The shadow of breast cancer.

Europe has a high incidence of breast cancer, Britain's death rate from this disease being the highest at 15,000 per year. Factors which increase the risk of contracting breast cancer have been identified and positive action, in the form of screening programmes, is now widely available. The film follows the fortunes of two sisters, one of whom seeks medical attention at an early stage of breast cancer and has a good pronosis, while the other, who delayed diagnosis, dies from cancer. Related issues discussed in this film are: mastectomy/lumpectomy; the drug Tamoxifen which provides anti-oestrogen therapy but is the subject of some controversy; other chemotherapy; pre-surgery chemotherapy; the way in which cancer cells multiply; and whether government health warnings are adequate.