Until the day that we can keep every patient alive we must find ways to help everybody living with breast cancer and support them to live well.

It is vitally important that everybody whose life has been devastated by breast cancer is able to live the best life they can, with less gruelling treatments and reduced side effects too. 

Radiotherapy isn’t old news

Radiotherapy has been an effective treatment against all cancers for over a century – but it has changed so much in that time.

We helped it along its way by helping to fund the world’s largest breast cancer trial of a new form of radiotherapy, called Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT). The results have been practice-changing and have driven the use of IMRT in the UK and internationally.

This new form of radiotherapy reduces the risk of broken blood vessels near the surface of the skin and gives a better overall breast appearance, which can play a massive impact on patients’ self-esteem.

Secondary breast cancer matters

Our researchers led a pioneering study into the physical, emotional and social problems experienced by people living with secondary breast cancer.

The results informed the charity’s Standards of Care, first published in 2008, outlining 10 key components of high-quality care that people with secondary breast cancer should receive.

And we’re not stopping there.

We want to see more people living beyond breast cancer having treatments that don’t change how they feel or what they do, allowing them to live their lives to the fullest. We want to see treatments with fewer and gentler side effects, and support for women affected by breast cancer, allowing them to make informed decisions about the best treatment for them.

Research projects helping people affected by breast cancer