Pharmacists are vital in helping to make the latest NHS breast cancer campaign a success, Cancer Research UK has said.

The charity called on pharmacists and counter assistants to get involved in the five-week Be Clear on Cancer campaign, which launches today (February 3), as it released guidance on how the sector could start conversations with their customers about the disease.

The campaign, being run by Public Health England, NHS England and the Department of Health (DH), aims to raise awareness about breast cancer among women aged over 70 years.

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	Pharmacists needed to be confident in making cancer "a normal part of conversation", particularly when they were handing out medication to older women or conducting MURs, the charity said. They should also promptly refer women with unusual breast symptoms and urge customers to visit their GP if they have any concerns.

The charity also called for pharmacists to stock up on leaflets about symptoms and lifestyle changes to hand out to customers - in particular to older women, who may have limited knowledge of non-lump breast cancer symptoms.

Initial results from a regional pilot of the breast cancer campaign suggest that it could lead to more women visiting their GP with breast cancer symptoms, the DH said in a letter to NHS directors in December. But it should not prove to be a "major additional pressure", it said.

Currently, women aged over 70 years are not routinely called for breast screening, but are entitled to NHS breast screening and can self-refer every three years. The latest campaign highlights that one in three women who get breast cancer are aged over 70 years.

Cancer Research UK has published a briefing sheet for pharmacists, which is available on its website, along with downloadable symptoms cards and posters. Leaflets and posters can be ordered free online at orderline.dh.gov.uk or by calling 0300 123 1002.