Of the 250 respondents who have had breast cancer, 172 were using Tamoxifen or an equivalent hormone suppressant to manage their disease. It was notable that some had been using this treatment for longer than the recognised safe period of 5 years. A few had been advised that they would be on Tamoxifen for life. A similarly small number had stopped using the drug due to its side effects.

Do you have any idea or suggestion as to what may have caused your breast cancer?

"I think exposure to radiation when a child is a major factor".

"Pollution, food additives, 'modern life', stress from break up of major relationship, living in the South east where incidence is higher. I worked in a badly ventilated perfume shop for 5 years - all aerosols and perfumes."

"I think a lot is to do with where I live because there is so many people with it around here."

"Combination of all? Pesticides? Lindane? Geopathic stress? Diet? Animal fats? Constipation? Long terms use of the pill? Oestrogen's in our society? Bile duct?"

"My father grew all his own vegetables when I was at home and he regularly sprayed with DDT. My Mother used DDT on the windowsills to kill flies. My Mother and I were both diagnosed with breast cancer within 7 years of each other."

"The contraceptive pill on top of hormonal imbalance, too many chest X-rays, stress."

"Prolonged stress - being a single mum, working full time with very little time for me. Lots of chemicals in my work place. Working with microwaves. Family rows. Baby late in life. Going back on the pill at 35."

"Stress, pollution, virus, who knows!"

"Although my family have no history of cancer, single parent stress, including lack of money, poor diet and poor health plus "lumpy" breasts might have contributed to my illness."

"Possibly combination of factors - exposure to pesticides (Lindane?), stress, virus, breast injury or HRT."

"Family stresses, illness of baby grandson, loss of long term job and income. HRT oestrogen patches may have stimulated cancer cells."

Health effects in the form of allergies and breathing problems were the main symptoms shared by people living near or with the respondents. Perceived cancer clusters and high incidence rates of breast cancer and other cancers were also a great concern both where respondents worked and where they lived.

in this report shows 'clusters' and 'hot spots' as defined by the project participants.

Cluster = 3 or more cases of breast cancer in same location i.e. in the same street or place of work.

Hot Spots = many clusters of breast cancer cases concentrated in one area. High Incidence Rate = high number of breast cancer cases occurring in a given area.