What is The UK Charity for TNBC and where can I get support?
What is The UK Charity for TNBC?
The UK Charity for TNBC is the registered charity in England and Wales (no. 1192952) and Scotland (no. SCO53658) dedicated to helping people with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).
We are a volunteer-led, non-profit organisation dedicated to improving awareness, understanding, and support for those affected by TNBC across the UK.
The story behind The UK Charity for TNBC
The UK Charity for TNBC was created by Robin Woolcock in memory of his dearly loved wife.
It started with Ruth
In 1966, Robin met his wife, Ruth. They shared a lifetime together until she passed away in 2017 after an 8-year battle with triple negative breast cancer.
Her strength and resilience inspired him to take action, to do something that could make a difference for other facing TNBC.
A spark from across the pond
Not knowing where to begin, Robin connected with Hayley Dinerman, Executive Director of the TNBC Foundation in the US.
Her encouragement ad vision convinced Robin that creating a dedicated TNBC charity in the UK was the way forward.
Finding the right expertise
Without a medical background, Robin needed guidance.
That’s when he met Professor Chris Twelves, oncologist, researcher and professor at Leeds University. His expertise shaped the charity’s direction and gave him the confidence to push ahead.
Powered by volunteers
From day one, passionate volunteers, many with their own personal connection to TNBC, have been at the heart of our mission.
Their dedication drives everything we do.
Our Mission
Our mission is to inform, educate, and empower.
We want to ensure that everyone diagnosed with TNBC feels supported and that accurate and accessible information about TNBC reaches everyone who needs it: patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
We are committed to:
Informing
Distributing clear, accurate TNBC information in every cancer hospital, clinic, and waiting room across the UK.
Educating
Hosting specialist TNBC webinars to train TNBC Breast Nurse Champions, equipping healthcare professionals with the knowledge to improve care.
Advocating
Representing the TNBC community at leading medical conferences like ESMO, to raise visibility and push for better recognition, treatment pathways, and research.
Listening
Ensuring that all our work is shaped by our Patient Advisory Panel (PAP), made up of individuals with lived experience of TNBC.
Our Team
Robin Woolcock
Founder and Chairman
Claire Bertrand
Trustee
Professor Chris Twelves
Trustee, Oncology Advisor
Katherine Gaylard
Volunteer PAP Coordinator
Our Values
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Compassion
We are grounded in empathy and humanity. Every action we take is shaped by the real experiences of people living with and affected by TNBC.
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Visibility
We work to ensure TNBC is no longer overlooked. Through awareness campaigns, resources, and advocacy, we make this under-recognised breast cancer visible to all.
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Knowledge
We believe that access to accurate, timely, and understandable information is a right. We champion education for patients, carers, and healthcare professionals alike.
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Lived-Experience Led
Our work is guided by our Patient Advisory Panel, ensuring our priorities reflect the real-world needs of the TNBC community.
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Collaboration
We build bridges - between patients, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers - to create lasting change.
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Equity
We strive for a world where everyone affected by TNBC, regardless of background or postcode, receives the support and care they deserve.
Why have a charity just for Triple Negative Breast Cancer?
Creating a charity dedicated to triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is essential because this aggressive form of breast cancer behaves very differently from other types. People diagnosed with TNBC need information, support, and access to treatments that are specific to their condition.
While there are excellent cancer and breast cancer charities in the UK - without which many new treatments currently available for people with breast cancer would not exist - they serve a wide range of cancers and types of breast cancer from prevention to aftercare. Much of the general advice online does not relate to TNBC or provide the depth of TNBC-specific guidance that patients and families urgently need and can therefore cause confusion and frustration.
We deliver clear and accurate, TNBC-specific information provided by Dr Chris Twelves, Professor of Clinical Cancer Pharmacology and Oncology at the University of Leeds, and Director, NIHR Leeds Clinical Research Facility at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust where he is also a practising breast cancer consultant medical oncologist.
What support is available for people with TNBC?
This website enables you to join a Community by clicking on the button below, and choosing which of the support groups is best for you so you can communicate with others who are able to offer support, advice and share their experiences.
You are not alone and can get support and comfort by talking to those sharing the same experiences.
There are also many other organisations offering excellent online and in-person support and advice for you, your family and friends.
