Breast cancer Surgery Box - pilot launch across the UK!

Breast cancer Surgery Box – pilot launch across the UK!

We're kicking off Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a very exciting announcement, our Breast Cancer Surgery Box is now available through our Little Kindness Fund as a pilot!

A little kindness goes a long way!

This means that anyone in the UK receiving surgery (a lumpectomy or mastectomy) for breast cancer can apply for a Little Lifts Surgery Box via our Little Kindness Fund online portal.

Supporting breast cancer surgery patients

Our Surgery Box includes a range of items specifically chosen to support breast cancer patients undergoing this treatment. Figures from Cancer Research show that 81% of people diagnosed with breast cancer have surgery to remove the tumour.

Our wonderful Founder Oa said: “During consultations with our beneficiaries and hospital partners, it became evident there are some patients who don’t require chemotherapy or radiotherapy, but instead receive surgery alone as part of their treatment programme – these patients have been missing the support of a Little Lifts Box.

Surgery for a lumpectomy or a mastectomy can sometimes be the first aspect of treatment for many, and it can be a very overwhelming and worrying time. It’s our mission to support every patient at every step of their active treatment, and this new service ensures every single breast cancer patient receiving treatment is being supported”.

How to access our support

Anyone in the UK receiving surgery for breast cancer can apply for a Little Lifts Box free of charge through our Little Kindness Fund online portal.

If you are being treated at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, you will receive a Box automatically.

This is a pilot launch and will be subject to funding.

What is our Little Kindness Fund?

Our Little Kindness Fund was set up in response to the pandemic, to ensure that anyone receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy treatment for primary or secondary breast cancer in the UK, can apply for a Box, free of charge, through our website. Since June 2022 we have seen applications rise by 1150%, receiving over 100 applications per week.

Handpicked products to support you

Like our Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy Box, the new Surgery Box will offer practical and emotional support.

Disposable wipes: These eco-friendly wipes may come in handy during your hospital visit/stay.

Hand Sanitiser: Always a handy item to have in your bag.

Cordial: A tasty way to keep your fluid intake up. Simply add to still or sparkling water.

Reusable straw: Use again and again with your favourite drink or water so that you can stay hydrated.

Moisturiser: To help your skin heal following your surgery.

Teabags: Herbal tea to help keep you hydrated. They can also soothe and help you sleep.

Chocolate: A little luxury, because you deserve it.

Face and body wash with a flannel: Using unperfumed shower gel or soap keeps your clean during your stay. We’ve provided an eco-friendly flannel too!

Eye mask: A heated eye mask for when you need a little nap.

Sleep mist: To aid sleep and relaxation.

Notebook and pen: Useful to note down questions, or any feelings or thoughts.

Seeds: Give them some TLC and watch them grow!

Tote bag: To carry all the essentials to your surgery appointment. Plus, always useful for shopping!

NNUH pilot launch

Our Surgery Box has been piloting for a year to breast cancer patients at NNUH.

Prof Nancy Fontaine, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital Chief Nurse, said: “The Boxes provide fantastic additional support and are perfectly suited for patients who are admitted to our hospital for surgery. We are very grateful to the charity for their invaluable support in helping people with the physical side effects of treatment and with emotional support”.

You can listen to more about our Surgery Box from our hospital pilot launch here.

Growing our support

The launch of this new Box ensure that we are working towards our mission of supporting every person receiving breast cancer treatment with a Little Lifts Box. This year alone we are aiming to support a further 10,000 people with a chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery Box. So far we have gifted over 7,000 Boxes.

Want to help us spread kindness to people affected by breast cancer?

If you would like to help us on our mission of supporting every person in the UK receiving treatment for breast cancer check out our get involved page and help make a difference.

Or, why not consider donating during The Big Give, where every donation made is doubled! This campaign is from the 10th-17th of October, where you can make double the difference.

Thank you!

We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who helps to make all of this possible.

Special thank to the incredible teams at the NNUH who continue to support our work, offering their expertise and experience to aid the growth of our small but mighty charity and thereby our outreach of support. Their feedback has led to this launch across the UK!