Our standards for producing health information

We’re here for everyone affected by breast cancer.

To make sure our breast cancer and breast health information is reliable and up to date, we apply high standards when we research, write and publish it.

We put the needs of people affected by breast cancer or worried about their breast health at the heart of our information.

Inclusive language

We use "you" or "people" in our information so that everyone feels included. We only talk about men and women or male and female when it is clinically necessary or in order to talk to specific groups.

We do not talk about age unless it’s relevant, for example, the age people can be invited for breast screening.

Level of detail

We balance having the right amount of detail, and offer options if you want to know more, like signposting to both our support services and those of other trusted organisations.

Clear language and translation

All information is in plain English. If we translate our information, we get it checked by our healthcare professionals or lay reviewers to ensure it is translated to the right level and isn’t too complex.

Reading age

We aim for a reading age of 11 to 14 years so that the information can be understood by as many people as possible. Ideally, we strive for a lower reading age.

Artificial intelligence (AI)

We don’t use AI to write our health information. All first draft content is written by our team of breast cancer nurses and health content editors. We may use AI sometimes to help with the formatting of content. Final sign-off of content is always completed by a senior member of our nursing team and a senior member of the content team.

Photography and illustration

Photographs are inclusive of people affected by breast cancer or concerned about their breast health. Where possible, we use people who have a personal experience of breast cancer, their family and friends rather than stock images.

Illustrations are clear and appropriate. Illustrations of people will use a range of skin tones.

Design

We lay out our information in a way that is clear and easy to read. 

We use plenty of white space to make the contrast between the page and the text clear and not overwhelming. Our website is designed as “mobile first” so it can be navigated on a smartphone.

Our information is available to all for free.

All our printed information is also available in accessible formats by request, including large print, braille and audio.

We also have some information in languages other than English, and in a small number of easy read publications. You can find out more about our information in the download and order section of our website. 

Getting our information right

Any medical terms are explained with the everyday word used first and the medical term used in brackets after it, for example, feeling sick (nausea).

Clinical information will be checked and approved by our own specialist nurses and external experts.

Information is also reviewed by people affected by breast cancer before being published. If you would be interested in becoming a reviewer for our health information, email health-info@breastcancernow.org

Conflicts of interest

We’ll be honest about any conflicts of interest and tell you about any uncertainties.

Keeping it up to date

Information will be reviewed, updated and amended regularly if guidance changes.

How we talk about side effects

We spoke to both healthcare professionals and lay reviewers about the best way for us to describe effects.

As a result, we describe side effects like this:

• Common side effects happen to more than 10 in every 100 people who take the drug
• Occasional side effects that happen to between 1 and 10 in every 100 people who take the drug
• Rare side effects happen to fewer than 1 in 100 people who take the drug

This reflects how side effects are described in the summary of product characteristics (SPC) - the official description of what a drug does, how it can be used and the side effects it may cause.

For more information, contact us at health-info@breastcancernow.org

References and sources

If you’d like a list of the sources we used to research any of our health information pages or publications, email health-info@breastcancernow.org

Your feedback about the information we produce is important to us.

Health information webpages have a form where you can give anonymous feedback. The comments are monitored and considered when the information is reviewed.

You can also send feedback to health-info@breastcancernow.org

Our charity is a member of the Patient Information Forum (PIF). PIF is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that provides expert guidance on the development of high-quality health information. They have developed the PIF Tick as a quality mark for health information.

We follow the best practice guidelines developed by PIF and have a clear process for creating and reviewing our health information.

We are assessed by PIF annually to make sure the information we produce still meets the PIF TICK quality standards.