Breast Cancer UK prevention week with TV interior designer Michelle Ogundehin 'most important yet'
This year’s campaign, which started yesterday and continues all week, is supported by the charity’s ambassador, TV interior designer Michelle Ogundehin.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK, says the charity, as every year, 56,000 women and around 400 men are diagnosed. But it adds that at least 30 per cent of breast cancer cases – at least 16,800 cases - could be prevented.
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Hide AdMichelle said: “I’m continually impressed with the level of information and help Breast Cancer UK provide to people about breast cancer prevention. I’m proud to be leading this year’s Prevention Week campaign. I want to encourage more people to have these conversations, learn how they can protect themselves and live healthier lives.


“Harnessing the power of home for health, where what surrounds you supports improved wellbeing, and making small changes in your everyday life, whether that’s through improving your diet, becoming more active, reducing your exposure to chemicals and much more can go a long way to significantly reducing your risk of breast cancer. The science says so, and that’s what I’m passionate about.”
Breast Cancer UK believes that all risk factors are important, and tries to also raise awareness of those risks that are less well established, provided there is scientific evidence to support them.
Its approach has three areas: providing practical information and advice to help people reduce their risk of breast cancer, funding animal-free research to understand the environmental and chemical causes of breast cancer, and campaigning to strengthen public health and environmental protections to prevent breast cancer.
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Hide AdThalie Martini, CEO of Breast Cancer UK, said: “This year's prevention week is our most important yet. We are calling on people to join us and help our growing breast cancer prevention movement to change lives positively.


“Big things always start small. To reduce our risk of breast cancer, it's the small changes that count, and it's the conversations with our friends and family that have the most powerful impact.”
The charity highlights that being active can reduce the risk of breast cancer by around 20 per cent. A diet high in fruit and non-starchy vegetables has been shown to reduce breast cancer risk, it says, while drinking alcohol has been linked to around eight per cent of cases. Meanwhile, there is around a 30 per cent increase in the risk of breast cancer in obese postmenopausal women, the charity reports.
In the run up to the prevention week, the charity launched limited edition #BirdsAndBoobs T-shirts with a meaningful message to help start these conversations.
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Hide AdWorking in collaboration with Rhona Breeze-Lawlor, a designer who primarily partners with charities and NGOs, Breast Cancer UK has developed a range of four designs, available to buy now.


These designs feature two birds – the great tit and the great horned wwl.
Rhona said: “It is said that great tits are known for their unique personalities, their strength and boldness, and for being sociable. They are also thought of as healing according to Welsh mythology and are believed to bring good luck and happiness in Estonian folklore.
“Great horned owls are also known for their strength, ferocity, courage, and beauty, and according to Indian mythology, they symbolise good luck and love.
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Hide Ad“These attributes fit with our target audience of strong, fierce, brave, beautiful, empowered individuals, who together could join the Birds and Boobs flock and help raise awareness around breast cancer prevention.”


Nazia Tingay, trustee of Breast Cancer UK, added that as someone who has undergone cancer treatment for triple-positive breast cancer, she is “thrilled” by the T-shirts and prevention week.
“It’s important that we have the conversation about prevention now. Not only to ensure we reduce the incidence of breast cancer but to prevent as many people as possible going through diagnosis and its impacts.”
All proceeds from the T-shirts will go towards the work Breast Cancer UK does. Find out more at: breastcancerpreventionweek
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