Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
1
Congratulations on becoming a Breast
Cancer UK Ambassador!
Thank you for volunteering to be a Breast Cancer UK Ambassador! We are hugely grateful for
your time and commitment to help us go out and truly help people to reduce their risk of breast
cancer.
Around 55,000i women per annum are diagnosed with breast cancer. 1 in 8 women will get
breast cancer at some point in their lives, 1 in 5 of those will be in women under the age of 50ii.
Age standardised incidence rates have risen by 7.7%iii in the last decade alone.
Breast Cancer UK was set up to help prevent breast cancer and we want to see these rates
decline. Our mission is to help people all over the country reduce their risk of the disease. This
is why we have set up the Ambassador programme, so that people like you can go out into your
local communities to talk to people about breast cancer, what the risk factors are and most
importantly what people can do to reduce their risk.
Our Ambassador Manual provides you with the key information you will need to go out and give
our talks. But one of the Breast Cancer UK team will always be on hand to help and support you
in your role.
We are grateful to the Big Lottery Fund for helping to support this important initiative and are so
glad that you have chosen to be a part of our campaign to help spread the prevention message.
Together we will help to prevent breast cancer.
Lynn Ladbrook
Chief Executive
2
CONTENTS
Contents ............................................................................................................................................................ 2
The Ambassador Programme ............................................................................................................................. 3
Supporting you in your role as Ambassador ...................................................................................................... 4
Ambassador Resources ...................................................................................................................................... 5
Promoting ‘Let’s Prevent Breast Cancer’ talks ................................................................................................... 7
Booking a ‘Let’s Prevent Breast Cancer’ talk ...................................................................................................... 8
Giving your talk .................................................................................................................................................. 9
Some general Housekeeping ............................................................................................................................ 10
Q&As ................................................................................................................................................................ 11
FAQs ................................................................................................................................................................. 17
Glossary of Terms ............................................................................................................................................. 19
Appendix A: Check List of what to take ............................................................................................................ 20
Appendix B: Sample Email or Letter ................................................................................................................. 21
Appendix C: Attendance Sheet ........................................................................................................................ 22
Appendix D: Quiz Questions ............................................................................................................................. 23
Appendix D: Quiz Answers ............................................................................................................................... 24
Appendix E Ambassador Feedback Form ......................................................................................................... 26
Appendix F: Donation Policy ............................................................................................................................ 27
Appendix G: Donation/Collection Can Form ................................................................................................... 29
Appendix H: Expenses Policy ............................................................................................................................ 30
Appendix I Expense Form ................................................................................................................................. 31
Appendix J Links and Resources ....................................................................................................................... 32
References ........................................................................................................................................................ 34
3
THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAMME
WHY HAVE AN AMBASSADOR PROGRAMME
Breast cancer incidence rates in the UK increase year on year and more people than ever before
have been or will be affected by the disease. Our mission is to help prevent breast cancer – but
to reach more men and women across the country we need help. That’s why we developed the
Ambassador programme. Our Ambassadors will take Breast Cancer UK’s prevention messages,
scientific information and tips on how to #ReduceYourRisk to new audiences all over the country.
LOTTERY FUNDING
We were lucky enough to secure Lottery Funding from Awards for All in 2017 and we are really
grateful to the Big Lottery Fund for their support. This extra funding has contributed towards
the cost of generating and printing training packs and talk materials as well as a short film that
Ambassadors use at their talks. The ambassador programme is now an established aspect of
Breast Cancer UK’s work programme and we will continue to fund this work to ensure it
continues to grow to help to prevent breast cancer.
OUR GOAL FOR THE FUTURE
This is just the beginning. Our aim is to have as many Ambassadors that funding will allow,
located across the country so that we can reach all communities with our prevention message. If
you know anyone who would like to volunteer and help us reach our goal to prevent breast
cancer, please do put them in contact with us.
Together we can prevent breast cancer.
4
SUPPORTING YOU IN YOUR ROLE AS AMBASSADOR
THE AMBASSADOR PROJECT MANAGER
Our Project Manager and Assistant will be available by phone or email to help with any questions
or problems you may encounter. They will be your main point of contact on a day-to-day basis.
Contact details are on the back page of this manual.
SHARE YOUR IDEAS AND EXPERIENCES
We encourage you to share your experiences as a Breast Cancer UK Ambassador with us as often as possible so that we can make the most of good and bad feedback for the benefit of all our Ambassadors. You will be asked to complete an Ambassador Feedback Form (Appendix E) after each talk you do and you will have the opportunity to share information with us. You can complete it electronically in the Ambassador Centre breastcanceruk.org.uk/ambassadors
FACEBOOK GROUP
You will be invited to join our private Facebook group where you can share ideas and experiences
with other Ambassadors. If you don’t use Facebook, we will still send emails to keep you in
touch. We can also share your ideas and experiences with other Ambassadors on the Facebook
group on your behalf.
AMBASSADOR WEBPAGES
A full list of resources, updates as well as links to relevant forms and downloads will be available
on the Ambassador pages of our website: www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/ambassadors. As these
resources are for Ambassadors only, these pages will not be visible in the main navigation menus.
This manual, all forms and resources can be downloaded from the Ambassador Centre http://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/ambassadors
5
AMBASSADOR RESOURCES
THE POWERPOINT PRESENTATION
We recommend where possible that your talk uses the PowerPoint presentation provided. You
have a copy of each slide with the accompanying notes for you to use when presenting and a digital
copy on a memory stick. This presentation contains all of the information, statistics and imagery
you are likely to need. Please refer to the Ambassador Centre on the website for an up to date
version of the PowerPoint presentation from time to time and download the latest version on to
your USB. Just go to http://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/ambassadors
If the appropriate technology (i.e. laptops and projectors) is not available, feel free to print out or
photocopy the relevant slides and pass these round at your talk. It is important that you use the
data and statistics in the most up to date slides. These statistics are correct and verified at the
time of publication.
If you wish to tailor your presentation and miss certain slides out this is fine – you will know your
audience best and will be able to pick and choose which elements of the presentation will most
interest them, especially as you become more familiar with the topic and confident with the talk.
A full list of references for the presentation can be obtained from Breast Cancer UK.
If you need help with preparing a presentation for a particular audience, please do contact the Ambassador Project Manager.
THE QUIZ
We have developed a short quiz (Appendix D) that you can use to get people thinking about
what they already know about breast cancer. Giving the answers will also serve as an
introduction to the facts and figures surrounding breast cancer.
The Quiz is good thing to give people when they arrive as they can fill it in whilst they are waiting for everyone. You can then start your presentation with the answers.
