United Against Breast Cancer: A Call to Action for Prevention

Credit: Thalie Martini, CEO, Breast Cancer UK

Every year, the chilling diagnosis of breast cancer devastates the lives of 56,000 people across the UK. While medical advancements have bolstered survival rates, a troubling reality looms: the incidence rates of breast cancer have doubled in the past half-century, with 1 in 7 women now facing this disease in their lifetime, compared to 1 in 12 just a few decades ago.

Are we content to attribute this surge to mere chance, or is it time we confront the factors within our grasp that are driving this epidemic? 

Reflecting on my own family’s journey, I’m driven to call for a paradigm shift in our approach to breast cancer. Two decades ago, when my mother was diagnosed, I put it down to chance. But today, I know a lot more about this disease. I recognise the myriad environmental and lifestyle influences that may have contributed. We must collectively prioritise prevention as the cornerstone of our battle against breast cancer.  

Breast Cancer UK’s Manifesto for Breast Cancer Prevention outlines a bold strategy for action. We advocate for policies that foster community wellness and empower individuals to adopt healthy behaviours through widespread education and accessible programmes that promote risk-reducing behaviours. Initiatives like our Prevention Quiz exemplify our commitment to equipping individuals with the tools to reduce their risk factors and achieve lasting change. 

Achieving this requires a bold policy rethink. Today, we can confidently estimate that at least 30% of breast cancer cases can be prevented if we take a population-wide approach to tackling modifiable risk factors. From eating well, being physically active and minimising alcohol intake to encouraging breastfeeding, we need policies that help every one of us form lasting risk-reducing behaviours. This will not only lessen the burden of breast cancer on people’s lives, but it will inevitably reduce the cost to our struggling NHS. 

Yet, our efforts must extend beyond lifestyle modifications. The pervasive presence of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) in our environment demands urgent attention. Despite mounting evidence implicating these substances in diseases like breast cancer, dismissive attitudes persist among some in the scientific community. While conclusive data may elude us, the precautionary principle dictates that we act decisively to limit exposure to these hazardous chemicals. 

Drawing parallels to past battles against tobacco and asbestos, we cannot afford to wait for unequivocal proof of harm before taking action. The proliferation of EDCs presents an imminent threat to public health, necessitating swift regulatory measures to safeguard future generations. Policymakers must heed the warnings of scientists and prioritise the banning of these chemicals from non-essential products. 

Eliminating preventable breast cancers is not a lofty aspiration but an imperative within our reach. It demands a comprehensive, collaborative effort across sectors, with unwavering commitment from our leaders. By aligning health and environmental policies, we can forge a path towards a future where preventable breast cancers become a rarity rather than the norm. 

In the face of this relentless disease, we cannot afford complacency. Through our Manifesto, we call on the Government, policymakers and leaders from across the health and environmental sectors to unite in our resolve to confront breast cancer head-on, armed with the knowledge that prevention is not just a possibility but our moral obligation.

The time for action is now. 

• awareness
• BCUK
• Breast cancer
• breast cancer prevention
• Breast Cancer UK
• cancer
• charities
• prevention