WORLDWIDE, 9 per cent of women will develop breast cancer. Unfortunately, Kylie Minogue has joined the 580,000 women in the developed world, 20,000 of them in Britain, who discover that they have breast cancer each year at an earlier age than usual.

Only 6 per cent of women develop breast cancer under the age of 40. The average age of diagnosis in Britain is 62. But apart from advancing age, there are other risk factors that make breast cancer more likely. Breast cancer can be hereditary. The closer the relationship to a family member, the greater the risk. The age at which a relative develops the cancer is important. If the relative is not a mother or sister but there are two or more relatives less close with breast cancer, the risk is increased. If there are two close relatives, a woman has six times the average risk.

Two genes that are responsible for breast cancer, BRCA1 and BRCA2, have been identified. More than eight out of ten of the women who carry these genes will develop breast cancer at some time. There must be other genes that have a less well-defined contribution to breast cancer but are still to be identified, but the estimate is that in only 5 to 10 per cent of breast cancer cases is a family history relevant.

It is known that a family history of carcinoma of the prostate, which is similar to breast cancer, is relevant. Men who have prostate cancer, and have a family history of it, may be BRCA1-positive and carry the gene that also causes breast cancer. Minogue’s father was found to be suffering from prostate cancer in 2001.

Breast cancers are related to a woman’s hormonal state and therefore, because their reproductive years are longer, they are related to an early onset of periods or late menopause. Similarly, there is an increase in breast cancer, although very slight, in women taking HRT or even the Pill, especially if it has been started early.

Diet is another factor, because any increase in weight and, in particular, any excessive increase in waist measurement is known to influence oestrogen level. Waist measurement seems to be more important than overall weight.

Breast cancer is treated by surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, radiotherapy and monoclonal antibody therapy that can deliver biological treatment. The exact treatment for any patient is dependent on the stage at which the tumour has been diagnosed and the nature of this tumour.

In general, the primary tumour is removed surgically and the surgeon will discuss with the woman whether it should be a lumpectomy, removal of only a small section of the breast with some lymph nodes, or the patient should lose her breast, a mastectomy.

The surgery is usually accompanied by treatment such as radiation, hormones or chemotherapy. Minogue’s prognosis will depend on the stage at which the tumour has been diagnosed and the nature of the cancer. If these are favourable, she has an excellent chance of a long and happy life.

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