Breast cancer surgery began at the St Barthomelew’s Hospital’s Smithfield Wing in March, and more than 120 patients have since undergone surgery there
More than 120 people have undergone breast cancer surgery at a new specialist Breast Cancer Centre opened by Barts Health NHS Trust in March.
The Breast Cancer Centre at St Bartholomew’s Hospital is bringing specialist breast cancer care, imaging and research together in one place.
The early activity is significant because people in East London face some of the poorest breast cancer survival rates in the country and patients at Barts Health are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage, when their cancer is more advanced.
Patients also tend to be younger. Around two in 10 breast cancer cases nationally are diagnosed in women under 50, compared with three in 10 at Barts Health. Younger patients can face additional challenges associated with their diagnosis and treatment, including fertility and early menopause.
Breast cancer surgery began at the centre’s Smithfield Wing in March, and more than 120 patients have since undergone surgery there.
Jess is one patient currently receiving treatment at the Breast Cancer Centre. She is on a clinical trial for a new antibody-drug conjugate. The treatment is designed to target cancer cells more precisely, delivering chemotherapy directly to them while limiting its effect on healthy cells.
Jess has continued treatment with chemotherapy and immunotherapy alongside the new drug. While there have been difficult side effects, she has been surprised by how well she has felt throughout much of her treatment.
“There were a few unpleasant side effects, but I had my energy, I was able to eat, I was able to be there for my daughter,” she says. “I feel very blessed that my body’s done such a good job.”
After just five rounds, a halfway scan brought extraordinary news: her tumour had shown almost no traces of the disease. She still needs surgery, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but is feeling positive about the future with her family.
The new Centre is creating a permanent home for breast cancer surgery, bringing specialist teams together and creating closer links between treatment and research.
Fiona Miller Smith, chief executive of Barts Charity, said: “These first few months give us a glimpse of what the Breast Cancer Centre can mean for people across East London. Hundreds of patients are already benefiting from surgery in the new centre – and this is only the beginning.
“With the support of donors across London, we are creating a place where patients can access world-leading care and research on their doorstep, and where discoveries made in one of the world’s most diverse communities can ultimately improve breast cancer care far beyond East London.”
With the early activity benefitting patients, Barts Charity is launching its launching its biggest-ever fundraising campaign: Here For It. This will build on the Charity’s £16.6m investment in the Centre, raising funds for pioneering breast cancer research, specialist roles, advanced equipment and new approaches to care. The ambition is to give more people in East London access to the latest advances in breast cancer.
The Centre itself is continuing to be developed in phases. Further developments will bring more specialist services to the site and create greater opportunities to connect cancer care with research. Recommissioning of the Giltspur Wing is nearing completion, with outpatient clinics planned to open in October and support the growth of oncology research.
When fully operational, the Breast Cancer Centre is expected to accommodate around 1,800 breast cancer surgeries each year. It will bring together specialist surgery and reconstruction, oncology and imaging alongside supportive services addressing issues including fertility and early menopause. Patients will also have greater opportunities to participate in research and access cutting-edge treatments.
Over the past five years, Barts Charity has invested £19.1 million in tackling breast cancer in East London. Its new fundraising campaign aims to build on that investment helping more people benefit from pioneering research and care in the local community.
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