BU Research Blog

On 16th July, Jaana Jeffery (a PhD researcher and registered dietitian in the School of Health and Social Care) is contributing to the Moving Forward Partnership Programme with a session on Diet and Breast Cancer: Dispelling the Myths. This is part of a programme of activities convened by Breast Cancer Care and NHS hospitals across the UK to support individuals in moving forward with their lives after treatment for breast cancer.

Jaana explains that “breast cancer survivors are at an increased risk of developing CVD, diabetes and recurrence of breast cancer. Excess weight is a significant risk factor for these health conditions. Between 50-96% of women gain weight over the first 12-24 months after diagnosis. The National Cancer Survivorship Initiative (Department of Health, 2010) have highlighted the importance of diet, lifestyle and maintaining a healthy BMI. Currently, mechanisms of weight gain following a breast cancer diagnosis are not well understood, which has led Jaana to explore the dietary, lifestyle and behavioural factors exhibited by women following an early diagnosis of breast cancer and how this is related to body weight.

Congratulations to Jaana for her contribution to such an important event!  It is fantastic to see her using insights from her research and clinical experience to support others and we eagerly await the full findings of her research.

If you are interested in developing public engagement activities around your research, please contact Becca on redwards@bournemouth.ac.uk