This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are launching our 1,000 Truths campaign.
Every month in the UK, 1,000 people will lose their lives to secondary (metastatic) breast cancer. It's a sobering and devastating statistic.
Recent research* tells us that 1 in 3 people in the UK don’t actually know what secondary breast cancer is - and 72% of breast cancer survivors don’t know where in the body secondary breast cancer is most likely to appear.
Secondary breast cancer is not talked about enough or understood enough. Across the UK, women and men are losing their lives to this incurable disease leaving behind a trail of stories untold, voices unheard, and deeply cherished connections.
Their stories cannot go unheard.
We've asked mothers and daughters, fathers and husbands, to share with us their different realities of living with secondary breast cancer. We hope that you are impacted by them and like us, feel moved to share them and do something to raise more awareness about this disease. We hope that together, we can amplify voices that should be heard, make more known about secondary breast cancer, and connect a community so that they feel supported and hopeful.
Find out more about 1,000 Truths
* Source: GenesisCare
Once again, on Secondary Breast Cancer Day (13 October) we will be lighting up over 70 iconic UK landmarks in the radiant colours of Make 2nds Count. This inspiring visual spectacle symbolises hope and resilience for all those affected by secondary breast cancer.
Visit our Shine A Light map to see if a landmark is being lit up in your area and if you can, pop out out and take a picture of it and share it on your social media. Don't forget to tag us make2ndscount.
Signs & Symptoms of Secondary Breast Cancer
Secondary breast cancer, also known as metastatic, advanced or stage IV breast cancer, is a cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body. Parts of the body affected are usually the bones, liver, lungs, brain or the skin.
Secondary breast cancer can be treated but it cannot be cured. Treatments aim to control and slow down the disease to enable patients to have the best possible quality of life for as long as possible.