Our 2026 Healthcare professionals conference

Why did you run a healthcare professionals conference? 

Healthcare professional engagement is key to making change happen in breast cancer treatment and care, so the healthcare professional engagement team was really excited for the day to finally arrive! 

Who came to the conference? 

We welcomed around 160 healthcare professionals (82% of our registrations!) including nurses, physiotherapists and radiographers, for a day of learning and sharing of best practice. We were also joined by 30 charity and pharmaceutical exhibitors, nearly 20 speakers and 21 Breast Cancer Now colleagues. Needless to say, it was a busy day and there was a great atmosphere. 

What did the day cover? 

As our first conference open to all healthcare professionals, it was important to have a relevant agenda for lots of roles. After we’d warmly welcomed our attendees and handed over their goodie bags, the day kicked off with a session on conversations about fear of recurrence and the data behind it from our headline sponsor*, Novartis. 

Next, our Chief Support Officer, Helen Dickens, gave a warm welcome and our attendees received a heartfelt thank you from our CEO, Claire Rowney. Two of our amazing Louder Voices reflected on their experiences with, and appreciation for, the healthcare professionals who supported them through their diagnosis and treatment. Then it was time to get stuck into exciting clinical updates in radiotherapy and immunotherapy with our brilliant speakers. 

After a coffee break and time to chat to our exhibitors, delegates came back to the main room to hear insights from experts on physical activity, nutrition, lifestyle, access to breast reconstruction and an endocrine therapy clinic pilot. It was a jam-packed agenda full of tips to take back to practice! 

There was more networking and connection over a tasty lunch, where our colleagues got to show off lots of new, reskinned health information and new brand merchandise. They also got attendees involved in some map-based fun so our policy colleagues could learn more about regional challenges and successes. 

What else did you talk about?

Our breakouts ran after lunch, exploring innovative collaborations (including a spotlight on our very own Here For You referral pathway!), reaching diverse communities, managing the impact of breast cancer and navigating challenging conversations. Attendees could pick two each to attend and the rooms were buzzing in between sessions. 

Before long it was time for our final session, a fireside chat between Helen and writer and host of our own podcast, Laura Price. It was a really powerful conversation and hearing Laura’s reflections on her own experiences was super valuable for our attendees. 

How do you feel the day went? 

We got lots of positive feedback as delegates headed out, which was a great send off for the whole team.  

Overall, the conference was an amazing day and we’re so grateful to everyone, including our staff, speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and brilliant Louder Voices, for their contributions and making this event such a success. 

*The conference was sponsored by Novartis, AstraZeneca, Exact Sciences, Lilly, MSD, and Pfizer. They have provided sponsorship towards this independent programme and had no involvement or influence in its creation or organisation, except for the breakfast symposium that Novartis ran.