MAKE YOUR OWN NATURAL COSMETICS
This is a fun, interactive way of showing your guests how easy it can be to make their own
products that are free from harmful chemicals. Recipe cards for making a moisturiser, a face
wash and a body scrub are available. You will need to buy your own ingredients. These can be
sourced online or at a health food store. Try and buy organic where possible. You can also visit
the website to find out how to make natural cleaning products.
http://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/reduce-your-risk/safer-cleaning-products/
6
SHORT FILM
You have a short film to use as a way of simply summarising some of the messages in the
PowerPoint presentation. This is a good way to finish your presentation. Please encourage
participants to watch and share the film online.
The film is on your USB memory stick and we recommend that it is copied to the desktop of the
laptop being used for your presentation for optimum quality.
It can also be viewed via YouTube -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq9cgGIdo0I&feature=youtu.be
This manual, all forms and resources can be downloaded from the Ambassador Centre
http://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/ambassadors
7
PROMOTING ‘LET’S PREVENT BREAST CANCER’ TALKS
WHERE TO GIVE YOUR TALK
There are various places where you might want to consider giving a talk. For example:
• Friends/family (a friendly audience!)
• At work
• Other local businesses
• Local community groups
• Health clubs, golf, gym or local
classes
• Pregnant and new mums groups
• Local events
WHO CAN HELP YOU FIND GUESTS FOR YOUR TALKS?
As well as using your own connections, you could also approach the following organisations to
help you promote your talks.
• Local breast cancer support groups
• Your local council
• Your local HealthWatch
(www.healthwatch.co.uk)
• Your local library
• Local community centre
• Natural health/fitness professionals
OTHER WAYS TO PROMOTE YOUR TALKS
You can also promote your talks by:
• Promoting on social media networks use the hashtag #ReduceYourRisk
• Circulating fliers at appropriate venues like the local library or health centre
• Asking those that attend talks to take a leaflet away with them and spread the word
• Emails/Letters to targeted companies – a sample email is attached in Appendix B.
WHAT BREAST CANCER UK WILL DO
Breast Cancer UK will promote the availability of Ambassador ‘Let’s Prevent Breast Cancer’ talks
via its website, social media and newsletters, at local events and with interested organisations
such as the WI, NCT etc. We will also contact local press with the Ambassador's permission.
We will make it clear that talks are subject to the availability of a local ambassador. There is no
pressure on you to do every request we get!
If you have any other ideas for promoting talks but are unsure whether they are suitable please
contact the Ambassador Project Manager.
8
BOOKING A ‘LET’S PREVENT BREAST CANCER’ TALK
BOOKING A TALK
To help us monitor the number of requests, and ensure Ambassadors are not being
overwhelmed, we ask that you keep us informed of all of the talks you book.
Where possible, please ask companies, organisations and individuals to use the booking form on
the website that can be found at www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/book-a-talk
Any requests made via this page will go direct to the Ambassador Project Manager who will liaise
with the relevant Ambassador to check their availability.
Once you have confirmed your availability and have agreed to do the talk, you will agree a
convenient time and make arrangements on set-up timing etc. The Ambassador Project Manager
will liaise with the talk host to help with promotion of the event and the technical requirements,
copying you in on emails. The Ambassador Project Manager will also contact the talk host afterwards
to get their feedback.
It you are unsure of anything please contact the Ambassador Project Manager.
If you book a talk with a friend or personal contact, you do not need to complete the online
booking form – just complete the Ambassador Feedback Form after the talk online at
www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/ambassadors/feedback/ (also attached as Appendix E).
DONATIONS
All of our ‘Let’s Prevent Breast Cancer’ talks are free of charge. If individuals, businesses or
organisations wish to make the talk part of a general fundraising event or would like to make
donations, then we would be happy to accept these subject to our Donation Policy (Appendix F)
The Ambassador Project Manager will liaise with the hosting organisation, suggesting that they may like to make a donation and providing the necessary details.
You will be supplied with a Breast Cancer UK collection tin to display at your talk in case any of
the guests would like to make a donation. If you receive donations in the collection tin at your
talk, please follow the process outlined in Appendix G. If the organiser or host of the talk would
like a certificate (say for example if a lot of money has been raised), please request this on the
form.
9
GIVING YOUR TALK
BEFORE THE TALK
• Contact the organiser to double check and confirm, date, time, location and expected
numbers. It is important to check numbers so you can ensure you have the right amount of
materials.
• Decide what resources and materials you want to take. A check list is included as Appendix A
• Remember to contact the Ambassador Project Assistant well ahead of any talks if you need
more supplies of leaflets etc.
AT THE TALK
• Arrive ahead of time, so you have time to set up, collect your thoughts, grab a coffee etc.
• Remember to ask guests to fill out an attendance sheet – this is so we can monitor the reach
of the project and also email guests feedback forms after the event. Please note that guests
can opt out of receiving further information from Breast Cancer UK.
• Enjoy your talk and have fun!
AFTER THE TALK
• If you have a completed attendance sheet please return this to Breast Cancer UK either via
email (scanned) or in the post. Please do not keep copies of this information. It is important
that it is shredded and discarded safely after you have passed on the data collected to BCUK.
You must not use the information gathered for any personal or commercial purposes. It is
important that all information is passed to BCUK only and to no other third parties. This is to
ensure we do not lose people’s personal information, maintain their information securely and
are compliant with the General Data Protection Act.
• We will send guests a follow up email and ask them to give their feedback via an online and
anonymous survey. The data will be used to help us improve our training, resources and
support. We will also ask the host to send out the email on our behalf too.
• Fill out the online Ambassador Feedback Form at
www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/ambassadors/feedback/ with details of the talk, attendees, how
it went etc. This will help us to monitor the success of the programme, and also ensure we
can adapt and tailor training and materials as appropriate.
• If you can, please share details of your event on the Ambassador Facebook private group.
• Submit expenses form for travel and parking costs (by 20th of the month to receive by the
end of that month).
10
SOME GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING
STAY SAFE
The welfare and safety of our Ambassadors is our number 1 priority. Whilst we do not envisage
any significant risk in giving ‘Let’s Prevent Breast Cancer’ talks, we urge you to consider your
general safety and security when making arrangements for any talk.
• Never visit a private home alone unless you know the organiser of the talk.
• Always tell someone where you are going and what time you are expected back.
• If you feel uncomfortable with any of the arrangements, location or venue, please contact
your Ambassador Project Manager ahead of the talk.
• If driving, try to park close to the location and if it’s dark, park in a well-lit area.
• If you are taking public transport, wait for transport at a busy stop or station that is well lit.
• Avoid being left alone with any individuals you don’t know and if you feel uncomfortable with
any situation at any time, try to extricate yourself from the situation and alert the organiser.
If any accident or incidence occurs within your role as a volunteer for Breast Cancer UK, please
alert a member of Breast Cancer UK’s staff as soon as possible.
DEALING WITH THE PRESS
Please refer all press enquiries to Breast Cancer UK, even if you know the paper and/journalist.
