Thousands of cases of breast cancer are going undiagnosed today

AS a clinical nurse specialist on Breast Cancer Now’s Helpline, I hear daily how the pandemic is impacting people affected by breast cancer, from treatments being paused or cancelled to longer waits for vital breast screening.

Due to the disruption caused by the pandemic, Breast Cancer Now estimated there could have been almost 11,000 undiagnosed cases of breast cancer in the UK between March and December 2020, on top of around 600,000 people known to be living with or after a breast cancer diagnosis.

People affected by breast cancer need our support more than ever, and we’re here, ready to pick up the phone, respond to email enquiries and refer people to our support services, which we rapidly repivoted online to continue to be there for people during the pandemic.

Thanks to the amazing players of People’s Postcode Lottery, our Moving Forward Online course was one of these essential services, which helps people adjust to life after hospital treatment.

Whether it’s sharing the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, helping someone to come to terms with a diagnosis or adjust to life after breast cancer, or support for a loved one – we’re here.

However, due to the pandemic our fundraising income is projected to drop by 35 per cent this financial year, so we urgently need your support to help us continue to be there for people affected by breast cancer.

This International Nurses Week, I’m calling on readers to sponsor a nurse – by donating to Breast Cancer Now you’ll help us to provide lifechanging support for anyone affected by breast cancer, the whole way through.

Sponsor a nurse by visiting: breastcancernow.org/sponsoranurse

Addie Mitchell, Breast Cancer Now