Understanding inequalities in breast cancer

What’s the title of the study?

UnityBC: understanding inequities in breast cancer

What’s the project about?

Breast cancer outcomes are not the same for everyone. UnityBC is a new national research study looking at why experiences and outcomes differ between women from different ethnic backgrounds in the UK.

Women from minority ethnic backgrounds are diagnosed with breast cancer less often than white women, but they generally have poorer outcomes. The reasons are not fully understood. They could be linked to differences in how people access healthcare, or differences within the cancer itself.

UnityBC has been set up to help fill these gaps. The study will bring together information about participants’ health, treatment, lifestyle and experiences. It will run entirely online, and women can self-refer through the study website.

Women who take part will receive regular updates and become part of an active research community.

Who’s organising it?

Name of project lead: Toral Gathani

Job title: Associate Professor and Consultant Surgeon

Organisation: Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford

Email address: unitybc@ndph.ox.ac.uk

Phone number: 07957373412

Who can take part?

You can take part if you:

• Are a woman aged 18 or over

• Have been diagnosed with breast cancer within the past 13 months

• Live in the UK

Why do you want me to be involved?

Research does not always include enough women from key ethnic groups. That makes it harder to understand why breast cancer outcomes differ between communities.

By taking part, you can help researchers build a clearer picture of these differences — and generate evidence that could help address inequalities in breast cancer care and outcomes.

The researchers want women from all backgrounds to take part.

What will you ask me to do?

You’ll be asked to complete an online questionnaire, which takes around 30 minutes.

The questionnaire will ask about your health, treatment, lifestyle and experiences. You’ll also be asked whether you’d like to be contacted about future studies.

There is no payment for taking part.

How do I get involved?

To take part, visit the UnityBC study website.

When’s the deadline?

Study ongoing