No comments or stories should be given directly to the media without prior permission. We will
never give any of your personal details to a member of the press or any member of the public
without your express permission. If a local paper would like an interview or attend one of your
events, we will liaise with you and be on hand to support you in any dealings with that request.
DATA PROTECTION AND CONFIDENTIALITY
Breast Cancer UK is committed to safeguarding and protecting the privacy of its supporters and
any personal information we hold, is held in compliance with data protection laws. As a
volunteer, we expect you to protect any personal or confidential information you may come into
contact with. If you gather any personal information at a talk such as emails please pass on this
information to Breast Cancer UK as soon as possible and then shred any copies you may have.
Please do not use any information gathered for personal or commercial purposes.
REPRESENTING THE CHARITY IN THE COMMUNITY
As well as presenting ‘Let’s Prevent Breast Cancer’ talks, Ambassadors will have the opportunity
to represent Breast Cancer UK at other events if they choose to do so.
• Cheque presentations – we are often invited to attend a cheque presentation at a local
club or company, if they have raised a significant amount for us. If you are interested in
attending something like this in your local area please let us know.
• Events and exhibitions – Breast Cancer UK regularly book stands and stalls at exhibitions
as part of our outreach and campaigning and often rely on the assistance of volunteers to
help us ‘man’ these stands. If you are interested in helping out in this way too, please let
the Ambassador Project Manager know.
11
Q&As
Below are some Q&As to help you respond to any difficult questions you may be asked at talks.
If you are unsure how to answer any question please make a note of the question and the
person’s contact details and ask the Ambassador Project Manager, to help you respond.
ABOUT BREAST CANCER UK
Q: What do Breast Cancer UK do?
A: Breast Cancer UK address the
environmental and chemical contaminants
associated with breast cancer. BCUK
believe that exposure to a cocktail of
chemicals, present in many everyday
products and the environment, could be
affecting breast development in a way that
makes us more vulnerable to breast cancer.
Better public health policies and chemicals
regulation could help prevent breast cancer
before it starts.
Q: What is the difference between the
various breast cancer charities?
A: Breast Cancer UK focus on the
prevention of breast cancer and specifically
the environmental and chemical causes of
the disease. There are many other breast
cancer charities – some focus on treatment
and care, others on research. So many
people are affected by breast cancer and
there are many, many local and national
charities that have been set up to try and
help deal with the many challenges having a
disease like breast cancer brings. (See info
sheet at Appendix J.)
Q: Breast Cancer UK want funding to go
towards prevention. But will that mean less
towards finding a cure?
A: Whilst BCUK support funding research
into improved treatments and cures for
breast cancer, preventing people getting
breast cancer in the first place should also
be a priority - prevention is better than cure.
Q. Why do Breast Cancer UK not feature the
pink ribbon?
A: The message traditionally associated with
the Pink Ribbon is for more screening, better
treatment and more research. Breast Cancer
UK prefer to differentiate themselves from
the pink ribbon as they are about
prevention, rather than treatment and cure.
Q: What does Breast Cancer UK call for?
A: Breast Cancer UK campaign for the
primary prevention of breast cancer –
specifically better chemicals regulation to
protect the general public from routine
exposure to harmful chemicals linked to
breast cancers and improved public health
policies and priorities that help to protect
and inform people about the chemicals
associated with breast cancer.
Q: Do Breast Cancer UK support or carry out
any testing on animals?
A: No. Breast Cancer UK do not fund or
carry out any research which relies on animal
testing. It is Breast Cancer UK’s view that
there should be a transition away from
animal testing. BCUK’s Policy on Animal
Experimentation can be found here
http://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/uploads/
Breast_Cancer_UK_Policy_on_Animal_Exper
imentation_May_2017.pdf
12
ABOUT THE STATISTICS
Q: I thought breast cancer rates were going
down - aren’t we winning the battle?
A: In the last 10 years female death rates for
breast cancer in the UK have fallen by
around a fifth. We are getting better at
diagnosing and treating breast cancer, but
we are not getting better at preventing
people from getting it in the first place.
Breast Cancer incidence rates are still rising.
1 in 8 women will get breast cancer at some
point in their lives. Around 55,000 women in
the UK are diagnosed with breast cancer
each year (and 7,000 were diagnosed with
DCIS)iv.
Q. Is research funding into prevention and
the causes of breast cancer low because we
now have all the information we need?
A. We can only speculate as to why funding
into prevention and the causes of cancer is
so low. But we don’t have all of the
information we need. There are still many
gaps in our knowledge about what causes
breast cancer, why some women get it and
some women don’t and most importantly
how we can prevent it from happening in
the first place. More research could help us
to answer some of these questions.
Q: Breast cancer rates are rising because
we are getting older or getting better at
diagnosis, not because of harmful
chemicals?
A: The rise in incidence rates cannot be
explained fully by our aging population or
improved diagnosis of the disease, although
these factors are no doubt responsible for
some of the increase. Breast screening rates
have remained roughly the same over the
last ten years, female longevity has
increased - but only by 2 years over the same
periodv - yet age standardised incidence
rates have increased by 7.7%. Evidence
suggests that there is something about
modern life – our environments and
personal lifestyle - that is increasing our
susceptibility to the disease. Studies show
those born before 1940 with a genetic
predisposition to breast cancer were far less
likely to go on to develop the disease than
those born after 1940vi.
ABOUT CHEMICALS
13
Q: How do chemicals increase risk of breast
cancer?
A: Some chemicals interfere with our natural
hormones, including oestrogens. They’re
known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals or
EDCs. Some EDCs mimic oestrogen and
could be increasing our risk of breast
cancervii. Research shows that high levels of
oestrogen in a woman’s body puts her at
increased risk of getting breast cancerviii.
Q: Why do other cancer charities disagree
that chemical exposures are a risk?
A: Some cancer charities choose to prioritise
other risk factors for breast cancer over
exposure to chemicals of concern. Whilst
we fully support the valuable work they do,
warnings from reputable scientists as well as
bodies such as the World Health
Organisation - suggest that chemical
exposure is a risk factor for breast cancerix.
Q: These chemicals are used because they
have important functions. What’s the
alternative? We can’t just get rid of them.
A. It is not always the case that these
chemicals are necessary to make 21st century
living easier. Some chemicals may not
always be necessary in certain products –
e.g. flame retardants in push chairs? Anti-
statics in packaging? For many, there are
greener, safer alternatives. More needs to
be done to encourage substitution – this
would lead to greener manufacturing, a
healthier environment and better public
health.
Q: We don’t know enough about effects of
these chemicals to warrant action – isn’t
this just scare mongering?
A: There is enough science to warrant
precautionary action on many harmful
chemicals. For example, there is an
extensive UN/WHO report published in 2013x
which details many of the harmful effects of
endocrine disrupting chemicals, including
their links to breast cancer. It is thought
that up to 1 in 5xi of all cancers are caused by
environmental exposures. In 2013 there
were over 350,000 new cancer cases
diagnosed in the UKxii – isn’t it worth
exploring whether we could prevent up to
70,000 of those cases? We support further
research – but it could take many years
before we unravel the whole story – in the
meantime, a precautionary approach is
needed to protect public health now and in
the future.
