The legacy of Girls Aloud star Sarah Harding continues to make a huge impact following her death in 2021.
The singer passed away in September 2021 at just 39 years old following a breast cancer diagnosis. Now, three-and-a-half years later, the second phase of a groundbreaking breast cancer study created at her request is ready to begin.
Funded by The Christie Charity Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal, phase two of the BCAN-RAY (Breast Cancer Risk Assessment in Younger Women) study is to begin in September. It will involve the creation of a new medical role named in honour of the singer. Called the Sarah Harding Young Women’s Breast Cancer Fellowship, it means her name will live on through a permanent senior research laboratory post focusing on understanding and mitigating breast cancer risks for women in their 30s.
The research will be led by Dr Sacha Howell from The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester University Foundation Trust (MFT) and The University of Manchester. If follows the first phase of BCAN-RAY, which began in May 2023.
The study is focused on exploring risk factors and creating personalised early screening options for women as young as 30. Currently, women in the UK are only invited for routine breast screenings every three years from the age of 50 to 70. BCAN-RAY intends to provide early interventions for them via preventative treatment.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of death in women aged 35-50 years in the UK, with an estimated 10, 000 women a year diagnosed under the age of 50.
Dr Howell, who was also Sarah Harding’s consultant when she was being treated at The Christie said of the findings so far: “We’re really confident that we have a system that is working, from the results so far, which is great news. These findings mean that we may be able to offer personalised ways to predict and prevent breast cancer more widely in the population in future.
” We have expanded the recruitment sites for this study beyond The Christie hospital to other cancer units at Lancaster, Wirral, Bolton, Tameside, Leighton, Wigan, and Macclesfield. In five years ‘ time we would like to see the risk prediction for breast cancer in young women rolled out across the UK so we can reduce the number of deaths and improve lives. “
He continued:” We have made great strides in the first phase of our BCAN-RAY study, and ‘ The Sarah Harding Young Women’s Breast Cancer Fellowship ‘ will bring us a step closer to achieving Sarah’s goal. Her wish was that no other young woman should experience the shock and devastation of a breast cancer diagnosis when they have no reason to think they are at risk and have no family history of the disease. “
Sarah’s bandmates, Cheryl Tweedy, Nadine Coyle, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh are also committed to the ongoing research and to keep their friend’s legacy going. The bandmates said:” Before Sarah passed away, we promised her we would fulfil her wish of raising as much money as possible for vital breast cancer research. Too many young women who have no reason to believe they are at risk of breast cancer are dying from the disease. We miss Sarah every day and will do everything in our power to support research in her name to reduce the chances of other women going through what she experienced. “
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Source: Mirror
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