Scottish Members Debate: patients with SBC deserve to be counted in Scotland

There is currently no accurate data on the number of people living with secondary (metastatic) breast cancer in the UK. This means that NHS services, and charities like us, do not know where and how many people need our support.

Right now, there’s no accurate data on how many people in the UK are living with secondary breast cancer. Unlike primary breast cancer, recurrence and progression are not consistently recorded in cancer registries. This means patients are effectively invisible in national statistics. Without knowing the full picture, it’s impossible to plan NHS services, allocate resources, or understand the true life expectancy of this disease.

While efforts, like the National Audit of Metastatic Breast Cancer, are underway in England and Wales, this work has not been done in Scotland. Almost 10 years ago, the Scottish Government committed to collecting comprehensive data on how many people are living with secondary breast cancer. To date, we still have not seen any progress in Scotland.

In collaboration with Breast Cancer Now, we are calling on the Scottish Government to deliver on their promises in the Cancer Action Plan to make sure everyone living with secondary breast cancer is counted.  

How you can help

We're asking our Scottish community, friends and families, to write to their MSPs to ask them to attend a members business debate on incurable secondary breast cancer, supported by Make 2nds Count and Breast Cancer Now, on 11 November 2025. 

You don’t need any experience to take part - we’ve made it simple and will support you each step of the way.

Write to Your MSPs

1. Find Out Who Your MSPs Are

You have eight MSPs - one for your local area and seven regional representatives.
Visit the Scottish Parliament’s MSP Finder and enter your postcode.
You’ll see a list of your MSPs, their email addresses, and links to contact forms.

2. Use Our Customisable Template

To help you get started, we’ve created a simple letter you can personalise.
You can download or copy it here:
Download the MSP Letter Template (Word) 
Open the Template in Google Docs

Your message will be strongest if it includes:

• Who you are and where you live (so they know you’re a constituent)

• Why this issue matters to you personally

• A clear ask: that they attend the upcoming debate on secondary breast cancer on 11 November

3. Write and Send Your Emails

• Open your email app or use the contact form on your MSP’s webpage

• Paste in the message from the template

• Add a personal touch - a few sentences about your experience or why this matters to someone you care about

• Sign off with your name and postcode

• Repeat for all eight MSPs

If you’re on a phone:
Copy your message first, then paste it into each MSP’s contact form or email window.

4. If You’re a Family Member, Friend, or Carer

You can absolutely take part too.
When using the template, simply adjust the first few lines to reflect your role. For example:

“I’m writing as the partner / daughter / friend of someone living with secondary breast cancer. I’ve seen first-hand the impact of this devastating disease.”

Your voice matters - personal stories from loved ones are powerful and help MSPs understand the wider impact of this disease on society.

5. Optional Follow-Up Actions

Once you’ve sent your message, you can do even more to raise awareness:

Share our campaign graphic on social media with a short post encouraging others to contact their MSPs - download and share the graphic here. 

Forward any replies you receive from MSPs to hello@make2ndscount.co.uk so we can track responses and follow up.

Tell us you’ve written - every message helps us show how many voices are calling for change.

Together We Can Make a Difference

Your voice helps shine a light on the growing gap in data collection, tests and treatment for people with secondary breast cancer in Scotland.
By contacting your MSPs, you’re helping ensure that future decisions reflect the needs and experiences of patients and families.

Take 15 minutes today to add your voice - it really matters.

List of MSPs by Constituency/ Region