Q: Which chemicals are Breast Cancer UK
concerned about?
A: Not all chemicals are harmful - water is a
chemical for example. But some chemicals
can cause cancer – these are known as
carcinogens and others can interfere with
our hormones – these are knowns as
endocrine (or hormone) disrupting
chemicals (EDCs). Unfortunately many
everyday products contain known or
suspected EDCs e.g. they are used in
plastics, cosmetics, as preservatives in food
and drink and in packaging. Currently
chemicals regulation is inadequate to help
protect us against exposure to EDCs.
ABOUT RISK FACTORS
14
Q. Do you have to have a family history of
breast cancer to get it?
A. Those with a family link or a specific
genetic mutation are at higher risk of getting
breast cancerxiii. But the majority of breast
cancers are in women who have no genetic
mutation or family history of the disease.
Anyone can get breast cancer.
Q. Why are taller women at higher risk of
getting breast cancer?
A: A study which included 5 million women
found that being tall is a risk factor for
hormone responsive breast cancerxiv. The
reasons for this are not well understood. It
is likely that genetic factors and biological
pathways which affect adult height may
explain the association, for example taller
women have higher levels of insulin-like
growth factor -1, which also promotes cell
division and inhibits programmed cell death
(which increases cancer risk). Cancer
incidence increases with increasing adult
height for most types of cancers
Q. Is stress a risk factor for breast cancer?
A. It is unclear whether stress is a major risk
factor for breast cancer. A 2016xv study of
over 100,000 UK women found no
association between breast cancers and
stress. However, other studies have
identified a link. Irrespective of whether or
not research will identify stress as a risk
factor for breast cancer, stress is not good
for you, and we should all try and reduce the
amount of stress in our lives.
Q. What does it mean to have dense
breasts? Can you do anything about it?
A: Breasts are described as “dense” if they
have lots of fibrous or glandular tissue, and
not much fat tissue. Dense breast tissue is
detected on a mammogram and is not
related to the size of your breasts or how
they feel. Breasts are naturally more or less
dense (due to inheritance), although breast
density does change over time, and breasts
tend to become less dense with age.
Exposure to some EDCs (e.g. BPA) may
increase breast density, especially if it occurs
in utero (in the womb) or during pubertyxvi.
Dense breasts make mammograms more
difficult to interpret.
Q. Oestrogen is produced naturally so why
is it harmful?
A. Research suggests that higher levels of
circulating oestrogens are associated with
an increased risk of breast cancer (this is
also true for men) but it is not fully
understood why it is harmfulxvii. One
explanation is that oestrogen encourages
certain cell types to divide more often. The
more a cell divides, the more likely
mutations will accumulate. The
accumulation of particular mutations in cells
can lead to breast cancer. Furthermore,
oestrogen break down products can also
cause mutationsxviii. Therefore high levels of
oestrogen can increase breast cancer risk.
Synthetic oestrogens are chemicals which
interfere with the body’s natural
oestrogens. Often they mimic the actions of
oestrogen (i.e. help to promote cell
division), and so increase breast cancer risk.
Q. Can mammograms increase risk of
breast cancer? What is Breast Cancer UK’s
position on mammograms?
A. The main benefit to mammography
screening is a reduced likelihood of breast
cancer mortality. The main disadvantage is
over diagnosis (cancer diagnosed by
screening that would not otherwise have
come to attention in a woman‘s lifetime)
and unnecessary treatmentxix.
Mammograms deliver very low levels of
ionising radiation, which will slightly increase
breast cancer risk (estimated to be 3-6
15
cancers per 10,000 women who are
screened every 3 years from age 47 to 73)xx.
Breast Cancer UK currently believe it is up to
women to decide whether or not they
choose to take up the NHS offer of
mammography screening.
Breast Cancer UK do not offer advice on
mammography screening for breast cancer.
BCUK believe women should decide
whether they participate in the NHS
screening programme and that their
decision should be based on a full
understanding of the potential risks and
benefits. We encourage women to read
about screening protocols online and
discuss individual options with their
physicians.
For information about mammography
screening please see the following websites:
Public Health England (2013). NHS breast
screening helping you decide.
http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/Media/SUHTInternet
/Services/BreastImagingUnit/NHS-Breast-
Screening---helping-you-decide.pdf
The Independent UK Panel on Breast Cancer
(2012). The Benefits and Harms of Breast
Cancer Screening: An Independent Review.
http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/sites/def
ault/files/ibsr-fullreport.pdf
Q. Does HRT cause breast cancer?
A. Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT,
can increase breast cancer risk. Combined
HRT (a combination of oestrogen and
progestin (synthetic progestogen) increases
risk considerably more than oestrogen
alonexxi. The longer HRT is taken, the higher
the risk; it is estimated that HRT increases
the risk of breast cancer 2.7 fold, if it is taken
for around five and a half years. Risk is
immediately reduced when HRT is stopped
and after 5 years or less risk is no longer
evident. Most studies have found HRT
containing oestrogen only slightly elevates
breast cancer risk. However, this type of
therapy may not be suitable for all women.
Q. Does the contraceptive pill and other
types of hormonal contraceptive increase
breast cancer risk?
A. The contraceptive pill contains synthetic
oestrogen and/or synthetic progestogen.
Studies have shown use of combined oral
contraceptives (oestrogen and
progestogen) slightly increases breast
cancer riskxxii. The risk is no longer evident 10
years after use has stopped. Some studies
suggest progestogen-only contraceptives
may not be associated with increased riskxxiii.
More studies are needed to confirm this.
Other types of hormonal contraceptives
include injections and hormone releasing
intrauterine systems which contain
progestogen, and patches and vaginal rings
which use both oestrogen and progestogen.
There are fewer studies into risk associated
with these types of contraceptives, although
the risks are thought to be similar to the
contraceptive pill. Some studies have
indicated that use of injections increases
breast cancer riskxxiv, although more studies
are needed to confirm this.
16
OTHER RISK FACTORS PEOPLE MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT
Q. Does fluoride in drinking water increase
breast cancer risk?
A. No studies have demonstrated a link
between fluoride in drinking water and an
increased risk of breast cancer. Fluoride is
added to drinking water to prevent tooth
decay. There is limited evidence fluoride may
increase the risk of bone cancerxxv, however
most studies, including a recent British
study, conclude there is no evidence of an
association between bone cancer and
fluoride in drinking waterxxvi. Water
fluoridation may cause early stage dental
fluorosis (dental mottling) in children.
Q. Does chlorine in water increase breast
cancer risk?
