The Breast Screening after Radiotherapy Dataset (BARD): a National Initiative to Optimise Screening for Breast cancer in Female Hodgkin Lymphoma Survivors in England

Question: Female survivors of lymphoma who received radiotherapy involving the breast under age 36 are at increased risk of breast cancer with the youngest women at greatest risk. National guidelines recommend annual breast screening starting 8 years after treatment or at age 25 whichever occurs later. In 2009 we showed that penetration of screening into this at-risk population was poor (Br J Cancer 2009, S Howell et al) and anecdotal evidence also suggests that appointments for screening are not always issued promptly. These factors limit the effectiveness of screening and generate survivor anxiety.