UnityBC_understanding inequities in breast cancer
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women across the UK, but care experiences and survival rates can differ depending on a person's ethnic background. Women from minority ethnic backgrounds are diagnosed less often than white women, but they often experience poorer outcomes. Researchers still do not fully understand why this happens. The UnityBC study, run by the University of Oxford and funded by Cancer Research UK, aims to find answers. Researchers want to learn about women's backgrounds, health, treatments, and experiences of care. To join, you must be a woman aged 18 or older living in the UK, diagnosed with breast cancer within the past 13 months. Taking part is entirely voluntary and involves completing a single online questionnaire that takes 30 to 40 minutes. Your answers can help researchers improve breast cancer care and make treatments fairer for everyone.
Överblick
Vad handlar denna studie om?
Breast cancer affects thousands of women across the UK every year. However, research shows that a woman's ethnic background can influence both her experience of care and her health outcome. For instance, women from Black, Asian, and mixed ethnic groups are diagnosed with breast cancer less often than white women, but they often face worse outcomes. Doctors and scientists do not yet fully understand whether these differences are linked to biology, lifestyle, or how easily women can access healthcare services.
The UnityBC study was launched to help solve this puzzle. Coordinated by researchers at the University of Oxford and funded by Cancer Research UK, this nationwide study aims to bring together a large group of women from diverse communities. By gathering detailed information about each woman's background, daily life, cancer diagnosis, and care experience, researchers hope to see the full picture of how breast cancer affects different communities.
Patients and public volunteers from various ethnic backgrounds have helped design the study to make sure it is respectful, practical, and meaningful. The evidence gathered will help the NHS design fairer care, improve support services, and ensure every woman receives the best possible treatment, no matter her background.
Viktiga punkter
- UnityBC is an online UK study exploring why breast cancer outcomes vary across different ethnic groups.
- It is open to UK women aged 18 and over who received a breast cancer diagnosis in the past 13 months.
- Taking part involves filling in a single online survey that takes about 30 to 40 minutes.
- There are no clinic visits, blood tests, or new medications involved.
- Joining is completely voluntary and will not change your standard NHS care in any way.
Vem kan vara berättigad?
You may be eligible to take part if you are a woman aged 18 or older who lives in the UK and was diagnosed with breast cancer within the last 13 months. The researchers are especially keen to hear from women from minority ethnic backgrounds—including Black African, Black Caribbean, Indian, and Pakistani communities—because these groups have often been left out of past medical research.
Because the study is carried out on the internet, you will need an active email address and access to a smartphone, tablet, or computer. If you do not own a device yourself, you can still take part if a family member or friend helps you use theirs.
Men who have breast cancer cannot take part in this particular study. This is because male breast cancer is very rare, so the study would not be able to gather enough information from men to reach clear, reliable conclusions.
Kan denna studie passa dig?
Svara på dessa snabba frågor för att se om du kan vara berättigad. Detta är endast en vägledning — forskarteamet fattar det slutgiltiga beslutet.
- I am a woman aged 18 or older.
- I live in the United Kingdom.
- I was diagnosed with breast cancer within the last 13 months.
- I have an active email address.
- I have access to the internet on a phone, tablet, or computer (or help from someone who does).
Vad innebär deltagande?
Taking part in UnityBC is completely online, so there is no need to travel to a clinic or hospital. You can sign up directly on the study website. After reading an information sheet and giving your digital consent, you will fill in a single online questionnaire. This asks about your background, lifestyle, how your cancer was diagnosed, the treatments you had, and how you felt about your care. The survey usually takes 30 to 40 minutes. You can complete it in your own time at home, pause it if you need a rest, and return to it later. There are no new medicines, extra medical tests, or blood samples involved.
Potentiella risker och fördelar
Platser (1)
- To join the study, please visit: https://www.ceu.ox.ac.uk/research/unitybcEndast stadOxford, England
Vanliga frågor
Will taking part affect my current NHS treatment?
No. This is an observational study, which means it only collects information through a survey. It will not alter your regular medical treatment or appointments.
How long will the survey take to complete?
The online questionnaire takes around 30 to 40 minutes. You can pause at any point and return to finish it whenever it suits you.
Do I have to travel to Oxford or visit a hospital?
No. The entire study is completed online from your home using a computer, smartphone, or tablet.
Hålls min personliga information privat?
Yes. All personal information is stored securely following strict UK data privacy laws. Your name is removed and replaced with a code so you cannot be directly identified in the research findings.
Why are men not able to join this study?
Breast cancer is rare in men. Because so few men would be eligible, researchers would not have enough data to produce reliable results for them in this study.
Hur du får reda på mer
UnityBC Study Team
Prata alltid med din läkare eller specialist innan du bestämmer dig för att delta i en studie.
Intresserad av att delta?
Diskussion
Gemenskapsdiskussion
Drivs av vårt forum på community.patient.info. Var vänlig och respektfull — detta är inte medicinsk rådgivning.