What is involved in taking part

The Breakthrough Generations Study involves over 100,000 women, aged 18 years or older resident in the UK. Those taking part in the study are asked to fill out a detailed questionnaire and provide a blood sample.

Questionnaires

Women taking part in the study are sent a participation pack containing a questionnaire to complete. The questionnaire asks about various factors in a woman's life that might be connected with risk of breast cancer – for instance asking you about:

  • How many children you have had

  • What age you were at their births

  • Whether and when you have taken the oral contraceptive pill

  • Whether you have had breast disease

The questionnaire information is stored under the custodianship of The Institute of Cancer Research and kept strictly confidential and seen only by the study team.

Blood samples

Women are also asked to provide a blood sample which will be analysed to obtain information about hormonal, family (genetic) and other factors that might influence the risk of breast cancer.

Follow-up

Periodically, in the future participants are invited to fill in a follow-up questionnaire and provide another blood sample to see how the factors we are investigating change over time.

Can I take part?

If you are interested in joining, you can request an information pack to decide whether you wish to take part, by sending an online request or by telephoning 0870 242 4485.

In 2008 our target was reached, but you can still return your questionnaire and blood sample if you have not already done so.

Can men take part?

The design of the study is not suitable to find causes of breast cancer in men. Therefore the study is solely for women. However, we have started, in parallel with the Generations study, a large investigation of the causation of breast cancer in men. The design, unlike that for the Generations study, is based on men who are specifically approached to take part because they have had breast cancer, rather than volunteers from the general population. More information on male breast cancer.