HOW TO REDUCE THE RISK

Dr Liz O’Riordan is an ex-NHS consultant breast surgeon who had to retire due to complications from the stage 3 breast cancer she developed aged 40. Here’s her advice on how to reduce your risk of breast cancer returning.

Exercise: Exercise can halve the risk of breast cancer coming back. It is also effective in colon and prostate cancer. Studies show the best results come from sweaty aerobic exercise for 30 minutes, three times a week, such as jogging or tennis.

Maintain a healthy weight:

This can be very difficult, especially as some women gain weight during breast cancer treatment. But being overweight can increase the risk of recurrence by up to 40 per cent.