Eight women who have survived breast cancer are reminding other women to check their breasts regularly.

The women will be smiling down at passers-by from billboards that will be put up around the island, informing them that life is still beautiful after breast cancer.

Women will also be reminded that October is dedicated to breast care awareness when they receive their mail, because a pink ribbon is being stamped on envelopes.

Statistics from the National Cancer Registry show that 71 women died of breast cancer last year, bringing the number of those who have lost their battle with the disease since 2000 to 441.

"We need to make women understand that if they catch breast cancer and take early action, they have a better chance of survival," Health Promotion Department senior health promotion officer Marianne Massa said.

Jackie Vassallo, the president of the Breast Care Support Group Europa Donna, is a prime example of the importance of early detection: She caught her cancer early, she needed no chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Ms Massa said that although the rate of breast cancer was on the decrease, mortality was going down.

Radiologist Malcolm Crockford said the decrease in mortality was due to earlier detection - the number of women doing regular mammograms has increased over the last 15 years - as well as better treatment, which has improved over the past few years.

He pointed out that it is the spread of cancer outside the breast that is usually fatal, something that highlights the importance of early detection before the cancer has the chance to spread.

Dr Crockford urged women to have a mammogram, especially since a number of private clinics are currently offering mammograms at a reduced rate for the month of October. He said last year he saw around eight cases of breast cancer within a four-week period. A mammogram can detect a breast tumour up to six months before a lump can be felt.

"I appeal to women not to be scared of having a mammogram. These stories that mammograms hurt are absolute nonsense and if they come for a mammogram and we pick up an early breast cancer they would have just saved their lives." He said every year there are one or two women in their late 20s diagnosed with breast cancer, but the incidence rises between the ages of 35 and 65. Breast cancer in young women tends to be more aggressive.

Questioned about a national breast screening programme, he said the debate has been going on for quite a few years and ideally a programme should be set up. The committee which was discussing the issue around a decade ago had decided to improve symptomatic care rather than launch a new screening programme.

The breast clinic within St Luke's Hospital also helps to fast track women when breast cancer is suspected, he added.