What is breast cancer screening?
The chances of dying from breast cancer are reduced by finding and treating it early. One way of detecting breast cancer early is by inviting women to have a screening test called a mammogram (an x-ray photo of the breast).
Any medical intervention has benefits and risks. Breast cancer screening can reduce the chances of dying from breast cancer, and may also affect the type of operation needed to treat the cancer or whether chemotherapy or radiotherapy is required. However, there is a risk that some women who are screened will be diagnosed and treated for a breast cancer that may never otherwise have been found or caused them harm.
Why was AgeX set up?
The UK Government is considering extending the three-yearly screening programme (currently for women aged 50–70) to include invitations for screening to women who are a little younger than 50 (aged 47–49) or a little older than 70 (aged 71–73). Although we know a lot about the effects of screening for women aged 50–70, we don’t have information about the risks and benefits of doing this for women in these younger and older groups. The AgeX trial was set up to investigate this.
The AgeX Trial is coordinated by a team of researchers in Oxford Population Health, University of Oxford, and led by the Principal Investigators, Associate Professors Isobel Barnes and Toral Gathani.
What are the aims of AgeX?
1. To see whether or not extending the age range of breast screening invitations significantly reduces the risk of dying from breast cancer.
2. To see how this extension of the age range affected the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer, and how these women with breast cancer were treated.
Why are the results of AgeX so important?
Women need good quality information to help decide whether or not to attend breast cancer screening. The trial will provide detailed information about the benefits and risks of breast screening for women in the extended age groups and will inform future screening policies in the UK and beyond.
There are two main outputs for AgeX planned in the next three years. In 2025/26 we will publish the main findings relating to the potential harms of screening. In 2027/28 we will publish the first results on the effect of extra screening invitations on the risk of dying from breast cancer.
You can learn more about the trial by visiting the AgeX Trial website: https://www.ceu.ox.ac.uk/research/agex-trial
Who are we looking for?
The trial team is looking to recruit four members of the public to join the AgeX Public Advisory Group (PAG), initially for a three-year period. Ideally we are looking for women aged 45–55 and 65–75, who have never had cancer, to match the gender and age range of the participants recruited into the trial.
As a member of the AgeX PAG, you will help us improve our research by:
• Providing input into the AgeX trial website
• Contributing to the creation of the public-facing materials to accompany the scientific publication of the two key findings of the trial in 2025/26 and 2027/28.
We do not expect you to have a background in research or formal medical knowledge. We are looking for someone who has an interest in women’s health and is willing to listen and engage in open discussions about the study.
What commitment do we need?
The AgeX PAG will meet annually for a variable length of time depending on what inputs are needed. These meetings will be held either online or in person. Minutes will be taken at each meeting and circulated to the members. An agenda and documents will be circulated in advance of the meetings. The members of the PAG will need to read these in advance of the meeting.
The Chair of the PAG is responsible for the running of the respective meetings. Everyone is expected to listen to and behave respectfully towards each other to enable all views, opinions and voices to be heard. Group members are expected to inform the administrator if they will be late or cannot attend a meeting, and if they think they have any conflicts of interest. All discussions are confidential to enable open discussion of work that may not yet be in the public domain. If appropriate, relevant training will be provided.
Occasionally additional ad hoc meetings may be convened when the need arises.
Reimbursement
The members of the PAG will be paid expenses for their time (during and outside meetings) and any travel if needed in line with the Oxford Population Health payment policy for public contributors (the rate is currently £25 per hour of involvement).
Date required
Deadline for responses is 20 September 2024.
Organisation
Oxford Population Health
Contact
Leandros (Leo) Tsiotos, Public and Patient Involvement and Engagement Officer, Oxford Population Health: ppie@ndph.ox.ac.uk
Julliet Lwiindi, Public Engagement and Involvement Officer, Oxford Cancer Centre: oxfordcancerppi@medsci.ox.ac.uk