A DUNFERMLINE mum who had both breasts removed to give her a better chance of living has welcomed news that brazil nuts could hold the clue to new treatments - and keep her daughter safe too.

Lisa Bancroft, from Abbeyview, took the brave decision to have preventative surgery after finding out at the age of 27 she had the genetic fault that can lead to triple negative breast cancer.

Her dad and aunt died from cancer, her aunt from triple negative breast cancer, and she's hoping the medical discovery that an essential mineral - selenium - found in the nuts could help stop the spread of the disease can also protect her daughter.

Now 32, Lisa is still cancer free and said: "Research like this, which potentially gives people with triple negative breast cancer more treatment options, offers so much hope.

“Medical science is making huge leaps forward. For me, the research that uncovered the potentially catastrophic implications of carrying a faulty BRCA gene all those years ago, has changed the course of my life.

Lisa had preventative surgery after discovering she has a faulty gene that can lead to breast cancer.Lisa had preventative surgery after discovering she has a faulty gene that can lead to breast cancer. (Image: Cancer Research UK) “I only discovered I had an increased risk of developing cancer because my aunt and my dad were diagnosed with the disease and, because of that, they received genetic testing.”

READ MORE: MP given timetable for dismantling of nuclear subs at Rosyth

A fault in the BRCA genes increases the chances of developing certain types of cancer, including breast cancer.

Seven out of 10 women with faulty BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes will develop breast cancer by the age of 80.

At the time of the surgery, Lisa's daughter Emma was just two.

She's now aged six and very much in her mum's thoughts.

Lisa said: “When she is old enough, my daughter Emma will also have to decide whether to go for genetic testing to find out if she is affected.

“Medical science is advancing so quickly so my hope is that by the time this happens, it will be a completely different world.

“Of course, I hope that Emma is not affected by this at all - there’s a 50 per cent chance she isn’t carrying a faulty genetic mutation, and she won’t have to deal with the consequences.

“However, if Emma does have an increased risk of cancer, then I hold great hope that there will be so many more options for her to choose from.

"Hopefully by then, it won’t be as big a deal as it is now.”

READ MORE: Flooring firm is heading for liquidation

The study was funded by Cancer Research UK and discovered that limiting the antioxidant effects of selenium, a popular ingredient of multivitamin supplements found in everyday foods such as meat, mushrooms and cereals, could be the secret to controlling triple negative breast cancer.

This form of the disease can be hard to treat but is often manageable through therapy and surgery, unless it spreads to other parts of the body when it can become inoperable.

Dr Saverio Tardito said the medical discovery could prove to be life-saving.Dr Saverio Tardito said the medical discovery could prove to be life-saving. (Image: Cancer Research UK) Dr Saverio Tardito, of the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute in Glasgow, now of the Centre for Cancer Research at the Medical University of Vienna, said: “We need selenium to survive so removing it from our diet is not an option, however if we can find a treatment that interferes with the uptake of this mineral by triple negative breast cancer cells, we could potentially prevent this cancer spreading to other parts of the body.

“It is not usually breast cancer itself that proves fatal, as it can often be tackled successfully with treatment or surgery, it is when the cancer spreads that it proves harder to control.

“With triple negative breast cancer having fewer treatments to control it, finding a new way to prevent it spreading could be life-saving.”

Around 5,000 Scots are diagnosed with breast cancer each year with an estimated 15 per cent diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer.

Cancer Research UK science engagement lead, Dr Sam Godfrey, said: “Outcomes for patients with triple negative breast cancer can be worse than for other types of cancer.

"Research like this could be the key to preventing this type of cancer spreading, and that would have a transformative effect on how this disease is treated."

Since recovering from surgery, Lisa has co-founded the charity BRCA+ Chat, providing emotional support to people who discover they are carrying a BRCA gene mutation.

She added: “My dad’s legacy to me was empowering me with the knowledge I needed to take preventative action to reduce my cancer risk."