OLDER women aged are being urged to check up on the signs of breast cancer after Public Health England launched an eight-week awareness campaign yesterday.

About 1,800 women aged 70 and over in the south west are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, but only half of women in that age bracket could name a symptom aside from a lump, despite 30 per cent of women diagnosed with breast cancer reporting other symptoms.

These include a lump or thickening in the breast or armpit, change to the skin of the breast, changes in the shape or size of a breast and changes to a nipple.

Research also suggests older women are also more likely to delay going to their doctor with breast cancer symptoms, despite being at a greater risk of the disease.

Early diagnosis of breast cancer is crucial for more successful treatment. When diagnosed at its earliest 93 per cent of older women will live for at least another five years.

The figure drops to just 13 per cent for those diagnosed at the most advanced stage.

Professor Debra Lapthorne, Public Health England's south west centre director, said: “You are never too old to get breast cancer.

“It is not always a lump and women should look out for any changes in the shape of the breast, a change to a nipple or to the skin.

“Spotting the signs of cancer early is very important so if women are concerned about any breast cancer symptoms they should contact their GP straight away.”

June Kennedy, of Liden, Swindon, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 when she visited a consultant to have a breast reduction. The tumour returned in 2010 and after weeks of chemotherapy and a course of radiotherapy treatment in Oxford, she had both breasts removed.

The 70-year-old said her experience of the disease has made the women around her more aware of the condition.

And she supports the PHE campaign to remind older women to keep checking their breasts.

“Nowadays I think awareness is much better than it used to be,” she said.

“My family are more aware of it and know to check their breasts because of what happened to me.

“I don’t know about the rest of the country but I think in Swindon people are more aware because of the Prospect Hospice and the work they do to keep people informed.

“I think the TV campaign will help to raise awareness for older people to make sure they are looking out for the signs and symptoms.

“It can happen to anybody. It doesn’t matter who you are, it could happen to anyone.”

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in England, with around 41,200 women diagnosed every year.

National figures show that about 9,500 women die from breast cancer each year and over half of these – 5,400 – are aged 70 and over.

In 2013, 684 women in the south west died of breast cancer.

For more information on the signs and symptoms of breast cancer visit www.nhs.uk/breastcancer70.

Women between 50 and 70 are invited for breast screening every three years which can detect breast cancer at an earlier stage.

If you are over 70 you can ask for a free breast screening every three years.