The report Help Us Find the Cures: An action plan to tackle the critical gaps in breast cancer research was developed for the charity Breast Cancer Campaign to kick-off their long term strategy for tackling breast cancer, alongside scientists and policy makers across the country.
Media outlets picked up on the report as headlines conveyed the forecast of 185,000 lives being lost to the disease if action is not taken. Media coverage reached right across the UK as outlets from Sky News, BBC Breakfast News, ITV News and Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour to The Telegraph, The Independent, The Evening Standard, The Daily Mail, The Daily Express, The Scotsman and many local papers and websites reported the issue.
Over 100 scientists from across the UK achieved consensus in identifying key gaps in breast cancer research. Breast Cancer Campaign estimates that if no action is taken to tackle these gaps, more than 1.2 million women could be living with, or after, a breast cancer diagnosis and around 185,000 lives could have been lost to the disease. In response to this gap analysis, the Find the Cures action plan was produced to drive improvements in the study and treatment of breast cancer.
The Find the Cures report sets out what the Government, academics, clinicians, healthcare professionals, charities, funding bodies, and everyone who cares about putting an end to breast cancer, need to do together if they are to reach the goal of overcoming breast cancer by 2050. Eight critical areas of work, such as genetics and secondary breast cancer, form the core of the report and key actions needed over the next decade are proposed.
Punch Consulting created this strategy report to complement a scientific paper published in Breast Cancer Research on the same day that outlined the full gap analysis. The local consultancy provided editorial assistance to fine tune the research paper and worked closely with Breast Cancer Campaign to write the detailed action plan in response to the findings of the Gap Analysis.
Dr Alexis Willett, Director of Punch Consulting said: “I’m excited to see this report come to life after many months of development. We worked hard to set the right balance between scientific detail and clear, tangible actions and it’s great to see the media, as well as scientists, clinicians, funders and policy makers, give the action plan the attention and positive reaction it deserves. We hope the strategy makes a huge impact on the future of breast cancer research and helps to instigate great advances in research, treatment and care.”
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Further information:
A full copy of the report can be found on Breast Cancer Campaign’s website: http://www.breastcancercampaign.org/our-science/help-us-find-the-cures
For further information about the Find the Cures report please contact: Dr Alexis Willett, Director, Punch Consulting: [email protected]
The research paper outlining the Gap Analysis can be found in the October issue of the journal Breast Cancer Research http://breast-cancer-research.com/content/15/5/R92
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Punch Consulting is an independent consultancy with expertise in health and science policy, strategy and communications. For more please see: www.punchconsulting.co.uk