancer in 2021, a little over a year after being diagnosed.
One of her final wishes was to find new ways of spotting breast cancer early, when it is more treatable.
Ms Harding's former bandmates said the findings were 'astounding' and that the singer, who died in 2021, would have been 'thrilled' that her legacy was making such a difference.
The study, funded by the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal, began in May 2023 and has recruited 719 women from the Greater Manchester and Cheshire area aged 30 to 39.
Women who take part are asked to complete a questionnaire, have a risk assessment mammogram and provide a saliva sample for genetic testing.
So far, of the 548 cases analysed, 104 (19 per cent) were identified as higher-than-average risk.
All are now being offered tailored health advice, including how to cut their risk of cancer through diet and exercise, with annual mammograms scheduled once they cross risk thresholds.
The definition of 'higher risk' means a 3 per cent chance of developing breast cancer in the next 10 years.
This is the average risk for a woman aged 50 and over, which is why mammograms are offered routinely then.
The trial is also being expanded to other hospitals across the UK as senior NHS officials develop a national cancer plan, which will aim to improve diagnosis and treatment.
Dr Howell said: 'About two thirds of women who develop breast cancer don't have a family history of it.
'What we want to do is to try and identify women at increased risk so that we can start screening early and reduce the chances of these women dying.
'I would like all women over 30 to have a breast-cancer risk assessment; that doesn't have to be a mammogram, probably the most powerful part of this is the DNA analysis.'
On Saturday, he will chair a panel on prevention, risk reduction and genetics at the world's largest cancer conference, held by the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Chicago.
In a statement, Girls Aloud—Cheryl Tweedy, Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh—also said: 'To hear that women who had no idea they could be at risk of breast cancer are being identified and able to take preventative measures is astounding.
'This study in Sarah's name has the potential to be lifesaving and we are hopeful the results will be rolled out across the UK allowing doctors to predict and prevent breast cancer for many women.
'Sarah was an amazing woman and we couldn't be more proud of the legacy she has left.'
One in seven women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime around 56,000 a year—making it the most common cancer in the UK.
The figure stands at roughly 300,000 annually in the US. Around 85 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer survive more than five years.
Earlier this year, however, a shock NHS survey found women are avoiding mammograms because they are worried about being topless, think it will hurt, or haven't found a lump.
The poll of 2,000 women found 16 per cent claimed they would not or were not sure they would attend a breast screening if invited.
When asked why, 21 per cent said they would be embarrassed to be topless in front of someone else.
Almost one in five also said they would not get a mammogram because they don't have potential breast cancer symptoms, like having found a lump.
Figures show that currently a third of women asked for screening do not attend. That rises to almost half of women who are invited for the first time.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
22 minutes ago
- The Independent
UK landmine charity wins global humanitarian prize
A UK-based charity in a 'desperate race' to save people from landmines has won a global humanitarian prize for its work. The Mines Advisory Group (MAG) has been selected as the 2025 recipient of the Conrad N Hilton Humanitarian Prize, an annual award which honours a non-profit organisation leading efforts to alleviate human suffering. The group, set up in 1989 in Cockermouth, Cumbria, and now based in Manchester, has worked in more than 70 countries across the world to clear and raise awareness of landmines, as well as being part of international efforts to stop the use of the explosives. Bosses say their work is more important than ever as new and ongoing conflicts have led to a spike in the number of landmine casualties. MAG chief executive Darren Cormack said eight out of 10 people killed or injured by landmines were civilians and 40% were children. He said: 'Predominantly, civilians are most at risk where landmines and unexploded ordnance litter communities. 'They pose an immediate risk to life and limb in contexts where war is ongoing, so Syria, Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, Ukraine, and we're in a desperate race really to get safety messages to those communities who are at risk, to avoid the risk and to clear the landmines and unexploded ordnance from harm's way.' The group was part of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, backed by Princess Diana, which in 1997 was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its work. Their campaign led to the Ottawa Treaty, an international convention banning landmines, but, some countries are planning to withdraw from the agreement. Mr Cormack said the treaty was 'one of the most successful instruments of international humanitarian law' and the group believed it was 'vitally important' it was maintained. He said: 'We have seen that it is an effective way of ultimately protecting civilians who are at risk many, many years after conflicts have ended. 'Yes, there are pressures right now that some states are certainly under and we're seeing that in Europe and the Baltic states – Poland, Ukraine – who are considering withdrawing. 'Our position is we would regret that and believe it is something that should be upheld.' Executive director of MAG US, Shari Bryan, said: 'As levels of conflict rise across the world and as several countries have expressed intent to exit the Ottawa Treaty amidst escalating conflict in eastern Europe, our work has never been more important.' The prize of three million dollars (£2.2 million) will support MAG's work, which has a community-centred approach, with the majority of its 5,500 staff coming from areas affected by conflict. Mr Cormack said: 'Too often we're in a race to find a landmine before a child does and what this funding will enable us is to find different ways of potentially doing what we do.' Peter Laugharn, president and chief executive of the Conrad N Hilton Foundation, said: 'The selection of the Mines Advisory Group as this year's Hilton Humanitarian Prize recipient serves as a reminder that compassion and peace should still be at the top of our global agenda. 'Through its extraordinary efforts to help communities return to safety and prosperity after conflict, the Mines Advisory Group exemplifies the kind of humanitarian excellence our prize has sought to celebrate and inspire over the last three decades.' UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: 'Landmines kill indiscriminately and remain lethal long after conflicts are over, so I was privileged to see how the Mines Advisory Group are tackling this critical issue first-hand during my visit to Laos last year. 'Their expert teams not only clear landmines but also run life-saving educational programmes for returning communities to reduce the risk of injury or death. 'It is a source of great pride to see a UK-based organisation receive this prestigious prize, and to support their vital work in this time of conflict and geopolitical instability.' A prize ceremony will be held in New York in October.
