Making a Breakthrough in Breast Cancer Research

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Breakthrough Breast Cancer is possible due to the work of thousands of people: staff and trustees, volunteers at head office and volunteer fundraisers across the country, companies and trusts, scientists and health professionals, politicians and journalists, and individuals across the UK who give their time and money to this important cause.

Teams of dedicated researchers and scientists are working across the UK with the goal of understanding the causes of breast cancer and finding a cure for it.

Breakthrough Breast Cancer began as the vision of one man and his children. Their wife and mother, Toby Robbins, died of breast cancer in 1986.

Their vision was to create a centre of excellence for breast cancer research. With the help of Professor Barry Gusterson of the Institute of Cancer Research they realised a new approach to breast cancer research was needed. From this vision, Breakthrough Breast Cancer came into being.

Due to the work and generosity of individuals, companies, and trusts £15 million was raised, making possible the building of the Breakthrough Research Centre, housed in the Mary-Jean Mitchell Green Building, another wife and mother who died from breast cancer.

Through determination, hard-work, and diligence the Breakthrough Research Centre was ready for business in only 8 years. It was opened in 1999 by their patron, HRH The Prince of Wales.

At this time, over 120 scientists, under the direction of Professor Alan Ashworth, work in parallel on a coordinated research programme, looking at the causes of breast cancer and how it progresses. They also have links with researchers and clinicians at the Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden Hospital, placing these scientists at the hub of the largest cancer research centre in Europe.

• Initiate and support research which aims ultimately to eradicate breast cancer by discovering the causes of the disease, finding methods of prevention and developing new treatments


• Create a focus for breast cancer research through the Breakthrough Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre, housed in the Mary-Jean Mitchell Green building at the Institute of Cancer Research; the first of its kind in the UK


• Encourage the rapid communication of research findings for the practical benefit of people with breast cancer


• Foster partnerships between organisations concerned with breast cancer


• Promote breast cancer education and awareness among the public, policy makers, health professionals and the media


• Campaign for policies that support breast cancer research and a pioneering approach to breast cancer services in the UK.

Click here to buy posters!

A crocus walk is your way to help Breakthrough Breast Cancer through the simple act of walking.

There are no set routes or rules, it's your time to get outdoors with family and friends, remember and celebrate, and raise a bit of money.

1. Sign up for your FREE information pack, filled with the essentials about Crocus Walk. Information pack


2. Pick your walk location (remember it can be anywhere you choose) and set a date.


3. Register your walk! You'll then receive your free fundraising materials to help you with your walk including your sponsorship form and organiser t-shirt. Register here


4. Invite all your friends and ask them to save the date.


5. Start fundraising! You can give all your walkers a sponsorship form or ask them for an entry fee to come along to your walk. Many of our Crocus Walkers have tea and cakes at the end of their walk for sustenance but this helps raise extra funds as well!


6. Once you've done your walk, come back and visit 'After Your Walk' where you'll be able to pay in your funds online.

You can still walk.

Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

Susan G Komen 3-Day Walk

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK.

Nearly 46,000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed yearly in the UK.

Nearly 1 in 3 of all cancers in women are breast cancers.

More than 1000 women die each month in the UK from breast cancer.

Around 300 men are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year.

I know of no one who has not been directly or indirectly affected by breast cancer.

Campaigning and Influencing
Breakthrough campaigns for improvements in breast cancer services, treatments and research across the UK.

Our methods are diverse, ranging from parliamentary work to grass roots campaigning by members of the Breakthrough's Campaigns & Advocacy Network (Breakthrough CAN) and forming partnerships with healthcare professionals.

Research
Through our programme of scientific research, we aim to: identify better methods for diagnosing breast cancer accurately, develop more effective tailored treatments and find ways to prevent breast cancer in the future.

Publications
Breakthrough Breast Cancer publishes a number of booklets on breast cancer types, risks, and treatments. They also publish a magazine quarterly, Purple and a bi-annual journal, Highlight.

You can find a complete listing of all publications produced by Breakthrough Breast Cancer here

Breakthough Generations is the largest and the most comprehensive cohort study into the causes of breast cancer ever undertaken. It involves over 100,000 women in the UK and will continue over 40 plus years.

This enormous undertaken was first discussed in 2002. A pilot-study in 2003 was successful and Breakthough Breast Cancer in partnership with the Institute of Cancer Research agreed to launch a full scale study.

The Generations study was officially begun on 2nd September, 2004 with extensive media coverage. Almost 15,000 women registering an interest to join the study via the website or telephone in the first 24 hours!

In April 2006 the 50,000th participant was recruited.

In March 2009 the 100,000th partiipant was recruited, one year ahead of schedule.

What is the study doing

"This study involves over 100,000 women from the general population from whom information is gathered, at recruitment, about factors that might relate to breast cancer risk or protection. Contact is then kept with these women over time to determine their risks of breast cancer in relation to these factors.

The Breakthrough Generations Study has been designed to investigate the complex interplay of lifestyle, environmental, genetic and hormonal factors acting throughout a woman's life and determine how these affect an individual's risk of developing breast cancer. Pinpointing these factors should be of benefit to present and future generations, and enable women to make informed lifestyle choices."
Source: Breakthrough Generations

Donate here

Because I am unable to designate any percentages to Breakthrough Breast Cancer I have made the decision to personally donate any money generated through this lens to Breakthrough Breast Cancer. This includes money earned through any sales from the Kolnza Healing Zazzle Shop Think Pink range as well.