University aiming to boost breast cancer screening attendance
Researchers at the University of Bradford are investigating the barriers members of the black African community in the UK can face to attending breast cancer screening in a new project.
The research and support charity Breast Cancer Now has awarded £114,167 to Dr Melanie Cooper at the University of Bradford to find ways to encourage black African women to go to their NHS breast screening appointments.
Black African women are less likely to go to their breast screening appointment, compared to other communities in the UK. Previous studies found only 49 per cent of black African women who are invited to breast screening go to their appointment, compared to 67 per cent of white women and 63 per cent of black Caribbean women.
This is particularly concerning as breast screening is a key tool in helping to detect breast cancer at the earliest possible stage, when treatment is most likely to be successful.
Black women are also more likely to be diagnosed with more advanced breast cancers, with 25 per cent of black African women and 22 per cent of black Caribbean women diagnosed with stage 3 or 4 breast cancer at diagnosis compared with 13 per cent of white women.
Dr Cooper and her team are experts in working together with ethnic minority communities and their new research aims to shed light on what stops black African women from attending their breast screening appointments and how to find ways to encourage more of them to go.
Making a difference
Breast screening needs to be easily accessible to everyone who is eligible to maximise the number of people taking up their invite. As part of Breast Cancer Now’s #NoTimeToWaste campaign, the charity is also calling for the government to urgently invest in breast screening to make services more inclusive, remove barriers to attendance, and ensure it has the staff and resources needed to offer high quality care, now and in decades to come.
To understand the barriers and challenges that may be contributing to poorer attendance at breast screening appointments, the researchers will work closely with black African women to develop a new programme that could help increase attendance.
Black African women will be invited to test the programme and changes will be made according to their feedback.
Drawing on the results of this study, the researchers will provide a set of recommendations to healthcare professionals, charities and voluntary sector organisations for UK African women to better support and encourage black African women to go to screening.
Dr Cooper said: “We are delighted to receive the funding to do this important work where we hope to make a difference to black African women's lives by making sure breast cancer is picked up early. Because the earlier breast cancer is diagnosed, the better chance of successful treatment.
“The study will explore three aspects needed to encourage women to change their behaviour – capability, opportunity, and motivation.
“Capability relates to the women knowing about breast cancer and the importance of screening. Opportunity is whether their environment allows them to go for screening, and both of these influence their motivation to take up breast cancer screening.”
Ugomma Nwadinigwe, pictured above, a researcher working on the study, said: “It is great to have the opportunity to carry out this research.
“From my experience, breast cancer screening is a very important area for women, especially black African women, as it ensures early detection, awareness and optimal access to breast screening. The research will explore key factors that influence breast cancer screening in black African women in the UK.
“The screening itself is important, but it’s also important to explore through research, ways to increase breast cancer screening uptake in black African women in the UK. In order to avoid late presentation or late detection of aggressive or metastatic breast cancer.”
Dr Simon Vincent, Breast Cancer Now’s director of research, support and influencing, said: “Building an accurate and detailed picture of the barriers in breast cancer screening uptake among black African women is the first critical step towards earlier diagnosis and more women surviving the disease.
“Breast Cancer Now is delighted to be funding this research which will reveal key lessons for the healthcare system, and organisations such as Breast Cancer Now, so we can continue to best shape our support to encourage black African women to attend their screening appointments.”
Breast Cancer Now encourage all women to attend breast screening appointments when invited and regularly check their breasts, reporting any unusual changes to their GP as soon as possible. The charity is here for anyone affected by breast cancer, providing support for today and hope for the future. Go to breastcancer.org for more information.
To find out more about how breast cancer affects different communities and further resources, go to breastcancernow.org/information-support/support-you/ethnic-communities-hub for more details.
Breast Cancer Now’s life-saving research is only possible thanks to the incredible generosity of its supporters. This project’s funding was supported by the Asda Tickled Pink campaign.