Giving hope to those affected
by secondary breast cancer
Research. Support. Education.
Giving hope to those affected
by secondary breast cancer
4th August 2025 by Sam Dixon
Despite funding research into secondary (metastatic) breast cancer whilst working in Sheffield Weston Park Cancer Charity, I was surprised how little I knew about this treatable but incurable cancer which, astonishingly, takes the lives of 1,000 women and men a month in the UK.
Secondary breast cancer occurs when cancer cells from the breast travel to other parts of the body such as the skin, brain, lungs and bones. It’s also known as metastatic, advanced or stage IV breast cancer.
I joined Make 2nds Count as their first (albeit part-time) CEO with the remit to help shape and prepare the charity for its next stage of growth. Make 2nds Count is a punchy, fast-growing UK charity whose vision is for those with secondary breast cancer to live longer and better lives.
This past year I’ve learned:
We don’t know how many people are living with secondary breast cancer in the UK - incredible eh? Whilst the estimate is that there are 61,000 women and men in the UK living with this disease, unbelievably we don’t know the true figure as incidences of secondary breast cancer have not been accurately and consistently included in cancer statistics. Without better data, patients with secondary breast cancer remain invisible across the healthcare system. Better secondary breast cancer data would help governments prioritise specialist care that improves the quality of life for people living with the disease and their families, through co-ordinated and long-term support.
Research into secondary breast cancer is massively underfunded despite the disease now being the leading cause 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.
Clinical trials present a real opportunity for secondary breast cancer patients to access innovative treatments before they are widely available on the NHS but too few hear about them and even fewer can access them. Less than a quarter of patients surveyed by us said that an oncologist had spoken to them about a clinical trial despite many patients wishing to take part - over half would even be willing to fund their own costs to take part in a trial.
Despite this disease being incurable, we are witnessing an increasing number of patients living for many years. This year our Stories of Hope have included Liz’s story, a woman who has had secondary breast cancer for 20 years. Whilst we aren’t there yet, there is the possibility that, with the right treatments and care, this disease could become a chronic disease for many in the future.
Our impact report gives a good account of what we’ve achieved this year and some of the highlights include:
We’ve taken a more active and vocal role in advocating for change on behalf of our community. This has taken the form of participation in a number of NICE drug consultations (including Elacestrant, which has been recommended for use in NHS England). We’ve also joined a number of coalitions which enables us, as a smaller charity, to work together with others to affect change. We recently supported the new ‘Advancing Global Visibility for Metastatic Breast Cancer’ pledge and have lent our support to the patient forum of the National Audit of Metastatic Breast Cancer to push for improvements to how data relating to secondary breast cancer patients is collected and used.
We’ve kick-started a number of new research projects, funded by donations given by generous supporters. Our research strategy is focussed on improving the quality and length of life for patients and we look to this research having an impact on lives within the next five years. For example, a grant has been given to Dr Leanne Fleming’s ESTABLISH project through which it will be tested whether CBT could be a feasible, acceptable or effective treatment for secondary breast cancer patients experiencing insomnia.
The Make 2nds Count Patient Summit is unique to the UK (we’ve held two in the past year). It’s the only opportunity for secondary breast cancer patients to meet in person as well as virtually, to hear first-hand from leading clinicians and researchers about the latest developments in treatment and care as well as providing an important opportunity for patients to increase their peer support network.
We’ve recently marked the 1000th patient supported by our Clinical Trials Service. Patients can speak to our highly-experienced nurse who provides them with information about suitable clinical trials and support to speak to their oncologist about accessing the trial. Aware that barriers exist to patients, particularly those from minoritised backgrounds, we've held a series of roundtable events this year to understand these barriers and how these might be addressed; we look forward to sharing these findings in early 2026.
It’s easy to think that supporting people with an incurable disease must be upsetting and tough. Of course there are difficult times, often as we say goodbye to friends and supporters, however overwhelmingly I have seen joy, hope, strength and a love of life.
I’ve been part of some really brilliant things over the last year. Some highlights have included meeting and chatting with many wonderful people from our community at various events, including our 2nds Together Retreats (Wales) and Tea & Chat groups (London, Birmingham, Hereford). I was proud to speak to ministers at Whitehall alongside our Community Ambassador Tansy (who sadly died recently) to highlight that patients and their symptoms are 'hidden within plain sight'.
Seeing our flagship Patient Summit successfully take place twice (the 2024 event was literally my second week in post!) and having countless conversations with patients who said they felt more informed and empowered to have conversations with their clinical teams as a result of it. And dancing with supporters at a fabulous Elton John tribute night organised by Mid-Kent Gold Club is also a night I will never forget!
This past year has shown me what a hugely enjoyable job I have, leading a charity which does, and has further potential, to really help secondary breast cancer patients and their families live longer and better lives.
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