Elaine C Smith fronts "shocking" breast cancer campaign

 
Scots actress Elaine C Smith, best known as ‘Mary Doll’ from the Rab C Nesbitt hit comedy series, has admitted that a new campaign to raise awareness of breast cancer which she is fronting is “shocking".

The TV adverts show real women’s breasts with visible signs of breast cancer, and are aimed at hitting home the message that “lumps aren’t the only sign.”

In them, Smith, who lost her own mother to breast cancer, holds up a series of placards illustrating the symptoms. The publicity campaign is part of a £30 million programme aimed at increasing the early detection of breast, bowel and lung cancer by 25 per cent, and saving more than 300 lives a year.

Describing the breast cancer awareness campaign as ground-breaking, Smith said she was delighted and proud to be asked to front it. “For years too many women have been confused and scared about what to look for. This campaign should help inform people about some of the signs to look out for and encourage them to seek help,” she said.

Adding that few people in Scotland remain untouched by cancer, she spoke of her own loss: “I lost my own mum to breast cancer and I know that if she had seen this campaign she would have known what she was looking for and perhaps visited the doctor and been checked much earlier. For some, the campaign might be shocking but as far as I’m concerned if this saves one life it is absolutely worth it.”

Early detection is a key priority for the Scottish Government, with £12 million being invested in upgrading mammography machines over the next three years.

For more information go to: www.nhsinform.co.uk/cancer