Sarah Harding’s Legacy Research Project Recruits Its First Participant

Sarah Harding’s Legacy Research Project Recruits Its First Participant

A pioneering cancer research project launched in memory of singer Sarah Harding and made possible with funding from The Christie Charity Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal and Cancer Research UK, has recruited its first participant.

BCAN-RAY (Breast Cancer Risk Assessment in Young Women) was created following Sarah’s dying wish to find new ways to catch signs of the disease earlier and prevent it from shortening lives like hers.

The Girls Aloud member, model and actress was treated at Christie’s in Manchester and tragically died aged 39 in September 2021. The groundbreaking study was made possible with funding from the Cancer Appeal from Sarah Harding’s breast with the support of Sarah’s family, friends and daughters. Aloud, teammates Cheryl Tweedy, Kimberley Walsh, Nadine Coyle and Nicola Roberts. Together, through various fundraising initiatives, they have raised over £1million to date.

BCAN-RAY will be one of the first research studies in the world to identify new ways to predict breast cancer risk in young women.

Speaking about the importance of cancer research before her death, Sarah said: “Research is extremely important in the fight against cancer. Although this research may not be in time to help me, this project is incredibly close to my heart because it could help women like me in the future.

Catherine Craven-Howe, 33, from Hale in south Manchester, is the first participant to take part in the trial. She has worked in the health field and is currently studying medicine at the University of Liverpool while working as a medical assistant in an eating disorders unit.

Catherine’s first appointment included a low-dose mammogram and a saliva sample for genetic testing.

She says, “Even though I don’t have breast cancer myself and don’t have a family history of it, I know how important clinical trials and research are. I hope my participation will help design a simple test to detect the likelihood of breast cancer in young women like me in the future.

Every day over 150 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK* and almost a fifth of all cases are women under 50**, most of whom have no history families of the disease. Currently, there is no systematic screening program for early breast cancer in young women who have no family history of the disease, although it is the most common cause of death among young women. women aged 30 to 55***.

The project will examine the most common risk factors in women diagnosed with breast cancer in their thirties. Based on these risk factors, scientists will build a model that can identify women most at risk of developing breast cancer in their thirties.

The researchers hope that their findings will enable all women to have a breast cancer risk assessment when they reach the age of 30. Women identified as high risk could then have access to early detection and prevention opportunities, in order to reduce the risk of breast cancer. develop and potentially die from the disease.

The study involves recruiting 1,000 women between the ages of 30 and 39. 250 will be women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, with no family history of the disease. And they will be studied alongside 750 women in the same age group who have not had breast cancer, nor do they have a family history of the disease. The study will take place at the Nightingale Center at Wythenshawe Hospital, part of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) in Manchester. Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire, provide a saliva sample for genetic testing, and undergo a low-dose risk assessment mammogram.

Subtle changes in DNA can be identified through saliva and the Christie NHS Foundation Trust in Manchester is working with Cancer Research UK to establish gene types and patterns to develop personalized risk scores. Risk predictions can be superimposed on other factors such as the start of a woman’s period, alcohol consumption and birth control pill use. The density of breast tissue could also play a role in the level of risk of contracting the disease.

Sarah’s consultant, Dr Sacha Howell, of The Christie, University of Manchester and MFT, who is leading the BCAN-RAY study, said: ‘Sarah has spoken to me about the research on the breast cancer and really wanted more to be done to find out why young women are diagnosed without anyone else in the family being affected by the disease. There are too many young women in their thirties like Sarah who are tragically dying of breast cancer and we need to find out how we can more accurately identify those in whom it will develop.

“Currently, the only indicator we have is based on family history, but this only predicts a third of cases. Although there is research available on people over 40, this will be the first study in young women. With breast cancer still the leading cause of death in women under 50, we need to find ways to identify women most at risk and offer them breast screening to detect cancers earlier, when the treatment is more likely to be successful.

Dr Howell, a cancer prevention and early detection researcher for the National Institute for Health and Care Research Center in Manchester, will work with researchers from the University of Manchester , Cambridge University and University College London to develop a set of tools that will identify young women most at risk of breast cancer so they can undergo early breast screening and be closely monitored to detect signs of disease to improve survival rates.

Michelle Mitchell, Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “Even in the darkest days of her cancer journey. Sarah Harding was a fearless research advocate. She bravely faced her pain from cancer, undergoing treatment while thinking of ways to help other women in a similar situation.

“Since Sarah’s death, it’s been inspiring to see people come together in her memory to support life-saving research. The money raised in Sarah’s name will go a long way towards diagnosing breast cancer earlier in young women.

“The BCAN-RAY project will fulfill Sarah’s last wish to help women like her. By harnessing the power of cutting-edge science, we can look forward to the day when all women can live free from the fear of breast cancer.

To date, the Christie charity has pledged around £200,000 to research and Cancer Research UK over £500,000.

Anyone wishing to donate to The Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal can do so here. www.christie.nhs.uk/the-christie-charity/donate/sarah-harding.

The Christie Charity supports the work of The Christie NHS Foundation Trust by providing enhanced services beyond what the NHS funds. This includes money for care and treatment, research, education and additional patient services. Donations from the public make a huge difference in the care and treatment that The Christie is able to provide to patients and their families.

The ShineBright Foundation (https://shine-bright-foundation.org.uk/ funded the development of the Nightingale Centre.

ENDS

* Based on the average annual number of new cases of breast cancer in the UK between 2016 and 2018, available at https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type /breast-cancer#heading-Zero, accessed February 2023.

** Based on the average annual number of new cases of breast cancer in the UK between 2016 and 2018 by age, available at https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/breast-cancer/incidence-invasive#heading-Oneaccessed February 2023.

***Registered deaths in England and Wales 2021, https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/datasets/deathsregisteredinenglandandwalesseriesdrreferencetablesaccessed February 2023.

About Christie

• The Christie’s is a specialist cancer center in Manchester and has over 120 years of expertise in cancer care, research and education. It is one of the leading cancer centers in Europe, treating over 60,000 patients a year.

• It is the NHS’ largest provider of radiotherapy (including high-energy proton beam therapy and MRI-guided radiotherapy); it houses the UK’s largest chemotherapy unit; and is a specialist surgical center focusing on rare cancers and complex procedures.
• The Christie is one of the largest centers for experimental cancer medicine in Europe and an international leader in research and development with approximately 650 clinical studies underway at any one time.
• The Christie charity provides improved patient services beyond what the NHS funds.

Visit www.christie.nhs.uk to learn more about Christie Hospital or follow Christie Hospital on social media @TheChristieNHS. Follow The Christie Charity on social media at @TheChristie

About Cancer Research UK

• Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading cancer charity dedicated to saving lives through research, influence and information.
• Cancer Research UK’s pioneering work in preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer has saved millions of lives.
• Cancer Research UK has been at the heart of progress that has already doubled survival in the UK over the past 40 years.
• Today, 2 out of 4 people survive their cancer for at least 10 years. Cancer Research UK wants to accelerate progress and see 3 in 4 people survive their cancer by 2034.
• Cancer Research UK supports research into the prevention and treatment of cancer through the work of over 4,000 scientists, doctors and nurses.
• Together with its partners and supporters, Cancer Research UK is working towards a world where people can live longer and better lives, without fear of cancer.

For more information about the work of Cancer Research UK or to find out how to support the charity, please call 0300 123 1022 or visit www.cancerresearchuk.org. follow us on Twitter And Facebook.