Help us support anyone who has received a breast cancer diagnosis in Derwentside or surrounding areas. We offer company, advice and peer support no matter what stage of your cancer journey.

About Derwentside Breast Friends

After finding a lump on her breast, Clare Hodgson, of Consett, went for a test and was given the devastating news she had triple negative breast cancer.

After undergoing gruelling treatment at Hexham General Hospital, Clare underwent first stage reconstructive surgery at Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital and has now undergone second stage reconstructive surgery.

Clare has one more operation to go which should complete her treatment.

"I was asked so many times if I could speak to friends of friends who had been diagnosed about my experience of treatment, and tell them about how it was for me," Clare said.

"As a result, just over a year ago I decided to take the bull by the horns and set up a Facebook group."

Clare was amazed by the response and after a few weeks the members decided to get together.

"We have around 12 regular members that come to the group's weekly meetings, and it seem to be growing from strength to strength with new members coming through the door each week," Clare said.

"So many women who are diagnosed with breast cancer talk of how they don't put themselves first. How they bottle their feelings in order to be strong for their families and never actually take the time to talk about what they're going through," she said.

The group is open to men and women at all stages of diagnosis. Support from our local community is amazing but we need to keep raising funds as our group gets bigger to offer help and support to our members and their families. Find out more about Derwentside Breast Friends