The Cambridge Breast Unit and the CambrIdge Breast Cancer Research Unit

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK affecting more than 1 in 9 women. Progress in understanding, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer can only be achieved by a combination of clinical and laboratory research.

The purpose built Cambridge Breast Unit provides a world-class multidisciplinary team of specialists in radiology, surgery and reconstruction, pathology, oncology and cancer genetics to provide the most effective diagnosis and treatment for each individual patient.

Clinical research plays a vital role in the work of the breast unit team, and in July 2008 the Cambridge Breast Cancer Research Unit was opened adjacent to the breast unit, thanks to an appeal by Addenbrooke's Charitable Trust which raised over £2 million for building and equipping it. The research unit provides a focus for the vast programme of clinical and translational research into breast cancer carried out at Addenbrooke's and enables a seamless link from the laboratory to clinical care. It has allowed researchers to strengthen significantly the clinical research that was already being done in the breast unit, and new projects being undertaken will result in improvements into patient management within the next five years.