Breast screening: the Sloane Project
This guidance explains what the Sloane Project is and how breast screening units (BSUs) can submit data.
The Sloane Project gathers information about non-invasive carcinomas and atypical hyperplasias of the breast found through screening.
It is named in memory of the highly regarded pathologist Professor John Sloane.
All NHS breast screening units in the UK are invited to send in data for the Sloane Project.
The project aims to:
- increase understanding of early developing conditions which can lead to breast cancer if left untreated
- assess the relative benefits of different treatment options
The project records:
- characteristics of radiological and pathological appearance of breast cancers
- details of surgery and treatment to suppress secondary tumour formation
We are no longer collecting data on new patients with primary ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and we do not collect data on primary invasive disease.
We are still following up patients with DCIS when data about them has already been sent to us.
Data is also still being collected on patients who have already been entered into the project and gone on to develop a recurrent breast cancer or contralateral breast cancer.
We are not collecting data on new patients who have had a previous breast cancer or atypia in either breast.
This work uses data provided by patients and collected by the NHS as part of their care and support.
Contact the Sloane Project
Nominate a Sloane contact
BSUs should have a nominated Sloane contact to co-ordinate data collection within their organisation.
Any units who would like to nominate a Sloane contact or update details need to contact the project team directly.
Please send details including name, job title, breast screening unit, phone number and email address (including an NHS email address if any).
Sloane contact: data collection forms
For each diagnosed case of non-invasive breast cancer or atypical hyperplasia download and complete the Sloane data collection form.
Participation in Sloane data collection provides CPD credits in accordance with the CPD scheme of the Royal College of Radiologists.
Only submit data from patients who were screen-detected by the NHS Breast Screening Programme on or after 1 April 2012.
Submit data on patients diagnosed with:
- lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS)
- pleomorphic lobular carcinoma in situ (PLCIS)
- atypical intraductal epithelial proliferation (AIDEP)
- atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH)
- atypical lobular hyperplasia (ALH)
- flat epithelial atypia (FEA)
Sloane data follow-up form
To submit follow-up data on previously diagnosed cases already known to the project which have been diagnosed with a further breast, regional or distant event download and submit the Sloane data follow-up form.
Submit data on:
- local recurrence
- new tumours in either breast
- cancers that have spread to lymph nodes or different parts of the body
- women who have died
Forget Me Not Study 2
The Forget Me Not Study 2 gathers information about DCIS that has not been surgically treated within 6 months of diagnosis. It aims to understand the long-term outcomes and risk factors which lead to progression to invasive breast cancer.
All English breast screening units have been sent a list of potentially eligible patients and further information requested.
Forget Me Not Study 2: data collection forms
For each eligible Forget Me Not Study 2 patient download and complete the data collection forms. and
Sloane Project publications
View and download Sloane Project published papers on researchgate.
Ethical approval for the Sloane Project
Ethical approval is not required for the project as it is a prospective audit rather than a trial.
PHE’s Screening Quality Assurance Service (SQAS) has approval to access and process patient data for the purposes of quality assuring all NHS screening programmes under Section 251 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 via the independent Confidentiality Advisory Group (CAG).
External requests for Sloane Project data
Access to Sloane Project data is strictly governed by the NHSBSP Research Advisory Committee (RAC) and PHE office for data release (ODR).
Updates to this page
Published 19 September 2018Last updated 14 September 2020 + show all updates
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Added newly formatted FMN2 forms 1 and 2 and removed Forget Me Not Study 2: protocol.
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Added Sloane FMN2 protocol.
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Added Forget Me Not 2 Study data collection forms.
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Added information on data collection.
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First published.