Informing research into high blood sugar and breast cancer

What’s the title of the study?

The impact of hyperglycaemia on extracellular remodelling and tumour invasion in breast cancer.

What’s the project about?

Studies have shown that people with type 2 diabetes are more likely to get breast cancer, especially more aggressive forms like triple-negative breast cancer. People with diabetes are also more likely to have worse health outcomes. 

Researchers want to better understand the link between type 2 diabetes and breast cancer. They want to investigate how high blood sugar can affect the way that cancer develops and spreads.  

They hope that this will help doctors find aggressive cancer more quickly in diabetic people, and will lead to more personalised treatments. 

They want to hear your experiences and views to help them shape how they carry out the research. 

Who’s organising it?

Name of project lead: Samrein Ahmed

Job title: Senior lecturer/cancer biologist

Organisation: Sheffield Hallam University

Email address: Samrein.Ahmed@shu.ac.uk

Phone number: 07391 040 100

Who can take part?

You can take part if you’re over 18 and have been personally affected by breast cancer, either as a friend or family member, or through a personal diagnosis, including:

• DCIS 
• Stage 2 or 3 primary breast cancer  
• A local or regional recurrence of primary breast cancer  
• Secondary breast cancer  

Why do you want me to be involved? 

By sharing your experiences and priorities, you can shape how the researchers carry out the study and communicate the findings. This will mean that the research is more relevant to and accessible for people affected by breast cancer.

Ultimately, the researchers hope that this study will lead to more relevant and accessible treatments, especially for those in underrepresented or disadvantaged communities. 

What will you ask me to do?

The researchers would like you to complete a short, anonymous online survey. The survey only has 3 questions, and will ask you about:

• Your experience of breast cancer and other health conditions, such as diabetes 
• What information and support you think should be available for people going through breast cancer 
• How important it is to you for research to focus on the effect of other conditions on breast cancer. 

The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete 

How do I get involved?

Please complete the online survey. 

When’s the deadline?

25 April 2025