A. Currently, there is insufficient evidence to
conclude that chlorine in drinking water
increases breast cancer risk, although there
are some studies that claim chlorinated
water slightly increases risk. Chlorine is
added to water as a disinfectant. It can react
with organic matter in water and generate
chlorination by-products such as chloroform.
The International Agency for Research on
Cancer (IARC) classifies some chlorination
by-products as possible causes of cancerxxvii.
Q. Does drinking cow’s milk increase breast
cancer risk?
A. It is unclear whether a diet high in milk
and dairy increases breast cancer risk.
Concerns stem from the fact that cow’s milk
usually comes from pregnant cows and
contains bovine hormones, including bovine
oestrogen. Drinking cow’s milk increases
levels of human insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-
1), and women with higher levels of this
growth factor have a slightly increased
breast cancer riskxxviii. However, although
some studies suggest a diet high in milk and
dairy products increases breast cancer
riskxxix, others suggest there is no
increasexxx, or even in some cases a reduced
breast cancer riskxxxi.
If you don’t know the answer? We do not expect you to have the answer to all questions. So don’t be afraid to say:
“I’m not sure about the answer to that, but give me your details and I will ask Breast
Cancer UK and get back to you with a response.”
Don’t forget that further information and references can also be found on the Breast
Cancer UK website.
www.breastcanceruk.org.uk
17
FAQs
Q: Am I allowed to give talks outside my own area?
A: Yes, if you have particular connections outside your own city or local area and you want to
present a talk in another area, please just let the Ambassador Project Manager know.
Q: I am a consultant or I know someone who is a consultant for a natural/organic beauty brand.
Am I allowed to tell guests about these products?
A: As a charity, Breast Cancer UK is unable to endorse any company or brand and we ask that you
do not combine the talk with any commercial sales – even if these products are natural and
organic. If you do make recommendations please ensure the product does not contain any of
the chemicals listed in our Ditch The Junk leaflet and make it clear to guests that it is a personal
recommendation, not one endorsed by Breast Cancer UK. Please encourage guests to do their
own research and source a product that is suitable for them. Equally, we refrain from naming
brand names when criticising, but urge consumers to read ingredients lists and choose for
themselves.
Q: What can I claim back on expenses?
A: As volunteers you have undertaken to carry out the work at your own expense, however,
reasonable travel expenses will be reimbursed in line with the Breast Cancer UK’s expenses
policy (Appendix H). Any other expenses not covered by this expense policy must be approved
by Breast Cancer UK before the expense is incurred. All expense claims must be accompanied by
receipts. If you are unsure if something is covered, we strongly advise you to discuss this with
your contact at Breast Cancer UK before incurring the expense. We are unable to cover
accommodation or subsistence expenses. Please email or post the expense form (see Appendix
I) with the relevant receipts. Expenses and receipts received by the 20th of the month will
usually be paid by the end of that same month.
Q: I don’t like using a computer very much. Will I still be able to send you forms by post?
A: Yes, you can send us your expenses form, and your own Ambassador feedback form by post to
Breast Cancer UK, BM Box 7767, London WC1N 3XX.
Q: Do I have to do a certain number of talks every month or have any targets to meet?
A: No. As outlined in the volunteer agreement, we expect Ambassadors to be able to give
around 2-4 hours a month which should be enough for at least 1 talk each month. Some
Ambassadors will be able to give more time, some less and this is likely to change over time. If at
any point you feel unable to carry on with the commitment please just let the Ambassador
Project Manager know.
18
Q: What do I have to do if I want to step down from the role?
A: If, at any time, you feel that the role of Breast Cancer UK Ambassador is no longer possible for
you, please contact the Ambassador Project Manager so that she can arrange return of any
materials and literature that you have and so that she can liaise with any bookings that you may
have outstanding.
Q: Will you publish my name and my contact details on your website or anywhere else?
A: No, we will always protect your personal data. We will publish the cities/areas where we have
Ambassadors but we will not include your name or any personal details and will only release
these details with your permission.
Q: Am I covered by Breast Cancer UK’s insurance when I go into homes, businesses and other
public places to do my talks?
A: Volunteers are covered by Breast Cancer UK’s current insurance policy whilst undertaking
work approved and authorised by us. However, it is subject to limitations and exclusions, and
cover may change from time to time. If volunteers use their own vehicles in the course of their
voluntary work, you must check that your volunteering activity is covered under your existing
policy – please also ensure that your licence and MOT certificate are valid. If you would like more
information about our insurance policy please contact Breast Cancer UK.
Q: Do I need a DBS check?
A: Volunteers are only required to have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) (formally known as
a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)) check if they are working with vulnerable people such as
children, elderly or people with mental health issues. Most of your talks will be given to local
companies, local events and community groups and are unlikely to involve these audiences.
There may occasionally be children at one of your talks, but these must always be accompanied
by an adult, and should not form the bulk of the audience. We advise you are never left alone
with a child or vulnerable adult at one of your talks, and if you have any concerns to first contact
the organiser of the talk and also to raise these concerns with Breast Cancer UK.
Q: Are the talks suitable for children?
A: The talks are designed for an adult audience. The talks include information and advice on
aspects such as alcohol consumption, HRT and the pill and are therefore not suitable for very
young children.
19
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Apoptosis (programmed cell death)
Genetically controlled changes that lead to cell death
BRCA1 and BRCA2 Human genes which, when mutated, lead to an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer. Both genes code for proteins which help repair DNA, and both can be inherited from either parent.
Cancer General term for any tumour whose cells grow in an uncontrolled fashion, invade nearby tissues and spread to other locations in the body
Carcinogen
A substance capable of causing cancer
DCIS Ductal carcinoma in situ. Non-invasive breast cancer which is located in cells lining the milk ducts. Having DCIS increases the risk of developing invasive breast cancer
DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid. A type of nucleic acid that carries genetic information
Duct: Small tubes in the mammary gland which deliver milk to the nipple
EDCs Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
Epigenetic change Changes gene expression (often by methylation of DNA), without altering the underlying DNA gene sequence.
Epithelial tissue A type of tissue consisting of sheet-like layers of tightly packed cells that lines an organ.
Lobule Small sacs in the mammary glands where milk is produced.
Menarche The first menstrual period of a female.
Metastasis The spread of cancerous cells from their site of origin to other locations in the body.
Mutation Any change in the hereditary material (usually DNA) in an organism.
Oestrogen: A class of steroid hormones including oestradiol, oestrone and oestriol that generally promote female-like traits. Produced by the ovaries, fat tissue, placenta and some other organs.
Oestrogen mimic or xenoestrogen
A type of EDC which binds to oestrogen receptors in cells and mimics the action of the body’s natural oestrogen.
oestrogen receptor A protein which when bound to oestrogen can bind to specific DNA sequences in the cell’s nucleus resulting in cell multiplication and differentiation
oncogene: A gene whose protein product stimulates cell division continuously and so promotes cancer development. Often a mutated form of a gene involved in cell cycle regulation.
