Giving hope to those affected
by secondary breast cancer
Research. Support. Education.
Giving hope to those affected
by secondary breast cancer
16th March 2025 by Clare Cox
Documented by Sally Cusack, Melissa Baldwin, Megan Merrit, Emily Van Keogh
Our best-friend, Emily, was enjoying her maternity leave as a first-time mother of her four-month-old son Griff. Then in September 2020 her life then changed forever when she found a lump in her left breast. After several trips to the GP, she was diagnosed with stage 4 secondary metastatic breast cancer.
What could have been a time for her to retreat from life in sadness and shock, actually transformed Emily’s life. With determination and resolve, she threw herself into writing poetry, creating a powerful Instagram page ‘Not Much Rhymes with Cancer’. Here she poured out her heart and soul, documenting her journey from diagnosis through treatment with searing honesty and humour.
When Emily tragically passed away, it became clear to all of us that her words needed to be shared and preserved, so they could continue to offer comfort and support to others facing a similar journey. Whether this was someone with cancer themselves or supporting a loved one. We believed deeply in the power of Emily’s poems to connect, heal, and provide strength. In the wake of the immense loss Emily left behind, we knew we had to do something to honour her legacy and ensure her voice was forever out there.
Inspired by Emily’s drive, passion, and incredible work ethic, we set out to bring her poems to life in book form. Starting with finding the right publisher to partner with, creating structure and chapters that truly reflected Emily’s journey and collaborating with Emily’s talented little sister, Megan, who contributed beautiful illustrations to the book. Our primary goal was clear: to share Emily’s words with as many people as possible, offering comfort, support, and connection to anyone who needed it.
It was evident from the off-start that we wanted to profits from the book to go directly
back out to help those with cancer. Firstly, to fund free copies to be placed within hospices, treatment centres and hospital wards. Secondly to support the amazing work that Makes 2nds Count does. A charity very close to Emily’s heart, one that she not only relied on for guidance and built a strong community through, but also the charity she chose to back herself. A particular highlight was her Poetry Postcards, which consisted of three themed collections of poems tackling familiar experiences of cancer, such as self, identity, fear, and hope. She sold these via her Instagram account with all the money going directly to Makes 2nds Count.
Emily’s poems landed on bookshelves across the UK in October 2024 and was a monumental moment for us and Emily’s family. Seeing her words in actual bookshops and in people’s hands was an overwhelming mix of emotions, excitement and elation. Such a proud moment for us, but most of all we felt so very proud of Em. Her journey embodied resilience, transformation, and the profound power of community and creativity in times of crisis. This is her legacy, now preserved on paper, with the hope of inspiring and helping countless others.
The book is available to buy at Waterstones, Amazon and at local bookstores across
the UK: https://www.valleypressuk.com/shop/p/not-much-rhymes-with-cancer
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