Julian attends launch of I Count campaign
November 29, 2023
Julian was at the launch of the I Count Campaign to raise greater awareness of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive and lesser known type of breast cancer.
TNBC is a type of breast cancer where the cancer cells do not have receptors for the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, or the HER2 protein, which are often targeted by existing therapies. This means we do not have as many treatments for TNBC as other kinds of breast cancer.
At the reception, Julian backed the following recommendations to improve the care and experiences of people living with TNBC:
1. People with TNBC should be able to access the full range of information and holistic support offered by the NHS and the charity sector, as and when they need it. Healthcare professionals and patient groups should work together to signpost people in the direction of this support.
2. NHS England should ensure that every woman of reproductive age diagnosed with TNBC who wishes to access information and support around her fertility options is able to do so. Healthcare professionals should signpost women in the direction of this support.
3. NHS England should ensure that every person diagnosed with TNBC known to have the BRCA gene mutation has equitable access to information and counselling services. Healthcare professionals should signpost people in the direction of this support.
4. People going through treatment for TNBC should have access to support tailored to their own needs. Healthcare professionals should signpost people with TNBC to information on their treatment options and potential side effects, including that offered by the UK Charity for TNBC.
5. People with TNBC should be assigned a Clinical Nurse Specialist according to their individual preferences, including in-person or virtual support, through whom they can access care that meets their needs.
6. NHS England should ensure that every person with TNBC has a designated Pathway Navigator, or equivalent role, to guide them through their treatment pathway.
7. NHS England should offer more holistic support for people living beyond TNBC to aid their physical and emotional recovery after finishing treatment.
8. NHS England should routinely collect, publish and analyse TNBC data at the national level, including but not limited to: prevalence, incidence, the existence of health inequalities, quality of care, and clinical outcomes.I am committed to working hard to ensure that those with TNBC have better experiences and outcomes. This can only come from investing more time into increasing awareness of this disease and finding new treatments to make readily available.
