Here for it: Meet Jenny

Before her diagnosis

On 30 June 2023, Jenny’s life changed in a way she never expected. Just weeks earlier, she had found a lump in her breast and, after further scans, Jenny received the devastating news that she had triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Jenny had already begun preparing herself for difficult news after a clinician told her the lump looked suspicious. The diagnosis still came as a big shock.

On the day of my diagnosis my partner was distraught, but we were heading to a festival so I felt like I had to be strong. My mind was racing that whole journey.

Diagnosis and treatment

Jenny began a demanding treatment plan at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, with weekly chemotherapy alongside immunotherapy.

Treatment continued over many months, but Jenny says the openness of the team helped her feel involved rather than passive. She wanted to understand what was happening, what to expect and what she could do to prepare herself. Having information, clear signposting and a point of contact made a major difference.

Throughout my entire treatment people have been really open to me asking questions. I was made to feel like an active participant, which was really important to me – I wasn’t just having things done to me. I really felt that my voice counted for something. I wanted to know what I could do to help myself, to prepare myself and make sure that the treatment was as effective as it could be.

After the turmoil of the previous months, Jenny received some amazing news. The chemotherapy and immunotherapy had been effective, there was no discernible tumour and she now only needed minimal surgery.

After surgery came a week of radiotherapy, then months of oral chemotherapy, which she completed in February 2025. She also continues Zometa infusions every six months to help protect her bones.

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Supporting our Here for it campaign

The people at the heart of our Here for it campaign, like Jenny, are sharing their experiences to show what breast cancer can mean beyond a diagnosis, from treatment and recovery to family, uncertainty and the everyday moments that matter most.

By supporting this campaign, you can help Barts Charity invest in the people, research, equipment and innovations that improve breast cancer care before, during and after treatment across East London.

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What are you here for?

What the Breast Cancer Centre means for women like Jenny

Jenny is excited to see the changes in breast cancer healthcare that the Barts Health Breast Cancer Centre will bring. With everything in one place, coordination and communication between different healthcare teams throughout the treatment journey will be easier.

Care needs to be done in a very holistic, person-centred way. I hope the new Breast Cancer Centre will not only improve assessment, diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, but also to better understand the often debilitating impacts and side effects of some of the treatments, especially for triple negative breast cancer.

The Breast Cancer Centre brings specialist breast cancer care, research and support together, helping create a more joined-up experience throughout diagnosis, treatment and recovery.

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Life now and what comes next

Jenny is now in remission, but even though the bulk of her treatment is over, fatigue has hit much later than she expected.

While the outside world saw her “looking well”, inside she felt exhausted.

I pushed through during my chemotherapy, and it hasn’t really been until I’ve gone back to work where the fatigue has really hit me quite hard.

Throughout her journey, Jenny has been surrounded by a network of family and friends who were with her every step of the way.

She is now learning to live life in “a different rhythm”, taking more time for herself, practising self-compassion and worrying less about the small things.

I’m learning a lot more self-compassion and just not sweating the small stuff anymore. Yes, it’s been grim, but it’s given me an opportunity to rethink things.