BREAST Cancer Nurses at Leighton Hospital are urging women to share information and become 'Bosom Buddies'.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Macmillan Breast Care team is urging people to "Be enlightened not frightened".

The annual campaign aims to raise awareness of breast cancer, particularly among women, and this year has joined with Age Concern to encourage young and older women to share breast health information.

Every woman aged between 50 and 64 is entitled to be screened every three years and will be invited to attend screening at their local hospital.

Women over 65 are also entitled to three yearly screening and can arrange for this by contacting their own GP or the Leighton Hospital Breast Care Unit on 612396.

The unit screens about 8,000 women each year and has an acceptance rate of 83 per cent, one of the highest in the county.

Janine Baker and Ros Fox, Macmillan Breast Care Nurses, at Leighton said: "It is important that every woman should become aware and remain aware of her breasts throughout her lifetime.

"Breast problems should always be reported to your doctor as soon as possible, remembering that nine out of ten problems are not caused by breast cancer."

Information displays are being set up at the hospital by Janine, Ros and local volunteer Jane Knight.

Janine and Ros can be contacted on 612130 and Jane on 526350. A booklet, The Essential Guide to Breast Awareness, is also available on 0808 800 6000.

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