Beijing:  Breast cancer has sharply increased in Beijing and Shanghai due to unhealthy diets, increased stress at work, and poor environment, state media said.

According to the Beijing Center for Disease Control and Prevention, breast cancer affects about 45 women out of every 100,000, with an increase of 23 percent in Beijing, and about 55 out of 100,000, with increase of 31 percent in Shanghai.  

Qiao Youlin, a cancer researcher at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, said, “Unhealthy lifestyles are mostly to blame for the growing numbers.”  

“Chinese women, especially those living in cities, should pay extra attention to their health and examine their breasts for any auspicious lumps on a monthly basis,” he added.

According to another survey of Chinese Anti-Cancer Association, 4,500 new cases are found in Shanghai every year, or 60 women in 100,000 suffering from breast cancer compared to 17 in 100,000 in 1972.

Researchers said that findings indicated 10 percent of cases are due to heredity.

Doctors have advised women to avoid risk of breast cancer by abstaining from smoking, drinking alcohol, consumption of oily food, and avoiding cosmetics containing estrogen, and doing exercises daily.

China has nearly 60 million obese people, and it has large number of people suffering from high blood pressure and diabetes.

Shan Li, a Shanghai-based psychologist said, “(Men) live in poorer ‘mental circumstances’ and have poorer life quality than women in general.”

According to a study conducted at the 411 Hospital in Shanghai, it has been found that 90 percent of men were not aware of the significance of annual check-ups, while 20 percent said they never exercise.