Family History Clinic Study Day 2026 Highlights

Bringing UK Family History Clinicians Together

Family History Clinics support thousands of women across the UK who are at moderate to high risk of developing breast cancer. These services play a crucial role in identifying people at increased risk and helping them access screening, prevention strategies and specialist advice.

However, despite their importance, Family History Clinics can often feel isolated and fragmented, with limited opportunities for clinicians to share learning, collaborate on research or develop consistent approaches to prevention.

To help address this, Prevent Breast Cancer supported the development of a national network of Family History Clinics. The idea was first presented during the Dragons’ Den session at the inaugural Prevent Breast Cancer Research Conference in September 2024, where Professor Ramsey Cutress from the University of Southampton was awarded funding to take the concept forward.

As part of this initiative, we hosted the Prevent Breast Cancer Family History Clinic Study Day in January 2026 in Birmingham.

The event brought together clinicians from across the UK and Ireland who work with individuals at increased risk of breast cancer due to their family history. The aim was to strengthen clinical practice, share best practice, and provide support for professionals who often work in small teams or as the sole specialist in their service.

The Study Day provided a much-needed national forum for learning, collaboration and professional support for those working on the front line of breast cancer prevention.

The Study Day welcomed more than 130 participants, including clinicians attending through subsidised places funded by Prevent Breast Cancer.

Delegates were primarily nurses working in Family History Clinics, including specialist nurses, advanced nurse practitioners and staff nurses. The audience also included breast surgeons, breast care specialists, GPs, radiographers, dieticians and patient advocates – reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of breast cancer risk management.

Attendees travelled from across the UK and Ireland, with this broad geographic representation highlighting the national demand for dedicated education and collaboration in breast cancer risk assessment and prevention.

The programme focused on the real-world challenges faced by clinicians working in Family History Clinics, alongside the latest developments in risk assessment, screening and prevention.

One of the most popular sessions was a workshop exploring the CanRisk risk prediction tool, which helps clinicians estimate an individual’s risk of developing breast cancer based on genetic and family history information.

To make the session as useful as possible, the workshop was divided into two groups: clinicians who were new to the tool and those who were already using it in practice. This allowed beginners to gain hands-on experience while more experienced users were able to explore some of the more advanced features. Feedback suggested the topic alone could easily support a full day of training.

Another session that generated significant interest presented new data from Breast Cancer Now, marking the first public presentation of findings from a Freedom of Information request relating to Family History Clinic services.

The highest-rated session focused on prevention strategies, including chemoprevention, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and lifestyle interventions. Delegates particularly valued the opportunity to explore how these approaches can be applied in everyday clinical practice.

Overall, the Study Day received an exceptional feedback score of 4.9 out of 5.

A key theme that emerged throughout the day was the professional isolation experienced by many Family History Clinic clinicians.

In some hospitals, clinicians work as the only specialist in this area. Others face significant service pressures that leave little time to explore new research or connect with colleagues in other centres.

The Study Day created a valuable space for professionals to share experiences, discuss challenges and learn from one another. From the start of the event, there was a clear sense of energy and enthusiasm from attendees who recognised the importance of having a dedicated forum for their work.

One of the most important outcomes of the Study Day has been the creation of a growing national network of Family History Clinic professionals.

The network aims to help clinicians:

• share best practice and service developments
• collaborate on research and clinical audits
• seek peer support
• improve consistency of care for people at increased risk of breast cancer

The organising team is also exploring opportunities to host further Study Days and focused events to continue supporting this important clinical community.

The success of the Study Day demonstrated the clear demand for opportunities that bring Family History Clinic professionals together.

Next steps include maintaining the new network of clinicians, sharing updates and resources, and exploring whether future Study Days should take place annually or every 18–24 months.

By supporting the professionals who identify and manage people at increased risk of breast cancer, Prevent Breast Cancer is helping strengthen prevention services across the UK, bringing us one step closer to our goal: a future where breast cancer can be predicted and prevented.