Blog

Secondary breast cancer (also known as metastatic, stage 4 or advanced breast cancer) occurs when the cancer spreads beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes to other parts of the body. In this blog we will share information on secondary breast cancer, metastases, the signs to look out for, and the diagnosis of secondary breast cancer.

When/How were you first diagnosed? In March 2021, I found a lump in my breast and went to my local GP – I was fast tracked as they thought it looked suspicious, within 10 days I had a breast clinic appointment at my local hospital, where I had a mammogram, ultrasound and 9 biopsies.

Living with secondary (metastatic) cancer is challenging. You will deal with a variety of emotions, such as fear, sadness, anxiety, anger, or hopelessness.

Craig took part in Race to the Stones which is a 100km ultramarathon from Lewknor to Avebury with 2 of his colleagues to raise funds for M2C following his wife Gemma's secondary breast cancer diagnosis in 2019. Here you can read more of Craig’s story.

Research contracts are legally binding agreements between a research funder, the chief investigator and the research institution where the work is taking place. In today’s blog, Research Manager Dr Sarah Thomas shares what's involved in shaping a research contract that truly reflects the core values of Make 2nds Count.

SBC & Me Date of Diagnosis 1st September 2021 Current Treatment Line Letrazole Zoladex Denosumab Ribociclib How does SBC effect your life? My body hurts quite a lot, just doing the gardening I have full on body aches for days, my body doesn't bounce back too quickly.

Living with secondary (metastatic) cancer is challenging. You will deal with a variety of emotions, such as fear, sadness, anxiety, anger, or hopelessness.

An independent review, commissioned by the UK government and led by Lord O’Shaughnessy, has recently been published with many recommendations on how to tackle the key challenges in delivering commercial clinical trials and how the environment for commercial clinical trials can be improved in the UK. Although the UK has an illustrious track record in the area of clinical trials, both historically and with recent successes, such as with the COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutic COVID drug trials, in recent years the UK has started to fall behind in commercial clinical trial activity.

Ed Hodges is one of our amazing fundraisers and, this year, he will be undertaking a series of challenges for Make 2nds Count. He has recently completed 51 Fiver Triathlon in May and Endure 24 Reading in June.

I am currently 56 years old. I was a Major Crime Forensic Advisor but retired three years ago after a stroke and a 2nd primary cancer diagnosis.

Patient Trials Advocate, Vivienne Wilson, has been highly commended for her inspiring work at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Scotland Nurse of the Year Awards for 2023. During the awards ceremony held at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh on 21 June, Vivienne was a finalist in the Inspiring Excellence - Nursing Innovation and Research Award category for her leadership in the delivery of the Patient Trials Advocate (PTA) service, developed by Make 2nds Count.

Living with secondary (metastatic) cancer is challenging. You will deal with a variety of emotions, such as fear, sadness, anxiety, anger, or hopelessness.

On behalf of Make 2nds Count, the Board of Trustees confirms that on 16th June, its founder Lisa Fleming chose to withdraw the employment tribunal claim she had raised against the charity. See here for further details of the legal action.

Living with secondary (metastatic) cancer is challenging. You will deal with a variety of emotions, such as sadness, anxiety, anger, or hopelessness.

A 5 year anniversary interview with Dr Olga Oikonomidou, the first recipient of research funding from Make 2nds Count. Dr Olga Oikonomidou is a Consultant Medical Oncologist and Principal Investigator of the Breast Cancer Translational Research Group at the University of Edinburgh.