DonateMy Life, My Way: There’s no one way to live with secondary breast cancer
Living with a secondary breast cancer diagnosis is emotionally, mentally and physically gruelling for the estimated 61,000 people in the UK living with this disease. But behind every diagnosis is a life still being lived.
My Life, My Way celebrates the stories of how life continues beyond diagnosis — on individual terms.
"There's no point spending precious energy on "why me?" It's more about how I spend it on how I can make myself live as well as I can." - Sam
We are Make 2nds Count: a UK-wide patient and family focused charity dedicated to giving hope to women and men living with secondary (metastatic) breast cancer.
Research into secondary breast cancer is underfunded. We are committed to funding secondary breast cancer research which can contribute to advancing an increased quality of life for patients.
Our in-person and online Support programme helps our community with information sharing, practical advice and support, wellbeing activities and facilitating peer-to-peer friendship groups.
Education is key to everything that we do and we aim to raise awareness of secondary breast cancer through effective marketing and education programmes across the UK. We also empower our community by increasing their knowledge and understanding of research, treatments, trials and options.
Together we can Make 2nds Count!
Signs & Symptoms of Secondary Breast Cancer
Secondary (metastatic) breast cancer is a cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body.
An estimated 61,000 men and women in the UK are living with this incurable disease, and symptoms can vary from person to person. It has a devastating impact on people affected and their families, yet many people have never heard of it. Secondary breast cancer is now one of the leading causes of death in the UK in women between the ages of 40-59*, with an estimated 1,000 women dying every month from the disease.
Secondary breast cancer can be treated but it cannot be cured. Treatments aim to control and slow down the disease to enable patients to have the best possible quality of life for as long as possible.
Office for National Statistics (ONS), released 20 May 2025, ONS website, statistical bulletin, Death registration summary statistics, England and Wales: 2024
Living with a secondary breast cancer diagnosis is both mentally and physically gruelling and can be incredibly isolating. Our support programme helps our community by informing, sharing, fostering important relationships, and offering practical advice.
- Tea & Chat - we have 21 regional in-person monthly groups that are safe spaces to build friendships and get peer-to-peer support.
- Wellbeing sessions - our weekly online activities including Pilates, Yoga, Breathwork and Mindfulness, all designed to help mental and physical health.
- Online community - join our closed Facebook group to connect with others, share information and get support.
Join our support sessions
London Winter Walk 2027
See London’s most iconic sights with this fantastic walking Challenge and kick start your 2027.
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Adding our voice to calls for better cancer outcomes
Make 2nds Count is proud to be part of One Cancer Voice, a coalition of 64 cancer charities coming together to support Clive Jones MP’s Cancer (Reporting and Strategy) Bill. Ahead of its Second Reading in the House of Commons on 13 November, we’ve sent a letter to the Secretary of State, Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, to support the Bill, which would help monitor progress and maintain focus on delivering the National Cancer Plan.
Make 2nds Count disappointed by decision not to recommend Inavolisib in Scotland
Make 2nds Count is deeply disappointed by the Scottish Medicines Consortium’s (SMC) decision not to recommend Inavolisib (Itovebi®), in combination with palbociclib and fulvestrant, for routine use on NHS Scotland. The treatment is intended for adults with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), HER2-negative locally advanced or secondary (metastatic) breast cancer with a PIK3CA mutation, whose cancer has returned during or within 12 months of completing hormonal treatment following an earlier diagnosis.