Help transform breast cancer care in East London

Starting in early 2026, patients will have access to a dedicated Breast Cancer Centre that will completely change local breast cancer care for generations to come.

By bringing services together into a single, supportive environment, the Centre will deliver world-class care and improve health outcomes for everyone in East London facing a breast cancer diagnosis.  

The benefits will include: 

• Three surgical theatres, allowing 1,800 life-saving breast surgeries to be performed each year 

• Reconstructive surgeries available faster – when they matter most 

• Faster diagnoses, aiming to catch 75% of cases at stages 1 or 2 

• A survivorship and fertility hub to provide wraparound support  
• More opportunities to participate in clinical trials 

Why do we need the Breast Cancer Centre?

Breast cancer patients in North East London have the lowest five- and ten-year survival rates in the country, according to the Office for National Statistics.

There is also a high prevalence of breast cancer in women under 40, and a prevalence of more aggressive types of breast cancer.

We recognise that breast cancer is a significant local health challenge that needs our support. Over the years we’ve worked with our colleagues at Barts Health and Queen Mary University of London to address this through investments in world-leading research and healthcare innovation. The Breast Cancer Centre will be an opportunity for us to build on this existing work, to the benefit of patients across London.

Making the Breast Cancer Centre a reality

In 2023, to celebrate the 900-year anniversary of the founding of St Bartholomew’s Hospital, we set out our ambition to develop a Breast Cancer Centre there.

This is now being made possible because two buildings are being brought back into NHS use.

But we can do more for breast cancer patients in East London. Every pound that you donate to the Breast Cancer Centre will have a direct and lasting impact on patients. This will ensure that we can build fairer treatment for people in East London – and ensure more people survive a breast cancer diagnosis.

Anne’s story

In the summer of 2023, Anne had just returned home after spending some time in Sweden, where she grew up. She went for a routine mammogram but didn’t expect anything out of the ordinary – she was in the middle of her doctorate, busy with family and work.

She was completely shocked when the results showed that she had ductal breast cancer, aged just 51. She had previously received life-saving care at St Bartholomew’s Hospital for a heart condition and decided to return there for her treatment.

Despite some post-surgery complications Anne made a good recovery and was looking forward to a cancer-free future with her two children, who were aged 12 and 15 at the time of her diagnosis. However, she was hit with another bombshell just a few months later – she had once again been diagnosed with breast cancer. This time it was triple negative breast cancer – a more aggressive type, which has fewer treatment options. Anne was in complete shock. “It felt as if cancer was a dream that I only half woke up from. How many chances at life will I be given? I had to try and stay strong ahead of treatment.”

Over the next few months, Anne faced a stretch of different chemotherapies, which took her to her limits, both physically and emotionally.Through it all, Anne was incredibly grateful to the “incredible” staff at St Bartholomew’s Hospital who were with her every step of the way.

“I have lost time. I have lost parts. I have lost some of my mind. But I am still myself. And that’s all thanks to medical science, the team at St Bartholomew’s and my unwavering family and friends.”

Anne is now in remission and is looking forward to a bright future. On hearing about the new Breast Cancer Centre, Anne was thrilled to see more work being done to support women in East London, especially those from underserved communities.