"It is vital that South Asian women are encouraged to take part in breast screening and that awareness of the disease is made a priority at general practices.

"There is an urgent need to explore the reasons for this delay, and to develop breast cancer awareness programmes specifically targeting South Asian women to encourage participation in these communities."

This research will help healthcare professionals target minority ethnic groups to encourage women to have breast screening and to recognise symptoms earlier.

Cancer Research UK's Cancer Information Director Dr Lesley Walker says: "Although survival rates of breast cancer in South Asians are similar to non-Asians, which is reassuring, the mastectomy rate during this time period is cause for concern.

"Using these findings as a basis for future research, we need to determine whether this situation has changed in the last ten years, and find out why South Asians delay visiting their doctors about breast abnormalities. Programmes to increase breast cancer awareness must be encouraged."

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