Giving hope to those affected
by secondary breast cancer
Research. Support. Education.
Giving hope to those affected
by secondary breast cancer
1st October 2025 by Clare Cox
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. It’s an incurable form of cancer that spreads beyond the breast to other parts of the body, often bringing immense emotional, physical and mental toll to patients and their families. An estimated 1,000 women in the UK die from the disease every month.
Figures of how many women and men are actually living with the disease are estimated because data collection is inaccurate and patchy across the UK. Audits are being attempted across some of the four nations with only Northern Ireland currently having accurate data, so that services and support can be more adequately provided.
Donna Sartain, 46, from Bedfordshire was diagnosed with de novo secondary (metastatic) breast cancer in May 2020. “I’d spent several years in pain and being dismissed by doctors as “too young for breast cancer” before finally being diagnosed, by which point my tumour had reached nearly six centimetres and had spread to my bones and liver. I come from a family with a history of breast cancer and as a nurse I understood the concept of cancer spreading – but experiencing it yourself is something else entirely. People need to have a better understanding of the disease.
“They think it’s curable. They don’t understand why we’re still on treatment – they expect an end date. I wanted to be involved in Truth Be Told because people need to see the truth. People always tell me, “You look well.” But they don’t see the internal scars – the trauma, the fatigue, the mental load. I wanted to be part of something that shows what life actually looks like when we’re not wearing the mask.
Despite our ongoing drive to improve awareness, the statistics also indicate UK wide uncertainty around the disease. Over a quarter (28%) of UK adults believe secondary (metastatic) breast cancer can (wrongly) be cured and only 10% of UK adults selected the correct range “1,000 to 1999” for the approximate number of people secondary (metastatic) breast cancer kills every month.
Sam Dixon, CEO of Make 2nds Count, said: “’Truth Be Told’ is more than an awareness initiative – it's a movement of empowerment which aims to give hope. This disease is real, relentless – and invisible to so many. Our goal is to ensure that the voices of those living with secondary (metastatic) breast cancer are heard, respected, and supported.
“This research shows that a high percentage of adults in the UK have never even heard of secondary (metastatic) breast cancer even though approximately 1,000 people die every month from the disease. We’re here to change that and give a voice to the unseen struggles of this community and show their strength through our campaign.”
The poll also highlighted that:
Over a third (37%) of UK adults didn’t know that men can get secondary (metastatic) breast cancer.
47 % of UK men didn’t know they can get secondary (metastatic) breast cancer
Dad of two, David McCallion, 61, from Greater Manchester was first diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma (a form of breast cancer) in 2019 and then with secondary (metastatic) breast cancer in 2023 after the cancer had spread to his lungs. He said: “The leap from primary cancer to secondary is huge. It’s like starting all over again. And as a man I face a lot of isolation, stigma and misunderstanding around my disease.
“Being involved in this campaign has been one of the most important things I’ve done. As a man, it’s hard to open up. But showing myself like that, in a photograph…it matters. Because one day, when I’m gone, that photo will still be there and will hopefully remind someone that, as these statistics highlight, men can get secondary (metastatic) breast cancer and everyone should know the signs and symptoms so that they can seek help and support as early as possible.”
At the heart of Truth Be Told is a striking collection of photographic portraits, which includes Donna and David, by renowned Irish photographer Jennifer Willis, which give a candid look at the lived experience of those with secondary (metastatic) breast cancer and capture the strength, vulnerability, and authenticity of those individuals living with the disease in an unfiltered way.
The campaign is part of our broader vision to support people with secondary (metastatic) breast cancer live longer and better lives. We provide advice about treatment options and clinical trials, connects patients through peer-to-peer and online support groups, wellbeing activities, and retreats and funds research, supporting more than 2,000 patients a year.
For more information about the Truth Be Told campaign or to get involved, visit https://bcam.make2ndscount.co.uk
* Secondary breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the UK in women between the ages of 40-59. Office for National Statistics (ONS), released 20 May 2025, ONS website, statistical bulletin, Death registration summary statistics, England and Wales: 2024
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