NORTH-EAST women are reluctant to make the lifestyle changes that might reduce their risk of breast cancer, according to a new survey.

The research, carried out by Cancer Research UK, shows that only a small proportion of women take action to minimise their risk of breast cancer, despite knowing about research highlighting lifestyle links to the disease.

Six thousand women were questioned and those living in the North of England were the most sceptical about the research linking obesity and alcohol to cancer.

Only 55.8 per cent believed research showing there was a link between obesity and breast cancer risk, and only 52.6 per cent believed in a link with alcohol.

Both percentages were the lowest in the country.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women in the UK and about 4,000 women are diagnosed with the disease in the Northern region every year.

Professor Jane Wardle, head of Cancer Research UK's health behaviour unit, said: "It is important that women have access to information that will help them make an informed choice about their lifestyle and they need to have this information in a form they can understand."

"If scientific research can be presented in such a way as to show how unrestrained consumption of alcohol and high-calorie food could increase their breast cancer risk, then they are in a position to take steps to reduce that risk if they want to."

The sample for the survey was made up from readers of the Mail on Sunday's You magazine, who filled in questionnaires printed in the magazine.