An innovative breast cancer research project launched in memory of the late Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding is already successfully identifying young women most at risk of the disease.
The BCAN-RAY (chest Cancer Risk Assessment in Young Women) was launched a year ago in the singer’s name, after she died from the disease in 2021, aged 39.
While undergoing treatment, the star said she was “really interested” in more research into why young women are being diagnosed without a family history of the condition.
One of the singer’s last hopes was to find ways to detect the disease early, when it was easier to treat.
BCAN-RAY is one of the only projects in the world that attempts to identify which women in their 30s are most at risk.
Around 2,300 women under the age of 40 are diagnosed with the disease every year in the UK, according to Breast Cancer Now.
The two-year study is using money from Cancer Research UK, Christie Charity and the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal – supported by his family and former bandmates.
It analyzes the risk factors most frequently found in young women with the disease and will provide a model for identifying them in the future.
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Anna Housley, 39, from Hale, Greater Manchester, is one of the women taking part in the trial. After being tested last year, the mother of two was surprised to discover she is at a higher risk.
With no history of the disease in her family, she told Sky News: “I’m so grateful it was found because now I know I will be looked after and can be checked.”
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Speaking about Harding’s work, she said: “All I can say is thank you to her for being such a courageous advocate for young women.”
The new information means she is now eligible for annual mammograms and medications if she wants them.
It is expected that all women will eventually be able to have a risk assessment when they reach their 30s.
Girls Aloud kicked off a reunion tour on Saturday dedicated to their late bandmate. Photo: David Fisher/Shutterstock
One thousand women from the Greater Manchester region will take part, including 250 with breast cancer who have no family history of the disease.
We hope that saliva samples will help experts identify certain types and patterns of genes that may increase a woman’s risk.
These will be considered with factors such as the timing of menstruation, breast tissue density, alcohol consumption and pill use.
Harding’s consultant Dr Sacha Howell, who is leading the study, said of the singer: “I think she would be absolutely thrilled to be part of this and her legacy is that we will be helping more and more young women like her.
“But what we all hope is that by detecting these cancers earlier, they unfortunately won’t have the end result that Sarah had, which was passing away from the disease.”
Harding’s legacy will not only be her successful music career, but also her work raising awareness about breast cancer and potentially giving many more women in their 30s a future.
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