BBC News
23 minutes ago
- BBC News
Policing minister 'shocked' over brazen shoplifting in Hull
Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson has told of her shock at the "brazen boldness" of a shoplifter she witnessed in Diana told BBC Breakfast she was in Marks & Spencer when "a man came in and took a really large bunch of flowers" before walking MP for Kingston upon Hull North and Cottingham, who said she immediately told a shop assistant what had happened, urged others who saw shoplifting to report comes after the Home Office announced funding for increased police presence in 500 town centres across the country to deter crime and anti-social behaviour. Dame Diana said the recent surge in shoplifting was "unacceptable", and insisted the government was "clamping down" on part of its Safer Streets campaign, the government said it planned to assign named local officers to neighbourhoods and increase police ranks by 13,000 by Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said police forces will recruit 3,000 extra neighbourhood officers and PCSOs over the next 12 months in an attempt to end the policing "postcode lottery".But Dame Diana stressed that retailers also had a role to play by increasing shop security and making sure goods were not left easily accessible to to increases in assaults against shop workers, the Crime and Policing Bill proposes a new offence of assaulting a shop Conservatives criticised Labour's plans and claimed the government was "leaving communities at the mercy of criminal gangs".Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: "The government likes to talk tough, but the reality is they are releasing criminals in our communities whilst failing to grip the border crisis."[The Labour] announcement comes without a single extra pound of new funding whilst they are actually cutting 1,300 officers." Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices
Times
23 minutes ago
- Times
Clearing system to rescue students whose universities go bust
Students at universities that go bust could be helped to find new courses through a bespoke clearing-style system, The Times has learnt. Some universities in England are millions of pounds in deficit and said to be at risk of collapse. Dundee University was given a £22 million bailout by the Scottish government in June, with a pledge of a further £40 million if a credible restructuring plan can be agreed. The Office for Students (OfS), the university regulator for England, is drawing up plans to redistribute students at any institutions that go under. • A-level results day 2025: full guide to Ucas clearing Baroness Smith of Malvern, the skills minister, told The Times: 'I don't want to see any university in a position where it risks having to close but if that were to be the case, the priority would be the continuity of study for students.' She confirmed plans to set up a system akin to clearing, used by school-leavers to find university places. 'I don't think this [closure] should happen but students could not just, part-way through a course, not be able to complete it,' she said. The OfS said in its business plan for the next academic year: 'We will engage with Ucas [the admissions service] on the potential for a bespoke clearing system for students in the case of the closure of their provider.' The OfS said it would oversee cases where there is a significant risk of institutional closure and put in place 'student protection directions'. It would work with universities and the government to implement a 'validator of last resort' for students if a university closes, such as having another one validate their degrees. OfS analysis suggests 43 per cent of English universities will prove to have been in deficit in 2024-25. Experts and insiders have warned that some are in a very precarious position. Domestic tuition fees will rise by £285 a year this year, the first increase since 2017. The number of international students, who pay much higher fees, has have fallen sharply, depriving universities of critical income. Universities say they face rising costs, including the support struggling students, maintaining their estate and the rise in employers' national insurance contributions. Thousands of academics have been made redundant in the past year. Smith said the financial challenge in higher education had been ignored by the last government for too long, prompting her to ask the OfS to prioritise financial sustainability. Of tuition fees increasing to £9,535, she said: 'Obviously it is an increased investment that we're asking students to make but there's even more that we can do to be clear to people that this is very different from any other loan that you will have in your life. The benefit of your higher education will in almost every circumstance outweigh the cost of repaying your loan.' The government said in May that universities would be named and shamed if they gave vice-chancellors big pay packages while delivering poor outcomes for students. Smith added: 'It's a tough old job running a university but as with any other part of the public sector — or near public sector — you also have a responsibility, particularly at a time when you may be making others in the place redundant, to be sensible about what the senior leadership is being paid. 'I wouldn't expect a vice-chancellor to be making a plea for poverty and financial challenge while at the same time not recognising it in their own pay.' Ministers are considering a 6 per cent levy on international students, which comes after changes in visa rules led to a downturn in overseas applicants. Universities say this will cost them millions of pounds in lost revenue. Asked about the message to international students, Smith, who was home secretary under Gordon Brown, said: 'I think we already are very welcoming. We have a world-class higher education system, we have a good deal for international students. 'What we'll be clear about is that if you're coming to the UK to study you will be the brightest and the best and you'll be coming to take advantage of our higher education system, not to take advantage of our immigration system.'
