Hundreds of women 'needlessly die from breast cancer'

Hundreds of poor women in England die needlessly from breast cancer every year, experts have warned.

There are around 450 avoidable deaths among women from deprived areas each year, a study suggests.

The excess deaths occur because women from poorer backgrounds tend to be diagnosed with breast cancer when the disease is more advanced, the study's authors said.

The inequality between rich and poor breast cancer patients could arise because women from lower income groups are less aware of the symptoms of the disease and are more reluctant to see their GP, the authors told the National Cancer Research Institute Cancer Conference in Liverpool.