Liz Hurley Urges Women to Prioritize Breast Health Amid Screening Concerns
London, UK – Actress Liz Hurley is sounding the alarm on women’s health, warning that a tendency to ”always put ourselves last” is contributing to lower rates of breast cancer screening and potentially delaying diagnoses. Hurley’s comments come as new data reveals significant numbers of women are not attending offered mammogram appointments,despite breast cancer remaining a leading cause of cancer-related death in the UK.
More than a third of women in the UK decline their initial mammogram invitation, mirroring a similar non-attendance rate observed in a recent Swedish study involving 500,000 women. Hurley emphasized the importance of regular screenings, which are free on the NHS, and self-examination, stating, “something else, it seems really important.” She highlighted that checking one’s breasts “takes two minutes”, roughly the same time as brushing your teeth.
Breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death in the UK,claiming over 11,000 lives annually – equating to 31 deaths each day,according to Cancer Research UK. The disease accounts for 7% of all cancer deaths in the country.
Hurley noted a shift in understanding surrounding the disease, acknowledging that it was previously perceived as primarily affecting older women.”In the past, the illness was seen as ‘a disease for older ladies. And we didn’t understand that younger women also get diagnosed. That’s been a lot in the news lately,'” she said. “There appear to be more women, younger women being diagnosed. And that could well be one of the reasons is that people are more breast aware, more self-aware.”
Speaking to Sky News’ Jacquie Beltrao, a breast cancer survivor, Hurley stressed the importance of familiarity with one’s own breasts, particularly for younger women who are not yet eligible for regular mammograms. “When you’re younger and you’re not yet having regular mammograms, you do really have to be aware of your own breasts to be able to see if there’s a change, feel if there is a change and go to your doctor.”
