Heartbreak to Hope CIC — Cancer Awareness, Emotional Support & Advocacy
Turning
Heartbreak
Into Hope,
Together
Providing cancer awareness and emotional support workshops for individuals facing cancer, misdiagnosis, and loss — through lived experience, advocacy, and encouragement.
Who We Are & Our Mission
Raising cancer awareness and inspiring hope through lived experience
Heartbreak to Hope CIC was founded by Sharon-Ann Phillips, cancer survivor, patient advocate, and author, whose decade-long battle with multiple cancers, heart failure, and the devastating impact of misdiagnosis became the foundation for everything we do.
Our mission is to raise awareness of the dangers of medical misdiagnosis, offer hope and guidance to people facing serious illness, and inspire resilience through lived experience. Through speaking engagements, workshops, and one-to-one support, we help patients, families, and healthcare professionals understand the human side of illness.
Sharon-Ann has shared her story for nearly a decade, always grounded in compassion, faith, and the belief that hope can grow even in the most difficult circumstances.
Awareness
Educating communities about cancer, misdiagnosis and early detection
Support
One-to-one guidance and emotional support for patients and families
Hope
Inspiring resilience through lived experience and shared stories
Why Me? My Fight for Life from Heartbreak to Hope
Author: Sharon-Ann Phillips
At the height of her life, Sharon-Ann was given just six months to live. What followed was a decade-long battle with multiple cancers, heart failure, and the devastating impact of misdiagnosis. In Why Me?, she shares her deeply personal journey of faith, resilience, and survival — a testament to hope.
Available at AmazonA story of heartbreak. A story of survival. A story of hope.
Events & Advocacy
Our Work In Action
GSK Headquarters, London – 2025
Sharon-Ann was honoured to share her journey of misdiagnosis, cancer, and heart failure with Dame Emma Walmsley, then CEO of GSK, and Sophie Castell, CEO of Myeloma UK, in front of 250 GSK colleagues. It was a moment to raise awareness and ensure that her patient voice was heard.
Pfizer UK Patient Insights Panel – April 2025
In April 2025, Pfizer UK featured her story as part of their commitment to listening to patients and shaping future research. Sharing her lived experience allowed her to highlight the realities of misdiagnosis, cancer, and resilience. Sharon-Ann was honoured to represent the patient voice in such a meaningful way.
Macmillan Christmas Campaign - National, December 2020
During lockdown, Sharon-Ann shared her story as part of Macmillan's 2020 Christmas campaign, alongside two others. The campaign inspired nationwide support and raised almost £800,000 to help families living with cancer through one of the toughest years.
Coming Up
Know Your Normal
On the 1st of every month, Sharon-Ann shares a short breast awareness video on Instagram. Know your normal, check yourself, speak up.
ResearchTogether, Birmingham
Find Heartbreak to Hope in the Conversation Zone alongside Blood Cancer UK, bringing lived experience into research.
Talks and Workshops
Sharon-Ann speaks to churches, organisations and community groups about misdiagnosis, early awareness and living with hope.
Latest from the Blog
Meet Phoebe: The 8 Year Old Raising Hope for Lobular Breast Cancer
8 year old Phoebe is fundraising for Lobular Breast Cancer UK after her nanny Clare was diagnosed. Read her story and learn why breast awareness means more than checking for a lump.
Read more →My Story, Featured by HQIP for Breast Cancer Awareness Month
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I was honoured to be invited by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership (HQIP) to share my story as part of their national campaign.
Read more →Cake, Community and a Cause Close to Our Hearts
Heartbreak to Hope and Eden Legal Consultancy hosted a Macmillan Coffee Morning at True Vine Ministries, Lambeth, raising money for people living with cancer.
Read more →Free Resource
Know Your Normal
Free Heartbreak to Hope Breast Awareness Guide
Checking your breasts takes just a few minutes. This guide helps you understand what is normal for your body, what changes to look and feel for, and when to seek medical advice.
Created by breast cancer survivor, patient advocate and founder of Heartbreak to Hope CIC.
How We Help
Workshops & Support
Speaking & Workshops
Sharon-Ann brings lived experience into the rooms where change can be made, from national patient conferences to community halls. Her talks are honest, warm and grounded in the reality of navigating serious illness, misdiagnosis and the search for hope.
