“Just ten years ago, this diagnosis would have been a death sentence.”

That’s what one oncologist told me after my diagnosis of stage 3, grade 3, triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) in January 2021. I was saved by recent advances in treatment, thanks to scientists at the forefront of breast cancer research.

Once it’s metastasised, the prognosis for grade 3 (the fastest-growing) TNBC is bleak. Four and a half years since my diagnosis, without recent breakthroughs, my kids would have lost their mum by now.

With nearly 57,000 people diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK, and 1 in 7 women estimated to be diagnosed in their lifetime, this could affect any of us, at any time.

At the Breast Cancer Now research unit at King's College London, Dr Rachael Natrajan is working on targeting genes that drive treatment-resistant breast cancer. Meanwhile, at Queen’s University Belfast, Breast Cancer Now funding is helping Dr Niamh Buckley use mRNA vaccine technology to develop a way to stimulate the immune system to fight TNBC, potentially even creating a vaccine to treat the disease.

Because of scientists like this, not only are those with metastatic breast cancer living longer, but also more of us are able to have curative treatment. But this work takes time, and money. Unfortunately, 11,500 women and 90 men still die of breast cancer every year in the UK.

You can help these amazing scientists get the funding they need for their life-saving research. Thank you ❤️

PS. donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.