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“I try my best to live with the cancer rather than against it, accepting a new rhythm but not allowing it to dictate everything I do and think.” "I'm Sammy Burrow. I’m 56 and live in the Holmfirth area with my husband and our dog and, occasionally, our two grown-up children.

"Having spent over a decade as a CEO of cancer charities I didn’t think there would be much to surprise me in the world of cancer - how wrong I was." Despite funding research into secondary (metastatic) breast cancer whilst working in Sheffield Weston Park Cancer Charity, I was surprised how little I knew about this treatable but incurable cancer which, astonishingly, takes the lives of 1,000 women and men a month in the UK. Secondary breast cancer occurs when cancer cells from the breast travel to other parts of the body such as the skin, brain, lungs and bones.

July is Ethnic Minority Cancer Awareness Month and we have asked members of our community to share their thoughts and experiences of secondary breast cancer. Sandra, 51, is married with one daughter.

July is Ethnic Minority Cancer Awareness Month and we have asked members of our community to share their thoughts and experiences of secondary breast cancer. My name is Gayatri, I am of Indian origin and live in London.

Getting a second opinion means asking a new doctor what they think about your current diagnosis or treatment. Asking for a second opinion may seem intimidating, but from the point of view of a clinician, it is encouraged, especially in complex or urgent situations.

July is Ethnic Minority Cancer Awareness Month and we have asked people that we work within the sector and members of our community to share their thoughts and experiences of secondary breast cancer. Research Radiographer, Naman Julka-Anderson shares this blog with us.

"The Tea & Chat support group is so much more that it sounds. It’s a lifeline for so many people and for me, life changing.

Graham Williams (skipper) and three friends - Ben Johnson, Lee Wilson and Jamie Gaskins - are taking on an incredible fundraising challenge for Make 2nds Count later on this year, sailing 2700 NM from Gran Canaria to Saint Lucia. He tells us what has led him to do this challenge.

“I was told early on that cantankerous people live longer, so I intend to stay cantankerous and challenging and defiant for as long as possible.” Denise Bates, 59 from Liverpool living in Birmingham, married, 2 sons 20 and 25. Used to work in NHS finance, now loves sewing, variegated thread, tea and cake!

Living with secondary breast cancer can be emotionally and physically draining. Symptoms present a unique set of challenges that members of our community have to tackle on a daily basis.

This blog is part of our content for Dying Matters Awareness Week 2025

Emma Frith - Registration Team Leader, Norwich, Norfolk Losing someone you love is one of life’s hardest experiences. When that loss comes after a breast cancer journey, it can feel particularly heavy—especially if you were by their side through the ups and downs.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer just three days before my 28th birthday. It felt like my whole world shattered.

Hi, my name is Deb, I'm 52 and live in Merseyside with my husband Neil. Neil has three adult children from his first marriage and we now have a six-month old grand-daughter.

For many, Mother’s Day is a time to celebrate love, strength, and the unbreakable bond between mothers and their children. For Alex Moore (47) and her mum, Geri Cannon (74), this bond has taken on an even deeper meaning as they both navigate life with Secondary Breast Cancer (SBC) at the same time.