Professor Lesley Fallowfield, Director CRUK Sussex Psychosocial Oncology Group, writes. 

As life expectancy in the UK continues to increase, the numbers of elderly women likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer will also expand. Very limited information about the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on women over 70 is available from clinical treatment trials because historically they have been excluded. The recent ACTION (Adjuvant Cytotoxic Chemotherapy In Older Women) trial attempted to address this issue, but had to close prematurely due to poor recruitment. Consequently most management plans are not evidence based and in the absence of data, many assumptions are made: these include suggestions that elderly women do not benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy, that they cannot easily tolerate it or just do not wish to have it even if offered. We are interested in exploring the views and decision-making of doctors, nurses and patients about adjuvant chemotherapy in older women with breast cancer.

We invite you to take part in a UK-wide survey. We wish to explore the views of specialist breast cancer nurses and research nurses about these issues, as you have such a significant role in supporting patients with their decision-making and care. We are collaborating with Breast Cancer Care because they are supportive of nurses in this role and because they wish to examine with us the needs and experiences of older women with breast cancer. Sussex Psychosocial Oncology Group, University of Sussex, is very grateful for the opportunity to present this study through this RCN Cancer and Breast Care forum e-newsletter; and for an unrestricted educational grant from Roche, who are funding the study.

We would very much appreciate you completing the questionnaire, which is available on the University of Sussex website.

The questionnaire should not take longer than 10 minutes to complete. We need any responses by 21 June 2010. The survey data will be recorded and stored anonymously with no identifiers (e.g. email address when submitting the questionnaire). Feedback about the results will be provided later this year through conference presentation and publications in collaboration with Breast Cancer Care, and results will inform the content of further educational initiatives being planned for breast care nurses.

Thank you very much for considering helping us to understand more about this important topic.

If you have any questions please contact:

Rachel Ballinger, Research Fellow
CRUK Sussex Psychosocial Oncology Group,
Brighton and Sussex Medical School, University of Sussex
Falmer, Brighton BN1 9QG

Tel: 01273 873028
Fax: 01273 873022
Email: R.S.Ballinger@sussex.ac.uk