Welcome, and thank you for visiting the online home of the Carolina Breast Cancer Study.

Every year in North Carolina, approximately 5,500 women continue to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Since its start in 1993, “CBCS” has been a leading population-based study looking into the causes, treatments, and personal experiences of North Carolinian women and those assigned female at birth who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. CBCS, in particular, is a leader in looking at the disparities faced by Black or African American women and looking at breast cancer in younger women.

Every year in North Carolina, approximately 5,500 women continue to be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Although this number remains high, the good news is that advances in research are leading to improvements in both incidence rates and long-term survival. Nearly 90% of women live 5 or more years after diagnosis, and 80% live 10 or more.

CBCS is conducted by the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center in affiliation with the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It is funded in part by the University Cancer Research Fund, the National Cancer Institute‘s Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) in breast cancer, and Susan G. Komen For the Cure.

CBCS Phase 3 (“CBCS3”) recruited participants in 2008-2013, and it continues to follow this amazing, generous, and dedicated collection of people, it is now one of the longest-running breast cancer survivorship studies in the nation. Phase 4 (“CBCS4”) will begin enrolling participants in the fall of 2023. The aim is to build upon the success of CBCS3 and to look into the continuing challenges people with female breast cancer face in North Carolina before, during, and after their cancer diagnosis and treatment. CBCS4 will take a closer look at how access to care affects breast cancer outcomes in different populations.

This website is designed to be a tool for the participants (new & old), researchers, and all interested in breast cancer research.

See News & Events for the latest in what’s happening with CBCS3 and about breast cancer across North Carolina, including a new profile of CBCS3’s Principal Investigator in Center Lines and news about a $25 million dollar gift to study breast cancer at UNC.

Watch our informational video.

Thank you to continued support from: