UK Breast Cancer rates 4 times higher than in Eastern Africa

You may have recently seen a report in several tabloid newspapers, including the Daily Mail and Daily Express, about the incidence of breast cancer being 4 times higher in the UK than in Eastern Africa, according to the World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF).

Dr Caitlin Palframan, Policy Manager at Breakthrough Breast Cancer says that it is difficult to directly compare these two populations side by side as it is likely that many breast cancer cases in Eastern Africa are not diagnosed or recorded.  Furthermore, breast cancer is thought to be due to a combination of lifestyle, genetic and environmental factors and many of these may differ between the UK and other populations. 

However, whilst this may be the case, some risk factors cannot be changed, for example, women can reduce their risk by drinking less alcohol, maintaining a healthy weight and exercising regularly.

Daily Mail Article:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1301445/Western-lifestyle-blame-soaring-breast-cancer-rates.html-
Daily Express Article:
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/192053/Breast-cancer-rates-in-UK-four-times-as-bad-as-east-Africa-

If you have any questions about the above please call Leah on 020 7025 0275