Giving Something Back - Breast Friends

A few years ago when I was going through breast cancer treatment, support was everywhere. Then when treatment stopped, the support became harder to find.

When I was diagnosed, my sister told me about Breast Friends. One of the founders is a family friend who had breast cancer a few years before me. I looked into it and felt like this was exactly the kind of support I needed. Because it was still so new at the time, it was only running in the area where my friend lived - hundreds of miles away from me. I was gutted.

Even from a distance though, I could see something special growing.

Over the years, I’ve watched Breast Friends become more than just a support group. I’ve watched Carrie and Janine create a community built on understanding, honesty, kindness and genuine friendship - the kind that only people who have walked this path themselves truly understand.

Then a few months ago, Carrie asked me if I would consider becoming an Ambassador for Breast Friends.

Honoured doesn’t even begin to cover it.

She told me I could think about it, but honestly, my answer was immediate: abso-bloomin-lootly.

During treatment, I made myself a promise that if I ever got through it, I would find a way to give something back. Breast cancer takes so much from you - your confidence, your sense of safety, your body, your energy, sometimes even your identity for a while. Being able to now support others going through that same terrifying journey feels incredibly meaningful.

I’m so proud to be the first Breast Friends Ambassador in the North West of England.

To support people who are newly diagnosed, going through treatment, living with secondary breast cancer, navigating survivorship, menopause, surgery, fear, uncertainty, or simply trying to adjust to a “new normal” - it feels like being part of something that truly matters.

I’ve been visiting GP surgeries, local businesses and supermarkets to raise awareness and share information about our monthly coffee mornings, and the response has honestly been overwhelming. People want these spaces. They want somewhere they can walk into and not have to explain themselves.

Every month I’ll be hosting a coffee morning where the first brew is on us - a relaxed, welcoming space where nobody has to pretend they’re okay.

But Breast Friends is so much more than the face-to-face meet ups.

For many people, especially in the middle of the night when anxiety hits hardest, support comes through the Breast Friends Facebook hubs. They are safe spaces filled with people who simply “get it.” Whether someone needs advice before surgery, reassurance about treatment side effects, somewhere to vent, or just people who understand the emotional rollercoaster of cancer, there is always someone there.

Breast Friends also provides practical support through surgery kits and menopause kits - thoughtful care packages filled with items that can make an incredibly difficult time just that little bit easier. And honestly, sometimes it’s those little acts of kindness that mean the most. They remind people they are seen, supported and not facing this alone.

Since becoming an Ambassador, I’ve already connected with some truly inspirational people. People who are facing unimaginable challenges with incredible strength. People who are supporting each other through fear, grief, treatment and recovery. People turning up for strangers simply because they understand.

That’s what Breast Friends really is.

It’s friendship.

It’s understanding.

It’s lived experience.

It’s support without judgement.

It’s knowing you don’t have to do this alone.

And I feel incredibly proud to now be a small part of it.

If you or someone you know has been affected by breast cancer and would like to find support, you can find the Breast Friends Hub and Events Page here.

JuJu x