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Why I chose to take part in the SWEET study

Clare discovered a lump in her breast in April 2024 and was referred by her GP to the Hospital for a mammogram and biopsy. She said she wasn’t surprised by the resulting diagnosis, as both of her aunts had developed breast cancer.

She underwent a mastectomy in June last year, followed by chemo and radiotherapy. She was then put onto hormone treatment, which can lead to side-effects. This made her eligible for a research study called ‘SWEET’, Supporting Women with AdhErence to hormone Therapy following breast cancer. As part of her care Clare received written and verbal information about the study.

The SWEET programme has tested and developed the HT&Me support package. The HT&Me support package includes:

  • A short animation video explaining how hormone therapy works, why it is important to take it daily and advice for managing side-effects
  • Two appointments with HT&Me study nurses/practitioners
  • Access to the interactive HT&Me website, accessible on a desktop computer, laptop, tablet or mobile phone
  • Regular text or email messages reminding of the importance of hormone therapy and signposting back to the HT&Me website

This randomised controlled trial is now underway to trial investigate the effectiveness of HT&Me in reducing poor adherence to hormone therapy and improving quality of life in women with early breast cancer.

Sites are open for trial recruitment across the UK. We are seeking to recruit a total of 1460 women with early breast cancer, who will be randomised to receive either:

i) the HT&Me support package alongside their usual care

or

ii) usual care alone

 

Women will be asked to complete a questionnaire when they sign up to the study (baseline), and then again six, 12 and 18 months later. These questionnaires will measure adherence to hormone therapy, quality of life, and other factors that might impact the effectiveness of the HT&Me support package.

Clare said: “The study helps me to keep motivated to keep up my medications. It’s about recognising the things I need to do to keep healthy now I’m on hormone treatment. I have medications for MS and medications because of the breast cancer and the extra support from being on the study has really helped.”

The Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board’s research team are still actively looking for eligible patients to take part. For more information about the SWEET trial, contact the team at: SWEET@warwick.ac.uk