NEW cases of breast cancer have hit record levels - but patients have never stood a better chance of surviving the disease.

No one knows that better than friends Anne Suffield and Dianne Page, who call themselves "bosom pals" after both losing a breast to the disease two years ago.

Now they are taking part in the annual women-only 5km Race for Life, to prove that breast cancer can be conquered.

Figures published on Monday showed 42,500 women a year are now diagnosed with breast cancer - the highest rate ever recorded. But the death rate had fallen by 21 per cent over 10 years.

Worcester's Race for Life - one of 130 races up and down the country organised by Cancer Research UK - is due to take place on Sunday, June 15.

The two friends, who have known each other for 20 years and are now both in remission, will walk the race rather than run it with the aim of communicating hope to other sufferers.

"I lost my right breast and Dianne her left," said Mrs Suffield, 61, of Bretforton, near Evesham.

"That's why together we make a pair of bosom pals! Raising funds for research into what many find a devastating disease is something I feel very strongly about.

"It is not as easy for some people who have families," continued Mrs Suffield, who does not have children.

"I had more time to deal with it. Both Dianne and I have remained exceedingly positive."

The two friends had their mastectomies within one month of each other, with Diane's taking place in April 2001 and Anne's in May 2001.

"The coincidence was unbelievable," said Mrs Page, 57, who works for McCann-Erickson Public Relations, in Birmingham, and lives in Knowle, West Midlands.

"Anne was so supportive once my cancer was diagnosed and took me to hospital for the operation. Then, a month later, she too found a lump and her mastectomy followed soon after."

Mrs Page's client is Beiersdorf, the makers of Nivea and Elastoplast, and one of the official sponsors of the annual Race for Life.

To encourage staff to take part in the event, the Midlands company has said it will match all funds raised by staff members, pound for pound.

Last year, almost 4,000 women and girls ran in Worcester's Race for Life and raised £200,000 for Cancer Research UK.

In all, more than £15m has been raised for cancer research since the Race for Life phenomenon started 10 years ago, when 680 women ran around Battersea Park, in London.