Give feedback on a research proposal into how financial impact of being off work impacts whether women get immediate breast reconstructions after a mastectomy.
What’s the title of the study?
Social value of cancer care: Quantifying the Societal Value and Productivity Costs of Immediate Breast Reconstruction using Linked Administrative Data
What’s the project about?
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in working-age women.
Immediate breast reconstruction after a mastectomy is often recommended to help restore physical integrity and confidence. However, there are inequalities in whether people choose to have one.
Researchers want to understand what factors influence whether women decide to have an immediate reconstruction. They’re investigating whether the longer recovery time needed for an immediate reconstruction may cause women who are self-employed or financially vulnerable to choose not to have one, as it means more time off work.
They hope that this project will highlight the structural inequalities that impact people’s care and outcomes, and demonstrate a need for greater financial support for women facing breast cancer.
Who’s organising it?
Name of project lead: Jiyeon Kang
Job title: Research fellow
Organisation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Email address: jiyeon.kang@lshtm.ac.uk
Who can take part?
You can take part if you’ve had a personal diagnosis of primary breast cancer and have had a mastectomy, with or without breast reconstruction, and were self-employed or on a flexible contract when you were diagnosed.
Why do you want me to be involved?
By taking part, you can help researchers understand how people choose whether or not to have a mastectomy.
This will ultimately help them analyse the social benefits of immediate reconstruction, and the impact of structural inequalities on cancer care and rehabilitation.
What will you ask me to do?
The researchers are looking for people to join the patient and public involvement activities.
This will involve an initial 1-hour online meeting on 17 February to review the research questions, to ensure they're relevant to the experiences of people with primary breast cancer.
If the project is funded, you then meet once or twice a year to help shape the project’s direction, interpret findings and give your perspective.
How do I get involved?
If you’re interested, please complete the expression of interest form.
If you’re selected for the group, the researchers will then be in touch with you to confirm a time for the meeting.
If you have any questions, please contact Jiyeon at jiyeon.kang@lshtm.ac.uk.
When’s the deadline?.
13 February 2026
Get involved
Sign up to join the group and help the researchers ensure that their research is relevant and beneficial for people making decisions about breast reconstructions.