What happened?
Patient data is used to identify women at risk of developing breast cancer and make sure they are offered enhanced breast cancer screening. Women who have had radiotherapy to breast tissue as treatment for lymphoma when aged between 10 to 35 have an increased risk of developing breast cancer in the future. These women benefit from starting breast screening at an earlier age to help detect potential breast cancer. But research found that many of these women were not being screened for a variety of reasons. National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service (NCRAS) data is now used to identify these at-risk women in England and place them in a database called the Breast screening After Radiotherapy Dataset (BARD). BARD data is then used identify these women and refer them for NHS breast screening as and when they become eligible. These women are sent invites and extra information about the programme to inform them about the benefits of screening.
Why was this work needed?
This work is needed to help save lives of women at risk of developing breast cancer. By inviting these women to attend NHS breast screening appointments, cancer can be found at an early and more treatable stage. Without patient data, we would not know which individuals are at greater risk of developing breast cancer and be able to focus our work to support these patients.
What are the benefits?
BARD identifies women at increased risk of breast cancer who are eligible to start enhanced breast screening. The sooner cancer is detected, the more treatment options are available to patients and the higher the chances of recovery. This is an important example of how patient data helps healthcare services make improvements to save lives.
What type of data is used?
This work uses data collected as part of cancer registration and held securely by NCRAS.
What is the legal basis for accessing this data?
NCRAS has legal permission to collect patient level data and use it for research to protect the health of the population. This permission was granted to NCRAS under Section 251 of the NHS Act 2006, whilst it was still part of Public Health England (PHE).
Who collaborated on this work?
The set-up of BARD was initiated by Professor John Radford (BARD chair) and carried out by a collaboration of the BARD team, alongside NHS clinicians, patients and radiotherapy centres across England.
Where can I find more information?
Last edited: 30 May 2024 3:59 pm