In the family

Has a family history of breast cancer left you living in fear?

Call the National Hereditary Breast Cancer Helpline on 01629 813 000 for more advice and support.

If you have concerns about your family history of breast cancer then the first step is to find out whether you are at increased risk. This can be done with the help of your GP by examining your family history.

If your family history shows that you may have an increased risk of breast cancer compared to other women in the general population, certain options are available to you depending on whether you have no significant family history, a moderate family history or a strong family history.

For the majority of women who have no significant family history the main risk factor for developing breast cancer is age.

Moderate family history

If you have a moderate family history, little is currently known about what may cause you to develop breast cancer. At present there are, therefore, few options available to you besides those listed above for people at or near to population risk.

However, in addition to the above, you would be entitled to annual mammographic screening at an earlier age than you would normally enter the NHS Breast Screening Programme. This is to make sure that if cancer does develop, it is identified and treated as soon as possible.

Strong family history

If you have a strong family history, then more is understood about the inherited factors that may cause you to develop breast cancer. You may be offered genetic testing as well as early breast screening to help predict your risk and to diagnose breast cancer as quickly as possible if it occurs. As the risk of developing breast cancer is greater than anyone at population or moderate risk you may also be offered risk-reducing surgery.

If you have concerns about your risk of breast cancer you should go to your GP to assess your family history, but remember;

• Most women do not develop breast cancer, and of those who do, most will not have a known family history of the disease.
• The great majority of women with a family history of breast cancer do not fall into a high-risk category and do not develop breast cancer.
• For most women, increasing age is the greatest risk factor.

If you have concerns about breast cancer in you family history you can find advice by visiting www.breakthrough.org.uk/genetics, or click on the link to the right.

Anyone across the UK affected by breast cancer can contact Breast Cancer Care's free and confidential helpline on 0808 800 6000 open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 9am-2pm or visit their website where you can find practical support as well as an 'Ask the Nurse' facility.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

To celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month and raise funds for breast cancer charities Estée Lauder has a number of special products available, as well as offering hot pink ribbons to customers.

All the funds raised in the UK for The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, (www.bcrfcure.org) will go to a UK research programme. Since the charity's founding by Evelyn H. Lauder in 1993, The BCRF has raised more than $100 million.

The Estée Lauder Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2005 initiatives are:

• Estée Lauder's Pink Ribbon compact is available at Harrods and Selfridges. This elegant round, gold compact, with a diamante hot pink crystal ribbon design, contains Estée Lauder Lucidity Translucent Pressed Powder and will be on sale for RRP £45. All proceeds, excluding VAT, will go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
  
• Estée Lauder's hugely popular Pink Ribbon Pin will be available at Debenhams, House of Fraser and John Lewis stores nationwide. The hot pink  ribbon diamante pin will be on sale for RRP £10 and all proceeds, excluding VAT, will go to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
  
• Elizabeth Hurley's specially created lipstick, 'Elizabeth Pink' Pure Color Crystal Lipstick, will be available at all stores nationwide. RRP £14.50, with £1 from every sale going to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
  
• This year, for the first time, Evelyn Lauder has created an 'Evelyn Pink Crystal Lip Gloss' to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month. RRP £13.50, with £1 from every sale going to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
  
• Throughout the month of October, £1 from the sale of every Estée Lauder skincare product sold in over 100 Boots stores in the UK will be donated to Breast Cancer charities - 50 pence to Breast Cancer Care and 50 pence to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. 

To find out more - visit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation website at www.bcrfcure.org.