Shaping lifestyle support for families affected by breast cancer

What’s the title of the study?

Healthy Futures: Co-designing a Multigenerational Lifestyle Intervention for Women Affected by Breast Cancer and Their Close Female Family Members

What’s the project about?

Healthy habits can make a difference after a breast cancer diagnosis. But making lasting changes isn't always easy.

This study wants to understand what support would help women affected by breast cancer make lifestyle changes that work for them. The researchers also want to hear from close female family members, who may have their own concerns about breast cancer risk and health.

By bringing these perspectives together, the study will help design a new family-based lifestyle programme that supports women affected by breast cancer and their relatives side by side.

Who’s organising it?

Name of project lead: Dr Lauren Matheson

Job title: Research Fellow

Organisation: Oxford Brookes University

Email address: l.matheson@brookes.ac.uk 

Who can take part?

You can take part if you:

• Are aged 18 or over
• Are female or were assigned female at birth
• Live in the UK
• Have received a primary breast cancer diagnosis within the last 10 years

Or

• Are a close female family member (for example, a daughter, granddaughter, mother, sister or aunt) of someone who has received a primary breast cancer diagnosis within the last 10 years

You must also be able to take part in an online focus group or telephone interview.

Why do you want me to be involved?

Right now, there are no lifestyle programmes designed specifically for women affected by breast cancer and their close female family members together.

You can help change that.

By sharing your views, you'll help researchers understand what support people really want, what barriers they face, and what a successful family-based programme should look like. And in doing so, your insights could help shape future support for families affected by breast cancer.

What will you ask me to do?

If you choose to take part, you’ll be invited to take part in either:

• An online focus group with other participants (around 90 minutes)

Or

• A one-to-one interview by telephone or Zoom (around 60 minutes)

Whether you are interviewed in a group or one-to-one is based on what you would prefer. You can also choose whether to take part on your own or with a family member.

The discussion will explore:

• Experiences of making lifestyle changes after breast cancer
• Experiences of supporting a family member affected by breast cancer
• Views on physical activity, diet and alcohol
• Ideas for a family-based lifestyle support programme

You’ll also be asked to complete a short questionnaire about yourself and, where relevant, your diagnosis and treatment.

With your permission, the session will be audio-recorded so the researchers can accurately capture your views.

How do I get involved?

To register your interest, complete the online expression of interest form.

Or contact the study team directly by emailing Lauren at hmarriott@brookes.ac.uk. 

When’s the deadline?

31 July 2026