Message on breast cancer as shock figures revealed

Of those women, around 305 will die of the disease, according to Breakthrough Breast Cancer, which is keen to put the issue on the agenda.

Sally Greenbrook of Breakthrough Breast Cancer said: “Breast cancer is not a done deal and, as increasing numbers of people face the possibility of one day being told they have breast cancer, this is exactly why it is imperative that we continue our research.”

Susie Tucker, 44, of Wesham, was told she had breast cancer in 2008, and wants other women to react positively to their diagnosis.

She said: “I was 39 when I found a lump by accident.

“I wasn’t really worried, it was where the wire on my bra rested and I thought it might be a callus.

“The doctor wasn’t too worried at that point either, but because I was over 30, I got fast-tracked and then the consultant fast-tracked me too.

“I was told I had precancerous cells in the lump, but rather than thinking I was going to die, I reacted positively, but I don’t know how I did it.

“If there’s a scale of one to 10, and 10 is where you die, I was probably a one or two.”

Susie, who runs her own design business, underwent a lumpectomy and then two courses of radiotherapy.

She said: “I was lucky, I didn’t have to have chemotherapy, and my cancer wasn’t hormone-related, so I didn’t have to have drugs. Yes I had cancer, but I caught it early and I didn’t have to go through all the horrible things.

“I want other women to know that it’s not always doom and gloom, but it is important to check your breasts.”

Susie has been given the all-clear, though did have a scare over Christmas when she discovered another lump, which turned out to be a cyst.

She said: “This time I fell through the gaps a bit and doctors didn’t know my history, but I think it’s because they’re dealing with so many women.”

Although more women are surviving the disease than ever before, Breakthrough Breast Cancer want to focus on secondary breast cancer, as most deaths are caused by this, but needs £20m every year to continue life-saving research.