What is making me fret is this. A friend of mine told me where it had been discovered that the cause of breast cancer is sex. She also said that it is having the breasts handled by men that starts it off.

Also, she remarked that having a lot of children makes you more likely to get it. And I have four. This has made me real depressed. I do not want to get breast cancer, but it seems like I may be 'in the firing line' for it.

A. Please relax. What your friend has told you is wrong.

The cause of breast cancer is still not precisely known. But it is certainly NOT caused from sex. Nor is it caused by having your breasts handled by men.

What about the question of breast cancer being caused by having children? Here, your friend has got it completely the wrong way round.

The medical truth is that having children makes you LESS likely to get breast cancer. A woman who is a mother can still get it - but the odds against her developing it are slightly bigger than average.

So, the fact is that it is women who have NO children who are at rather greater risk of breast cancer. For instance, there are quite high rates in nuns and others who remain virgin lifelong.

Why should this be so? Scientists believe that having many periods - between adolescence and the menopause - subjects the breast to various regular hormonal stresses. And these stresses make one more likely to develop cancer of the breast.

But if a woman has had some children, she will have had fewer episodes of menstruation. Therefore, she is a little less likely to be hit by this carcinoma.

There are a few other factors which make a female more prone to this disease - notably, a 'bad' family history of breast cancer, and especially carrying the gene which is linked with some cases.

But let me assure you that there is nothing in your life story which makes you more likely to have this disease. Of course, like all adult women, you should 'keep an eye' on your breasts, and look out for lumps. If you find anything odd, see a doctor at once. I hope you are reassured by what I have said. However, I am going to finish on a slightly different note.

Unfortunately, a hectic sex life with many partners and several babies IS linked with a higher risk of another cancer. That cancer is carcinoma of the cervix.

Nevertheless, you can protect yourself against cervical cancer by having regular Pap smear tests. And I hope you will do that. Good luck with your new life.

A. No, liver spots are nothing to do with STIs. As I am sure you realise, they are pretty common. They are NOTHING to do with the liver! Indeed, the term 'liver spot' is not a medical one. It is more of a slang expression which people learn when they are young.

This term can, in fact, mean two things. First, when people from the USA and Canada talk about 'liver spots', they generally mean little brown 'dots' which develop on the skin after the age of about 40. They are caused from exposure to the sun.

But, I guess that you probably mean the other kind of 'liver spots'. They are also like small 'dots' on the skin, often accompanied by loss of pigmentation. These common skin lesions are caused from a little skin fungus, which is extremely widespread in hot countries. It is generally known as ' Malassezia', but it does have other names too.

The fungus needs FAT in order to grow, so it thrives on areas of the skin where there are many sebaceous (oily) glands - like the face, scalp and chest. I am sure that your local pharmacy will be glad to sell you a skin application that combats Malassezia. If by any chance it does not work, then you would need something stronger, prescribed by a doc.

A. No, I am afraid that you cannot just take a tablet to make your menses come back. What you need to do now is to see a doctor and find out WHY you are not menstruating.

In your age group (mid-30s), the commonest reasons are anaemia (which is weak blood), psychological stress, occasionally eating disorders, and just possibly early menopause. There are also some 'gyne' problems which can cause absent periods.

So, what you need is a good internal examination from the doc, followed by some tests - including a blood test for female hormone levels.

I am sure the doc will be able to sort this out for you, and help you get your menses back within a few months, and then conceive a baby. Incidentally, are you absolutely SURE that you are not pregnant now? If there is any doubt, you should take a test.

A. No, this kind of appearance is very common in men's seminal fluid. It does not mean anything. If you are fretting a lot about it, you could ask a doc to arrange a 'sperm count' test at the lab.

A. That sort of 'pain on discharging' is quite common in ladies who are going into the menopause - which I imagine you are. It doesn't usually last forever, and most women find that it stops within a year or two. However, it would be worth asking a doc to give you a short course of Hormone Replacement Therapy, because in my experience that sometimes puts an end to this irritating problem. I wish you well.