ONCE again a report has come out saying that a large percentage of cancers could be avoided if people did not smoke, drink excessively, ate sensibly, had more exercise.

It is self-evident that this is true for many ailments, basically we should not abuse our bodies.

In 2006, with no family history of cancer, my sister and I were both diagnosed with breast cancer.

My sister, then 64 and seven-and-a-half years older than me, had never taken the pill, been pregnant or taken hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

She gave up smoking years ago, drank alcohol within recommended limits, took moderate exercise and was a little overweight.

I had taken the pill from age 19, except when I had my two children in my early 30s.

I had taken HRT on and off for over five years, because I suffered from lack of concentration needed for my work when I reached the menopause.

I was a little overweight after having my children, but am still only size 14-16. I had attended aerobics classes for over 20 years and went to a gym. I never smoked and drank little alcohol – I last had a hangover in July 1983, but that’s another story!

What could we have done to avoid cancer?

I know that mine was probably triggered by HRT, but it may have happened anyway.

As my sister said, even if there was no family history, it has to start somewhere, and I think it is highly unlikely that it was coincidence.

I find offensive the implication that it is a person’s own fault that they have cancer, because, even if they are among the 60 per cent whose cancers could not be avoided, we are all tarred with the same brush in some people’s eyes.

I have heard relatives of people dying from cancer say that it was their own fault.

That could be fair comment if they were heavy smokers, and was probably the case with my own mother-in-law, but, as everyone probably knows of heavy smokers who have lived to a good age, the cancer victim probably has a pre-disposition to the disease anyway.

It is bad enough to be suffering from a disease or condition without anyone making out it is your own fault.

MARGARET RICKETTS, Wychwood Drive, Milton-under-Wychwood