Sally Kum, associate director of nursing and health information at Breast Cancer Now, said:
“We’re sorry to hear the news of Lisa Faulkner’s breast cancer diagnosis and send our best wishes and support to her and her family.
“Breast screening saves lives and we’re grateful to Lisa for being open about her own diagnosis following a mammogram, and hope this will help encourage more women to attend vital screening appointments when invited. This is crucial as the sooner breast cancer is diagnosed, the greater the chance of treatment being successful and lives potentially being saved.
“We want every woman to know that along with attending NHS breast screening when invited, regular breast checking – including in between screening appointments - is crucial in helping to detect any new or unusual breast changes.
“Breast checking only take a few minutes and there’s no right way to do it, as long as it’s done regularly. At Breast Cancer Now we say it’s as simple as TLC: touch your breasts, look for changes and check anything new or unusual with a GP. Checking your breasts can save your life, so it’s vital all women make regular breast checking a habit.
“Anyone seeking information and support can speak to Breast Cancer Now’s expert nurses by calling the charity’s free, confidential helpline on 0808 800 6000, or via its forum or email.”