Sarah Harding’s Legacy Inspires Groundbreaking Breast Cancer Trial Identifying High Breast Cancer Risk Among Younger Women and Push for Screening to Start at Age 30 Across England

Most women don’t think about breast cancer checks until they reach 50.

But that might be about to change, thanks to a new study that’s turning heads in the medical world.

Why Screening Usually Starts at 50

Under current NHS guidelines in England, women aged 50 to 70 are invited for breast screening every three years.

The first invitation typically arrives between 50 and 53.

But here’s the issue: more than 10,000 women under 50 are diagnosed with breast cancer annually—and around 2,000 of them die from it.

These women aren’t even eligible for routine screening yet.

New Trial Offers Hope for Women in Their 30s

A recent study may change that. Led by Dr. Sacha Howell at The Christie hospital in Manchester, the trial revealed that nearly one in five women in their 30s had a higher-than-average risk of developing breast cancer.

Dr. Howell believes this is reason enough to begin risk assessments from the age of 30.

This study is especially meaningful because Dr. Howell treated Sarah Harding, the Girls Aloud singer who passed away at 39 from triple negative breast cancer.

One of her final wishes was to help improve early detection for other women—something this research is now actively pursuing.

Inside the Study: What’s Involved?

The trial, backed by the Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal, began in May 2023 and has so far involved 719 women aged 30 to 39 from the Greater Manchester and Cheshire areas.

Participants go through a questionnaire, receive a risk assessment mammogram, and give a saliva sample for genetic testing.

Of the 548 women analyzed so far, 104 (about 19%) were found to be at elevated risk.

Those women are now being given custom health advice, including ways to reduce their cancer risk through lifestyle changes.

They’ll also start annual mammograms once they hit certain thresholds.

What Does “Higher Risk” Actually Mean?

In this context, being “higher risk” means having at least a 3% chance of developing breast cancer in the next decade.

That’s the same risk level as a typical 50-year-old woman—so it makes sense that screening could begin earlier for these individuals.

Plans are already in motion to expand this trial to hospitals across the UK, as NHS officials work on a national cancer strategy aimed at better diagnosis and prevention.

DNA May Be the Key to Prevention

According to Dr. Howell, two-thirds of breast cancer patients have no family history of the disease.

That’s why he believes a genetic-based risk assessment is critical. While mammograms help, DNA testing might be the most powerful tool in detecting early risk.

Dr. Howell will be sharing these findings at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual conference in Chicago, where global experts gather to discuss the latest in cancer research.

Sarah Harding’s Bandmates Speak Out

The remaining Girls Aloud members—Cheryl, Nadine, Nicola, and Kimberley—shared their thoughts in a statement: “To hear that women who had no idea they could be at risk of breast cancer are being identified and able to take preventative measures is astounding. This study in Sarah’s name could be lifesaving.”

They added that Sarah would be proud of the impact she’s making, even after her passing.

Breast Cancer: The Bigger Picture

Breast cancer remains the most common cancer in the UK, with about 56,000 diagnoses each year.

In the US, that number jumps to 300,000 annually. Fortunately, about 85% of women survive at least five years after diagnosis.

But Fear and Discomfort Are Holding Women Back

Despite the efforts to increase screening, many women still avoid mammograms.

A recent NHS survey found that 16% of women wouldn’t attend a screening if invited.

Reasons included feeling embarrassed to be topless, fearing the procedure might hurt, or thinking screening isn’t necessary because they haven’t found a lump.

Stats show that about a third of women don’t attend when invited for screening.

For first-time invitees, that figure rises to almost half.

What Comes Next?

If this trial continues to show strong results, it could pave the way for routine risk checks for women starting at 30.

That means earlier intervention, personalized monitoring, and potentially saving thousands of lives.

Sarah Harding’s wish to help others may soon become a nationwide breakthrough—and a legacy that continues to protect women for generations to come.