Too many women still do not understand the risks of breast cancer, campaigners have warned.
Two surveys have highlighted widespread ignorance about the disease.
A survey by the Breast Cancer Campaign found women knew much more about the lives of celebrities than about the disease.
The survey found that 40 per cent of women over the age of 65 did not believe they were at risk of developing the disease – which mainly affects elderly women.
In contrast 80 per cent could name footballer’s wife Coleen McLoughlin, the poll of 1,000 women found.
Similar findings were reported by a Cancer Research UK survey of some 700 women.
This showed that 75 per cent of women did not realise their risk of developing the cancer increased with age. And half thought the chances of developing the disease over a lifetime was just one per cent. In fact it is 11 per cent.
Professor Amanda Ramirez, of Cancer Research UK, said: “The lack of awareness about breast cancer among older women is especially serious as they are more at risk of breast cancer, more likely to delay going to the doctor with symptoms and also have poorer survival from the disease.”
Arlene Wilkie, of the Breast Cancer Campaign, said: “While women are clued up about the latest gossip from celeb-land, it appears they are dismissing serious information that could save lives.
“More than 45,500 women in the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer every year and we know that early diagnosis gives the best possible chance of survival.”
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