News

People living in rural and coastal communities will find it easier to see a cancer specialist as part of Government plans to tackle the current postcode lottery. The most deprived parts of the country often have fewer cancer consultants, leaving patients waiting longer for vital care.

We’ve published an open letter to Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP calling for clarity, urgency and action on access to the drug Enhertu alongside our friends at Breast Cancer Now and METUP UK. We're asking the Government and pharmaceutical industry to explain what the recent commitment to increase the cost-effectiveness threshold for new medicines will mean for our secondary breast cancer community.

We are deeply saddened to share the news that the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) has decided not to approve Elacestrant for use on the NHS in Scotland. Elacestrant is a targeted treatment for postmenopausal women and men with hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative, secondary breast cancer who have an ESR1 mutation, with disease progression after hormone therapy, including a CDK 4/6 inhibitor.

We are deeply saddened to share that the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) have announced today that they have not approved capivasertib for use on the NHS in Scotland. Capivasertib is a targeted treatment for people with hormone receptor positive, HER2 negative breast cancer that has spread after earlier treatment.

Our new YouGov survey has shown 40% of adults in the UK have never heard of secondary (metastatic) breast cancer and 36% of UK adults don’t know what any of the signs and symptoms are, despite it being the leading cause of death for UK women between the ages of 40-59*. Our powerful national campaign, Truth Be Told, aims to highlight secondary (metastatic) breast cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month Secondary (metastatic) breast cancer affects an estimated 61,000 people in the UK, but remains under-recognised and under-discussed.

A coalition of more than 60 cancer charities, including Make 2nds Count – known as One Cancer Voice – have united to urge the UK Government to deliver a bold, fully funded National Cancer Plan for England to save and improve more people’s lives. New analysis shows that by 2040, around 6.3 million new cancer cases are expected across England.

We are delighted that our Patient Trustee, Lesley Stephen, has been awarded an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours list for services to secondary (metastatic) breast cancer. Lesley, from Edinburgh, was diagnosed with 'de novo' secondary breast cancer in March 2014.

The Charities Medicines Access Coalition (CMAC), a coalition of 26 health charities including Make 2nds Count representing millions of patients across the UK, is calling for the Government and the pharmaceutical industry to be more transparent and share clear evidence that patient impact is at the heart of the ongoing pricing and access discussions and negotiations. The review of the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access (VPAG), expected in Autumn 2025, has been brought forward and is due to conclude at the end of June 2025.

New analysis by Cancer Research UK revealed that last year, 74,000 cancer patients didn’t start their treatment on time. Make 2nds Count join over 50 other cancer charities to ask the government to tackle cancer waiting times after new analysis by Cancer Research UK revealed that last year, 74,000 cancer patients didn’t start their treatment on time.

We're delighted to that Greencoat’s North Hoyle Wind Farm Community Fund, operated by RWE, has awarded a generous £2,883 to support our Tea & Chat group in Rhyl, North Wales. Launched in Rhyl in October 2024, this monthly initiative has become a vital opportunity for local people living with secondary (metastatic) breast cancer to meet up and receive support, as well as build vital friendships.