Breast cancer: Put your questions to Breakthrough Breast Cancer's experts here

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Mumsnet are working with breast cancer charity Breakthrough in the lead up to October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Post any questions you have about breast cancer before Sept 21st and we'll pass them on to Breakthrough Breast Cancer's panel of experts (see below). We?ll then post the answers to the most common questions on 1 October.

The panel is made up of:
Dawn Symonds, Breast Cancer Nurse: Dawn is the Lead Breast Care Nurse at Buckinghamshire Hospitals NHS Trust. Every day Dawn helps women come to terms with the fact that they have breast cancer, helping them through their treatment and beyond.

Dr Sarah Cant, Policy Manager at Breakthrough Breast Cancer: Sarah is an expert on a wide range of subjects including what we currently know about the causes of breast cancer and the factors that may increase or decrease a person?s risk of developing the disease, breast cancer services and treatments and how to be breast aware.

Dr Kai-Keen Shiu: Kai-Keen is a medical doctor who specialises in cancer treatment. He is taking time out from his clinical work to carry out vitally important research as an Avon Clinical Research Fellow at the Breakthrough Breast Cancer Research Centre in London. His research looks HER2 positive breast cancer, which makes up one in four of all breast cancers, and why some women in this group become resistant to treatment.

Breakthrough are also keen to compile the top 10 best bits of advice you've ever been given on anything, which they will use to publicise their breast cancer awareness advice. If you'd like to add your best bit of advice and be in with a chance of winning £100 of M&S vouchers click here.

Thanks,

MNHQ

What, really, is the link between HRT and breast cancer?

My mum was on HRT and died from advanced breast cancer. She developed cancer in her other breast, which apparently was totally unrelated to her first cancer (which was the one that eventually killed her).

I am rapidly approaching the menopause, but am very, very scared of HRT, especially as I was on the pill for a very long time.

This is a(n) extremely bit of a daft question, but bear with me! I know that breastfeeding reduces the risk of developing BC. DD has been BF for over a year now, but for the past few months I've only fed from the left side, due to her preference. Will this make any difference to my risk reduction? (ie am I at less risk of developing it in one side than the other? You see, I told you it was a daft question!)

DOH! should have checked the date...