One in eight women will get breast cancer

London: One in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime and the rate is rising, alarming figures show. Scientists blame obesity, alcohol and the growing tendency to delay motherhood for record levels of the disease.

Up to 47,700 women are being diagnosed every year, equal to 130 a day. That is double the number 30 years ago.

Experts describe the figures as a "wake-up call" and say thousands could avoid the disease if they drank less, maintained a healthy weight and took more exercise.

The rise has also been blamed on the fact that increasing numbers are delaying motherhood and consequently having fewer children. The figures show that there are now 124 cases per 100,000 women, twice as many as any other type of cancer.

Oestrogen trigger

Scientists believe some forms of breast cancer are triggered by the sex hormone oestrogen, which is linked to obesity, alcohol consumption, having fewer children and not breastfeeding.

They also blame hormone replacement therapy taken by millions every year to combat the symptoms of the menopause.

Figures from Cancer Research UK show that 47,700 women were diagnosed in 2008, compared to 42,400 in 1999 and just 24,120 in 1978. Women are most at risk once they reach the menopause and 22,900 new cases — almost half — occur among those aged 50 to 69.

Doctors believe many tumours are caused by unhealthy lifestyles and are urging women to change their eating and drinking habits, particularly during the menopause.

Research has found that obesity increases the risk of breast cancer after the menopause by up to 30 per cent. The overweight are also more likely to develop tumours. Fat cells produce oestrogen and levels of this cancer-triggering hormone can be twice as high in obese women as those of a healthy weight.

Alcohol is also thought to raise the levels of oestrogen. Previous studies have shown that drinking even only one glass of wine a day can raise the risk of breast cancer by a fifth.

Women may also be increasing their risk by having fewer children, or none at all, because the levels of oestrogen decline during pregnancy. Those who delay motherhood and consequently have fewer babies will be exposed to oestrogen for a higher proportion of their lives.