Frequently asked questions about Breast Cancer Campaign and the medical research charity
1. There seem to be a number of breast cancer charities - why don’t you all merge?
2. Wouldn’t we be better off if all the resources were concentrated in one centre and all the researchers were together?
3. How do you decide which research to fund?
4. How do we know that your research projects are not being duplicated in other countries?
5. So much money goes into research - is it really worth it?
6: Why do charities need to fund this research, why doesn’t the Government pay for it?
7. What percentage of your income is received from the Government?
8. Would Breast Cancer Campaign fund medical research which involves the use of animals?
9. What is the story behind the pink ribbon? Is it yours? I see so many of them about?
10. Do you do anything other than fund research?
1. There seem to be a number of breast cancer charities - why don’t you all merge?
A: There are a number of charities and we each do something specific and important. Breast Cancer Campaign’s prime focus is research; we do not offer advice and support because we feel that other charities (such as Breast Cancer Care) do an excellent job and we refer all calls to them.
We will only fund innovative world-class research into breast cancer - this separates us from the other cancer charities (such as Cancer Research UK) which fund all types of cancer research. We will also fund research at any centre of excellence anywhere in the UK and the Republic of Ireland.
We have a particular interest in stimulating innovative research and want to be able to support the best breast cancer research in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, no matter where it is.
2. Wouldn’t we be better off if all the resources were concentrated in one centre and all the researchers were together?
A: Researchers do not need to be together to collaborate. They communicate constantly with each other, both at conferences and electronically, in the UK and internationally. A number of UK collaborations have been started through our researchers coming together at our scientific events.
Concentrating research at one centre would also discount a number of outstanding research units with long track records of excellence and expertise in different areas of research. It is in all our interests to see a diversity of research units flourish - providing the quality is there.
3. How do you decide which research to fund?
A: We receive several calls each week from laboratories, universities, individual researchers and heads of departments- all looking for funding. All applicants fill in a detailed form, which then goes out to at least two (and sometimes as many as eight) recognised experts in the field for their review and comments. These are then reviewed by members of Campaign’s Scientific Advisory Board, who will recommend to the charity’s Board of Trustees which projects should receive funding. Only those projects of the highest quality will receive funding. This is known as Campaign’s peer review process.
A professional in the same field will know where to look for inconsistencies and flaws, and will also be able to judge whether the budget for the project is reasonable. It highlights project duplication, where a team has a poor track record or a line of research, which others have proved to be of no value.
4. How do we know that your research projects are not being duplicated in other countries?
A. Our Scientific Advisory Board is made up of very experienced scientists, who are all experts in their fields and who are in touch with their colleagues in other countries. They are aware of what is happening in their field in other major centres. However, duplication of research is not always a bad thing - it can also be necessary to confirm that the first scientist got it right.
5. So much money goes into research - is it really worth it?
A. Yes it is. The improvements in quality of life and survival we are seeing now are the result of research in the past. However, even promising preliminary findings do not always yield positive results. We also have to eliminate the things that don't work as well. Sometimes some things work well in the laboratory, but not on the patient, and the only way we can find this out is through research.
6. Why do charities need to fund this research, why doesn’t the Government pay for it?
A. Charities in the UK fund more research than both the NHS and the Government together. It isn’t something we are happy about and we are working to increase the amount spent on research. We are sure that you would agree with us that it would be a backward step if we were to stop what we are doing, while we wait for the government and the NHS to fund research.
7. What percentage of your income is received from the Government?
A.Campaign is fully independent and receives no financial support from the Government or other official bodies. We rely solely on voluntary donations from the public.
8. Would Breast Cancer Campaign fund medical research which involves the use of animals?
A. In common with most medical research charities, Campaign acknowledges that despite developments in areas such as cell culture and computer modelling there are occasions when potentially life-saving research still depends on the use of animals.
This is not an issue that we or any of our scientists take lightly. We are constantly striving to develop techniques that mean the use of fewer animals in research. All new medicines, no matter what they are, are required by law to be tested on animals.
As a member of the Association of Medical Research Charities (AMRC), Campaign endorses the AMRC position on the use of animals in medical research, and will not fund animal research unless it is essential and there is no alternative.
In addition, Campaign grant holders are asked to ensure that any new procedure they employ, which reduces the number of live animals needed for research or testing is communicated through the usual media so that it becomes known to all who might make use of it.
Wherever possible our scientists aim to carry out their research on patients, on computers or on cells in a laboratory and many of the projects we fund are like this. But ultimately, if they are all working towards the common aim of cutting deaths from breast cancer, they need to explore every available avenue, which might one day lead to new drugs, treatments and cures. Women in the UK have a one in nine life-time risk of developing breast cancer.
9. What is the story behind the pink ribbon? Is it yours? I see so many of them about?
A. The pink ribbon, which is the international symbol for breast cancer awareness and Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, were introduced into the UK ten years ago.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month aims to increase awareness of breast cancer so that women know what the symptoms are and seek help early enough, which increases their chance of survival. It also raises vital funds for breast cancer research. Over the years the initiative has become well established, however the need for awareness is still as important as ever.
The pink ribbon is not exclusive to the Campaign, and this is why sometimes it may seem that the ribbons are everywhere. We try to limit our use of the pink ribbon symbol to Breast Cancer Awareness Month, to ensure that it has more of an impact. Our logo is the pink jigsaw piece, which symbolises the missing pieces of the puzzle that is the cure for breast cancer.
10. Do you do anything other than fund research?
A. We also have an educational role. Together with other charities we all try to raise awareness among women and their families, and also with the primary care team. This goes towards making those women who do have breast cancer, seek advice early and quickly, and have access to the best treatment.
Our bi-annual newsletter, FOCUS addresses different topics such as a literature review where we highlight some of the advances in research - very often some of this information does not get reported on by the scientific press and therefore, we ensure that this gap is filled and that our supporters get this news/information.