REACH European Union regulation concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation & restriction of CHemicals.
Triple-negative breast cancer
Breast cancer which does not express the genes for oestrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2).
Tumour: A mass of cells formed by uncontrolled cell division; benign tumours do not spread to other parts of the body and are usually not life threatening; malignant tumours are cancerous and can spread to other tissues and other parts of the body.
Tumour suppressor: A gene or the protein that it encodes which acts to prevent normal cells from becoming cancerous, usually by inhibiting cell division of damaged cells. BRCA genes are examples of tumour suppressor genes.
20
APPENDIX A: CHECK LIST OF WHAT TO TAKE
The things you need will be dependent on the type of talk you are doing
Venue and Organiser details including phone number
Your Ambassador Manual (you will need this to help with any questions)
Memory stick with PowerPoint Presentation & film
Attendance sheet(s)
#DitchtheJunk leaflets and Make Your Own Beauty recipe cards and ingredients, if using (you will have
to source the ingredients yourself)
Quiz sheets (enough for expected guests) & answer sheet (some hosts may print these for you)
‘Let’s Prevent Breast Cancer’ leaflets
Breast Cancer UK literature
Collection tin
Pencils or pens
Any props or examples you wish to use in your talk
21
APPENDIX B: SAMPLE EMAIL OR LETTER
There may be times when you want to send some information to someone you don’t really know. So here
are a few sentences you can use – do personalise and tailor for your target audience!
Dear Mr/Ms xxxxxx
I volunteer for Breast Cancer UK as one of their local ambassadors. Breast Cancer UK is a charity that
campaigns for breast cancer prevention.
I would like to invite you to host a Let’s Prevent Breast Cancer talk [in the workplace/at your local
community centre]. As you may know, 1 in 8 women is predicted to get breast cancer at some point in
their lives. Breast Cancer UK’s Ambassador Programme is all about helping people to understand the risk
factors for breast cancer and knowing what might be done to help reduce risk. To find out more about
Breast Cancer UK, please visit their website www.breastcanceruk.org.uk
The talk, which would last for about an hour, would provide information about some of the main risk
factors for breast cancer and what actions people can take to help reduce their risk of this very common
disease.
For more information or to book a talk please visit www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/book-a-talk
If you would like to call to have a chat about what’s involved, please contact me on [insert number you are
happy to be called on].
I look forward to hearing from you
Xxxxxx
22
APPENDIX C: ATTENDANCE SHEET
Venue/Host
Date
Thank you for attending one of Breast Cancer UK’s ‘Let’s Prevent Breast Cancer’ talks.
To help us monitor and evaluate the success of our talks, please provide your name and email address. We
will contact you after the talk to ask for your feedback. After that we will only contact you if you tick the
data protection box provided (please see statement below)
Data protection statement: We would like to keep you informed about the work of Breast Cancer UK.
If you would like to receive further information about our activities then please tick this box. We will not share your
details with any other third party or organisation for marketing purposes other than that of Breast Cancer UK.
Name Email Address YES, Please
keep in touch
23
APPENDIX D: QUIZ QUESTIONS
Q1. Approximately how many people are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK every year?
a. 30,000
b. 60,000
c. 100,000
Q2. What proportion of women who get breast cancer are under 50?
a. 1 in 5
b. 1 in 10
c. 1 in 20
Q3. By what percentage have breast cancer incidence rates increased since 1971?
In women:
a. 40%
b. 60%
c. 100%
In men:
a. 40%
b. 60%
c. 100%
Q4. According to the World Health Organisation what percentage of breast cancers could be attributed to
environmental and lifestyle causes?
a. 25%
b. 50%
c. 75%
Q5. What percentage of funding into cancer research in the UK was spent on prevention in 2014? (rounded
up to the nearest percentage)
a. 4%
b. 10%
c. 25%
Q6. Which celebrity has had a double mastectomy?
a. Jennifer Saunders
b. Angelina Jolie
c. Kylie Minogue
Q7. What percentage of breast cancers are oestrogen-driven (ie what percentage are oestrogen receptor
positive)?
a. 20%
b. 50%
c. 70%
Q8. Which two other cancers are oestrogen-driven?
a. Prostate and skin cancer
b. Lung and bowel cancer
c. Throat and pancreatic cancer
Q9. What is the name of the largest breast cancer charity in the UK?
a. Breast Cancer Now
b. Breast Cancer Care
c. Breast Cancer UK
24
APPENDIX D: QUIZ ANSWERS
The correct answers are highlighted in bold
Q1. Approximately how many people are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK every year?
a. 30,000
b. 60,000 (According to Breast Cancer Care, around 60,000 people are diagnosed each year –
CRUK and Breast Cancer Now put this figure closer to 55,000 √
c. 100,000
Q2. What proportion of women who get breast cancer are under 50?
a. 1 in 5 Data released from CRUK suggest that 1 in 5 cases are in women under 50 – suggesting
that breast cancer rates in the under 50s are at a record high. √
b. 1 in 10
c. 1 in 20
Q3. By what percentage have breast cancer incidence rates in England increased since 1971?
In women:
a. 40%
b. 60%
c. 100% (according to the Office for National Statistics breast cancer rates in women have increased
by 102% in women since records began in 1971. √
In men:
a. 40% √
b. 60%
c. 100%
Q4. According to the World Health Organisation what percentage of breast cancers could be attributed
to environmental and lifestyle causes?
a. 25%
b. 50%
c. 75% (the remainder are associated with genetic background) √
Q5. What percentage of funding into cancer research in the UK was spent on prevention in 2014?
a. 4% According to the National Cancer research institute, the percentage of cancer research
funding spent on prevention in 2014 was just 3.96% √
b. 10%
c. 25%
25
Q6. Which celebrity has had a double mastectomy?
a. Jennifer Saunders
b. Angelina Jolie √
c. Kylie Minogue
Q7. What percentage of breast cancers are oestrogen-driven (ie what percentage are oestrogen receptor
positive)?
a. 20%
b. 50%
c. 70% √
Q8. Which two other cancers are oestrogen-driven?
a. Prostate and skin cancer: People may not realise it but oestrogens are also found in men,
albeit at lower concentrations. √
b. Lung and bowel cancer
c. Throat and pancreatic cancer
Q9. What is the name of the largest breast cancer charity in the UK?
a. Breast Cancer Now – is the largest breast cancer research charity. √
b. Breast Cancer Care – provides help and advice to those diagnosed with breast cancer
c. Breast Cancer UK – One of the only UK breast cancer charities to focus on prevention alone.
26
APPENDIX E AMBASSADOR FEEDBACK FORM
Please complete an Ambassador Feedback Form for each talk you do. This can also be filled out on line at
www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/ambassadors/feedback/
Ambassador Name
Date of event Click here to enter a date.