Whether speaking alongside leading clinicians or sitting in conversation with a church congregation, she meets every audience where they are.
Lived Experience Workshops
Workshops built from real lived experience, offering practical guidance and a safe space to better understand diagnosis, misdiagnosis, and how to respond when something doesn't feel right.
Using My Story to Inspire Change
Standing alongside Orin and Beverley De Gale, founders of ACLT, whose pioneering work has transformed lives through stem cell, blood and organ donation. Using my lived experience to raise awareness, inspire hope and encourage others to take action.
Speaking & Awareness Sessions
Honest, impactful talks for churches, organisations, and community groups, raising awareness and encouraging people to understand their bodies and speak up with confidence.
Storytelling & Advocacy
Inspiring the next generation through the power of lived experience. By sharing my personal journey, I encourage young people to build resilience, make informed choices and believe that difficult circumstances do not have to define their future.
In Conversation with Sharon-Ann
Candid, meaningful conversations about living with serious illness, the emotional journey of diagnosis, and finding strength through community and shared experience.
Community & Collaboration
Building partnerships that put patients at the heart of change — working alongside healthcare leaders, charities and organisations including GSK, Myeloma UK, Blood Cancer UK and NHS trusts to ensure lived experience shapes conversations and improves outcomes.
Gallery
Sharon-Ann in Action
What People Say
Testimonials
"Because members of my family have had cancer, and some have sadly died from it, I read your book and decided to write about it on my Velindre Facebook page because I wanted it to be an inspiration to others. I cried when I read all about what you have been through. Your story touched me deeply, and I wanted other people affected by cancer to know about it. Your book is inspiring, moving, and a reminder that hope can be found even in the most difficult circumstances."
"Your session was the highest rated of the entire training day. Nurses described it as insightful, moving and a privilege to hear. Many said hearing your experience reinforced the importance of listening, compassion and the difference nurses can make to a patient's journey."
"From page one, Why Me? captured me. There were moments when I had to put the book down and sob as I reflected on everything Sharon-Ann had endured. Her story is honest, moving, and deeply inspiring. Reading Why Me? has brought faith back into focus again and reminded me of the strength that can be found even in life's most difficult circumstances."
"I received your book at 3pm on Thursday, started reading it at 7pm and simply could not put it down. By 2am I had finished the entire book. I cried so much. You are such an inspiration. I have always believed in God, but my faith was very low. Your story opened my mind and my heart to understand what God can really do. Your honesty is overwhelming and pure."
"Thank you so much, your writing style is so authentic, it's as though your presence is felt in the room as I read your words. I had to buy 10 more for my friends."
"This is a very authentic book, written with honesty and openness. The author was not afraid to open her heart even while it was breaking. Having survived cancer myself, I found it incredibly emotional. It is a must-read no matter what situation you are facing. Why Me? will make you laugh and cry, lift your faith, and remind you of the greatest virtue of all: love."
"This book is a true testimony of how one woman overcame adversity, even when doctors delivered the worst possible news. People often ask me how I can remain so positive. It's because I am surrounded by such exquisite beings as Ms Phillips. Shazza, you're an extraordinary woman and you've touched our hearts. I salute you, Queen."
"I could not put this book down. I was gripped from beginning to end. My emotions were completely captivated. I chuckled, I cried, and I felt uplifted in faith. This book gave me an even greater appreciation for life, loved ones, and a reminder of how quickly everything can change. What a journey."
Moved by what you've read? Get your copy of Why Me? and share Sharon-Ann's story.
Buy the Book on AmazonSupport Our Work
Help Us Reach More People
Heartbreak to Hope CIC is a community interest company run on passion, lived experience, and the belief that no one should face cancer alone. Your donation helps us deliver free workshops, awareness sessions, and resources to communities across the UK.
Heartbreak to Hope CIC is a registered Community Interest Company. All donations go directly towards our awareness and support programmes.
Contact Us
Get in Touch — If you would like to find out more about workshops, one-to-one support, or speaking opportunities, please get in touch. Whether you are reaching out for yourself, a loved one, or an organisation, we welcome your enquiry.
You can contact us for:
- Joining a workshop
- Booking a speaker
- One-to-one support
- Community or church events
- General enquiries
Heartbreak to Hope CIC
[email protected]All enquiries are treated with care and confidentiality. We aim to respond within 2–3 working days.
You don't have to navigate this alone.