UK breast cancer rates are rising

Despite some significant discoveries, breast cancer kills 35 women each day in the UK and the causes remain poorly understood in most cases.

Experts will track women every five years over a lifetime to look at how genetic, environmental and hormonal factors might be involved.

Breakthrough Breast Cancer is working with the Institute of Cancer Research and needs to raise �12 million to fund the first 10 years of the study.

Recruiting

The study aims to provide the most detailed information yet on what causes breast cancer and, as a result, give an understanding of how the disease can be prevented in the first place.

The scientists believe at least 20,000 cases of breast cancer a year could be prevented as a result of their research.

Any woman aged 18 or older and living in Britain can take part.

Each will be asked to fill in a questionnaire about themselves and their lifestyles and give a blood sample.

By signing up to join the study, I am doing my bit to help Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive of Breakthrough Breast Cancer

They will be contacted every five years to complete the same questionnaire and give further blood samples for the researchers to analyse.

In this way, the scientists hope to be able to relate future cancer risks to changes in lifestyle and to events occurring throughout a woman's life.

Although the study will run for 40 to 50 years, the researchers hope to have some results in the next few years.

Professor Alan Ashworth from the Institute of Cancer Research, who is leading the study, said: "Within a few years, we can expect the first results of the study to emerge, giving us a unique insight into the causes of breast cancer and, eventually, allowing us to work out methods to prevent it occurring in the first place."

"There have been real improvements in breast cancer treatment and diagnosis over the last decade but what's absolutely vital for the future is to prevent the disease occurring in the first place."

Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive of Breakthrough Breast Cancer, said: "We still can't tell women what they desperately want to know - how they, their mothers, sisters, daughters and grand daughters can reduce their chances of developing this devastating disease.

"Breakthrough's vision is a future free from the fear of breast cancer and I hope that by signing up to join the study, I am doing my bit to help make this vision a reality for future generations."