§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to encourage women aged 25 to 35 years to undertake breast self-examination. [187301]
§ Miss Melanie Johnson80 per cent. of breast cancers occur in women aged over 50, with less than 2 per cent. occurring in women aged under 35. The Department supports breast awareness, rather than ritualistic monthly self-examination, for which there is little evidence. It is import ant for all women of any age to be breast aware, and report any changes to their doctor. The Department, together with Cancer Research UK, produces a leaflet entitled "Be Breast Aware", which is widely available front primary care surgeries and breast screening units. Around 1.5 million copies of this leaflet are produced each year.