Organisation name or host
name
Organiser contact name
Organiser contact email
address
Organiser contact phone
number
Name and address of venue
Number of attendees
Tools used
Donations received Yes ☐ No ☐ Amount £
Any problems or concerns?
Other comments
27
APPENDIX F: DONATION POLICY
Breast Cancer UK abide by the rules of the Fundraising Standards Board and are honest, respectful and accountable to our supporters. The charity operates an “opt in” system where individuals choose to be contacted, rather than an ‘opt-out’ system where supporters are automatically added to a list on a database unless they expressly opt out. This means we will never approach an individual for money unless they have expressly given us permission to do so. Unless otherwise specified all donations received will be transferred to un-restricted funds. Where possible we will reclaim tax from the UK government’s Gift Aid scheme. This additional money will be allocated to unrestricted funds. Breast Cancer UK will not enter into a relationship with a potential donor whose work or activities directly or indirectly conflicts with the mission of Breast Cancer UK. We will also not knowingly accept donations from any third party organisation that poses a risk to the charity’s reputation – e.g donations arising from unethical trading i.e. environmental degradation, arms/weapons production/proliferation, animal testing, tobacco production, oppressive regimes etc.
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU – THE SUPPORTER AND FUNDRAISER
In raising funds for its charitable objectives, Breast Cancer UK will:
• Always be honest with you
• Tell the truth and not exaggerate
• If you have questions about our fundraising activities and costs, we will answer them –
openly and truthfully.
• We promise to keep your personal details safe and will only ask for personal details that
are relevant and required
• We will never share or sell your details with charities or other third parties for marketing
purposes
• We will comply with the law, including those that apply to data protection, health and
safety and the environment
• We will do all we can to ensure that volunteers and fundraising contractors working with
us to raise funds comply with the Institute of Fundraising Codes and with BCUK’s code of
conduct
• We will be clear about who we are, what we do and how your gift will be used
• We will explain how you can make a gift and amend a regular commitment in a way
that’s accurate and easy to understand
• We will be accountable to you
• We will treat you with courtesy and respect
• We will respect the rights, dignities and privacy of everyone who supports us
28
• We will not put undue pressure on you to make a gift. If you don’t want to give, or wish
to stop giving, we will respect your decision
• We won’t email you unless you have opted-in to receive emails from us (link to privacy
and data collection policy)
• If you tell us that you don't want us to contact you in a particular way, we won’t
• We will make every effort not to use any images or words that could cause unjustifiable
distress or offence
• We commit to ensuring our fundraising won’t cause unreasonable nuisance or
disruption to you
29
APPENDIX G: DONATION/COLLECTION CAN FORM
If you receive any donations in your collection box at the end of the talk, please follow the procedure below to help us track and monitor these donations.
1. Count donation received if possible in the presence of the organiser.
2. Complete and sign the form below
3. Bank the money as soon as possible into Breast Cancer UK’s bank account (The Co-Operative Bank, A/C no: 65458341 Sort code: 08-92-99. Banking must be done within 1 week of collection.)
4. Send a copy of the form and the paying in slip to Breast Cancer UK, BM Box 7767, London, WC1N
3XX or email a copy of the form and slip to [email protected]
5. Once we have confirmation that the money has been paid into our account and that it has cleared, we will issue a letter of thanks and certificate (if requested)
Please ensure that all copies of paperwork are kept for your records.
Name and address of organisation collection taken (where the talk was given)
Name of Organiser
Date of Talk:
Ambassador Contact Name
Amount Collected: £
Signature of Ambassador:
Signature of Organiser
Certificate Requested?
Yes ☐ No ☐
30
APPENDIX H: EXPENSES POLICY
Breast Cancer UK will reimburse any reasonable out of pocket expenses which a trustee or volunteer has had to meet personally in order to carry out his or her employment or trustee or voluntary duties, provided the procedures outlined below are followed. A refund of properly incurred expenses is not a payment, nor does it count as any kind of personal benefit.
INCURRING EXPENSES
When incurring expenses claimants should, wherever possible, seek to minimise the cost to the charity. For example, where a need to travel is known some time before the journey, pre-booked or advance train tickets should be used where cheaper. Standard class travel should normally be used. For travel within Central London, an Oyster pre-pay card should be used where this is cheaper than purchasing a ticket. Taxis should be used sparingly if public transport alternatives exist, although where several people are traveling together taxis may be a cheaper or more practical option than public transport.
APPROVAL IN ADVANCE
Any single expenditure over £150 should be approved in advance by the CEO (not to include the person incurring the expense). Prior approval should also be sought for items of a non-routine nature, such as attendance at conferences or training sessions at the charity’s expense.
SUBSISTENCE POLICY
HMRC publishes a set of advisory benchmark scale rate payments that employers can use to reimburse staff for subsistence expenses when they are travelling on business away from their normal workplace. These scale rates can be paid to employees without the requirement to produce the actual receipts for meals. These rates are the maximum that the employer can pay without attracting any tax and national insurance liabilities.
It is these rates which Breast Cancer UK staff can claim and any changes will be in line with changes made by HMRC. These are currently:
• Breakfast rate up to £5.00
• One meal (5 hour) rate up to £5.00
• Two meal (10 hour) rate up to £10.00
• Late evening meal rate up to £15.00
CLAIMING EXPENSES
Claims should be made via Expense Form. Forms should contain full details of why the expense was incurred on behalf of the charity.
Original receipts should be provided. If this is not possible, the reason should be clearly stated on the form. In the case of public transport expenses incurred using an Oyster pre-pay card where a receipt is not available, the form should state the start and end station, and whether the journey was made at peak or off peak times. In the case of travel by car, the form should state the start and end locations, and the mileage covered. Mileage will be reimbursed at the HM Revenue & Customs approved rates (currently 45p a mile).
Expense forms should be signed – digitally if possible. This can be done by saving the Expense form as a pdf and adding a signature.
Signed Expense Forms should be emailed to the Ambassador Project Manager, along with an electronic image or file of the receipt.
Claims should be made within 3 months of being incurred and usually always within the (charity’s) financial year (to 31st March) in which they were incurred. Breast Cancer UK will endeavour to settle all claims within one month.
PAYMENT IN ADVANCE
In some cases, Breast Cancer UK may agree to make an advance payment to cover identified future expenditure in excess of £50 on charity business. In order to secure an advance it is necessary to complete a request in writing, stating clearly the reason for the advance and the amount to be spent. Once the expenditure has been incurred, an expenses claim form should be completed as usual, showing the amount spent and the amount advanced. Any money advanced but not spent should be returned to the charity as soon as possible.
AUTHORISATION AND PAYMENT
Once an expense claim has been submitted, it will be approved and authorised by the CEO.
Payment will be made directly into the claimants allocated Bank Account by the 28th of month in which the expense is submitted.
