Breast cancer 'biggest worry'.

Byline: By Alison Dayani HEALTH CORRESPONDENT

BREAST cancer is the biggest health fear for women in the region, a poll revealed today.

More than a third of females quizzed in the West Midlands said they were most afraid of the life-threatening condition, followed closely by bowel cancer and Alzheimer's disease.

Around eight in every 10 women polled also said they knew survival rates for breast cancer were better than 10 years ago.

But charity Breast Cancer Campaign, which authorised the survey, said sufferers had a better chance than ever to fight off the disease.

Pamela Goldberg, chief executive of Breast Cancer Campaign, said: "Despite acknowledging that the outlook for breast cancer patients is far brighter than ever before, the fear of breast cancer is still significant among women in the West Midlands.

"Longer survival also means that patients are just as concerned about quality as well as quantity of life and the psycho-social aspects of breast cancer are becoming ever more important.

"Woman with breast cancer today can feel more positive about the future with the introduction of drugs such as Herceptin, while genetic testing for those with a family history of breast cancer is also giving high-risk women a choice about their future."

Breast Cancer Campaign is funding five research projects in the West Midlands worth over pounds 660,000.