Just a short chat with a healthcare professional can dramatically improve the chances of a woman recognising the signs of early breast cancer, according to British research.
A year after the ten-minute talk, women are six times more likely to have this knowledge, found a trial funded by Cancer Research UK.
The study involved 867 women aged 67 to 70, who were recruited when they attended their final mammogram as part of the national breast cancer screening programme. They each had a personal ten minute talk with a trained radiographer who talked them through a breast cancer booklet, showed them photographs of breast cancer symptoms, and explained how to carry out a breast check.
Lead researcher, Professor Amanda Ramirez, of King’s College London, UK, said that this is the first proof that one-to-one communication can make a real and important difference to a woman’s awareness of breast cancer in the long-term.
The chances of a woman being ‘breast cancer aware’ were raised six fold by the short talk, compared with women who were not advised, she reports.
"We are very excited by these results," she told the conference of the National Cancer Research Institute in Birmingham, UK.
"If we are able to encourage women to go to their doctor as soon as they spot any symptoms that could be breast cancer using this approach, then we have the real potential to save lives.
"Breast cancer awareness among women in the UK is low in general, but particularly so in women over the age of 65. This may explain why older women are more likely to delay seeing their doctor about breast cancer symptoms and have poorer survival as a result.
"Our next step is to test whether this raised awareness translates into earlier diagnosis."
* Meanwhile British Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged his backing for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, currently under way, inviting campaigners to 10 Downing Street.
Mr Brown said: "Through early diagnosis, early treatment and our historic investment in research for cures we want to transform cancer care in Britain so that we beat the disease in this generation.
Samia al Qadhi, of Breast Cancer Care, added: "From our work around this issue we know that many women, particularly older women and those from black and minority ethnic communities, are less likely to be aware of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer.
"The importance of early detection, either by reporting a symptom to your GP or through the screening process, can not be underestimated.
"It is vital that women receive clear and consistent information on the risks, signs and symptoms of breast cancer and we have been delighted to work
with the Department of Health in preparing these new key messages."
Linsell, et al. A randomised controlled trial of an intervention to promote early presentation of breast cancer in older women: effect on breast cancer awareness. The British Journal of Cancer, published online October 7, 2009.
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