(Last updated 26/05/16)
31
APPENDIX I EXPENSE FORM
Name BANK ACCOUNT NAME:
Address BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER:
DATE OF CLAIM:
SORT CODE:
I claim expenses in respect of:
Date Meetings, travel, parking, postage, phone calls, stationery, training, conference attendance, printing costs, etc. (Please attach receipts where possible)
Amount No Recpt * See Key
TOTAL:
Mileage @ 45p/mile & Passenger payments of 5p/mile as per HM Revenue & Customs, 2011-12
I confirm that this is a true account of my expenses
SIGNED………………………………………………….
Date……………………………………………………..
* No Recpt Key: OyC – Oyster Card; Oth – Other …………………………… (please specify)
32
APPENDIX J LINKS AND RESOURCES
33
34
REFERENCES
i Based on Cancer Research UK ‘Breast cancer incidence (invasive) statistics’ (accessed April 2017) ii Cancer Research UK (2016). Breast cancer statistics. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-
professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/breast-cancer (Accessed September 5, 2016) iii Office of National Statistics (2016) Cancer Registration Statistics, England, 2014. op. cit. iv Cancer Research UK (2016). Breast cancer statistics. op. cit.
v Office for National Statistics. Past and projected data from the period and cohort life tables, 2014- based, UK,
1981 to 2064 (2015) http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_426798.pdf (Accessed September 5, 2016)
vi King, M.-C. et al. (2003). Breast and ovarian cancer risks due to inherited mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2.
Science 302(5645): 643-646. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14576434
vii UNEP/WHO (2013). State of the science of endocrine disrupting chemicals 2012
http://www.unep.org/hazardoussubstances/Portals/9/EDC/StateOfEDCScience.pdf
viii Travis, R. C. and Key, T. J. (2003). Oestrogen exposure and breast cancer risk. Breast Cancer Research 5:
239-247. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC314432/
ix UNEP/WHO (2013). ibid
x UNEP/WHO (2013). ibid
xi WHO (2011). Environmental and occupational cancers. Fact sheet N°350. March 2011
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs350/en/
xii Cancer Research UK (2016). Cancer statistics for the UK. http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-
professional/cancer-statistics
xiii Economopoulou, P. et al. (2015). Beyond BRCA: New hereditary breast cancer susceptibility genes. Cancer
Treatment reviews 41: 1-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25467110
xiv Zhang, B. et al. (2015) Height and Breast Cancer Risk: Evidence From Prospective Studies and Mendelian
Randomization. JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute 107(11): djv 219.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26296642
xv Schoemaker M. J. et al. (2016). Psychological stress, adverse life events and breast cancer incidence: a
cohort investigation in 106,000 women in the United Kingdom. Breast Cancer Research 18(1):72.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27418063
xviSprague, B. L. et al. (2013). Circulating serum xenoestrogens and mammographic breast density. Breast
Cancer Research 15: R45. http://breast-cancer-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/bcr3432
xvii Travis, R. C. and Key, T. J. (2003). op cit.
xviii Santen, R. J. et al. (2015). Estrogen metabolites and breast cancer. Steroids 99: 61-66.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25168343
xix Brennan, M. and Houssami, N. (2016). Discussing the benefits and harms of screening mammography.
Maturitas 92: 150-153.
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378512216301876
xx Berrington de Gonzalez, A. (2011). Estimates of the potential risk of radiation-related cancer from
screening in the UK. Journal of Medical Screening 18(4): 163-164.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3243648/
xxi Jones, M. E. et al. (2016). Menopausal hormone therapy and breast cancer: what is the true size of the
increased risk? British Journal of Cancer (2016) 115, 607–615.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27467055/
xxii Chlebowski, R. T. et al. (2015). Breast Cancer After Use of Estrogen Plus Progestin and Estrogen Alone
Analyses of Data From 2 Women’s Health Initiative Randomized Clinical Trials. JAMA Oncology 1(3): 296-305.
http://oncology.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2250347
xxiii Samson, M. et al. (2016). Progestin and breast cancer risk: a systematic review. Breast Cancer Research
and Treatment. 155 (1): 3-12. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10549-015-3663-1
xxiv Li, C. I. et al. (2012). Effect of Depo-Medroxyprogesterone Acetate on Breast Cancer Risk among Women 20
to 44 Years of Age. Cancer Research 72(8): 2028–2035.
http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/72/8/2028.long
xxv Blakey, K. et al. (2014). Is fluoride a risk factor for bone cancer? Small area analysis of osteosarcoma and
Ewing sarcoma diagnosed among 0-49-year-olds in Great Britain, 1980-2005. International Journal of
Epidemiology 43(1): 224-234. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24425828
xxvi Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (2010). Critical review of any new evidence on
the hazard profile, health effects, and human exposure to fluoride and the fluoridating agents of drinking
water. European Commission DG for Health and Consumers.
http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/opinions_layman/fluoridation/en/
xxvii International Agency for Research on Cancer (2006). Working Group on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic
Risks to Humans, Some Chemicals that Cause Tumours of the Kidney or Urinary Bladder in Rodents and Some
Other Substances. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans, ed. IARC. Vol. 73.
2006, Lyon, France: IARC. https://monographs.iarc.fr/ENG/Monographs/vol73/mono73-3.pdf
xxviii Key, T. J. (2011). Diet, insulin-like growth factor-1 and cancer risk. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society
70 385-388. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21557887
xxix Ganmaa, D. and Sato, A. (2005). The possible role of female sex hormones in milk from pregnant cows in
the development of breast, ovarian and corpus uteri cancers. Medical Hypotheses 65(6): 1028–1037.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16125328
xxx Alvarez-Leon, E.-E. et al. (2006). Dairy products and health: a review of the epidemiological evidence.
British Journal of Nutrition 96, 1, S94–S99. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16923261
xxxi Zang, J.et al. (2015). The Association between Dairy Intake and Breast Cancer in Western and Asian
Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Breast Cancer 18(4): 313-322.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26770237
Ambassador Project Manager:
Nikki Mattei
T: 07814 504755
Ambassador Project Assistant:
Jacquie Fagan
T: 07743 546212
Chief Executive
Lynn Ladbrook
T: 07786 393181
Disclaimer
This work in no way claims to be a comprehensive treatment of the subject of all risk
factors or chemicals associated with breast cancer and is for Breast Cancer UK
Ambassador reference purposes only. Breast Cancer UK has used all reasonable
endeavours to ensure that the content of this manual is correct at the time of publishing,
but no warranty is given to that effect nor any liability accepted for any loss or damage
arising from the use or the manual.
Breast Cancer UK works to tackle the environmental and chemical causes
of breast cancer.
Breast Cancer UK
BM Box 7767
London WC1N 3XX
0845 680 1322
@BreastCancer_UK
Breastcanceruk
www.breastcanceruk.org.uk
Breast Cancer UK Reg. Charity no. 1138866 | Reg. Company no. 7348408
