Blog

With schools and nurseries closed most children are at home and without museums, play parks, soft plays and cinemas, keeping them entertained is a tough job! Parents, we hear you and Make 2nds Count are here to help with some inspiration.

Ever since I was diagnosed with Secondary breast cancer in late 2017, and came across Lisa Fleming’s story on how Make2ndsCount was born, I knew I wanted to support the charity in some way. Many people raise awareness by opening their world to social media which I totally admire and appreciate, but that wasn’t for me, so I knew I wanted to do something else.

Media coverage over recent weeks has consistently reminded us of how important it is for those with underlying health conditions to self shield to protect themselves from covid-19. For those living with secondary breast cancer, the continuous warnings and instructions to self-isolate can lead to a feeling of hopelessness - a recurring theme over on our Seconds Together Facebook group.

The Impact of Covid-19 On Trials & Medical ResearchLast month, in the UK the NIHR Clinical Research Network announced it is pausing the site set up of any new or ongoing studies at NHS and social care sites that are not nationally prioritised COVID-19 studies. While this is of course necessary to enable the research workforce to focus on combatting the pandemic or redeployment to frontline care, the implications for secondary breast cancer patients are huge.

As a cancer patient, I feel very lucky indeed. Why would I say that?

The coronavirus has had an impact on all organisations. Charities are no exception to that!

During such an uncertain time we are living through, here at Make 2nds Count, we understand that when you are already living with Secondary Breast Cancer it is also very frightening time. To make things easier to navigate we have gathered some useful resources.

Hi my name is Liz, I’m 54 and I live with my wife and our son in Edinburgh. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by family and friends here.

We were delighted to be invited to attend the Edinburgh Breast Cancer Special Symposium on Saturday 29th February. Our Head of Fundraising Emma was joined by our patient champions, Claire, Karen H and Karen T.

One of the most common questions we're asked about secondary breast cancer is; what parts of the body does it impact? When breast cancer cells spreads to another site within the body through the lymphatic system or blood stream it is commonly referred to as metastases or ‘mets.’ The most common areas that breast cancer cells spread to are the bones, brain, liver, lungs and skin.

I was diagnosed with primary Breast Cancer in October 2015, at age 37. My treatment plan was neoadjuvant chemotherapy, radiotherapy, followed by a mastectomy with axillary lymph node clearance.

I've always been a bit of a fitness freak embracing the Green Goddess high cut leotards and shiny leggings of the 80s to the trendy but subtly branded sportswear of today. I've done aerobics, step, body combat, body pump, pilates, running, yoga and some heavy weight lifting....oh and you can throw some salsa dancing into all that as well.

We hear about breast cancer on almost a daily basis, yet many people have never heard of secondary breast cancer and even though the disease kills on average 1,000 people every single month in the UK alone. So, what is Secondary Breast Cancer?

Why isn’t every patient with cancer offered a clinical trial? Why are my six little pills not available to every metastatic Her2 patient now?

It’s Christmas!!! The dulcet tones of Noddy Holder fills the house and I can’t help but smile.