Tag: Make 2nds Count

Make 2nds Count: Secondary Breast Cancer Awareness Day

Vital education needed for the forgotten cancer marked on 13th October each year 

Woeful ignorance of secondary breast cancer requires more than just a single awareness day today (October 13) to educate the public about this forgotten form of the disease. 

Charity Make 2nds Count which is leading a campaign to highlight secondary breast cancer, a disease currently killing 1000 women a month in the UK, says it needs to be a year-round initiative to prevent lives being destroyed. 

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.  On average there are around 35,000 patients in the UK currently living with this form of cancer. 

But a YouGov poll, commissioned by the charity to coincide with Secondary Breast Cancer Awareness Day, revealed just how uninformed the public is:  

  • Almost two-fifths (38%) of the British population are ignorant about secondary breast cancer , and 21% are aware of secondary breast cancer yet know nothing of the disease’s common signs/symptoms  
     
  • More than 40% of respondents don’t know the incidence of this form of the disease, whilst 11%are  under the impression that it is rare.  
  • 44% of those polled think, wrongly, that young women – those aged 15-39 – have the best chance of survival and a third have no idea who lives longer after diagnosis. 
     
  • Common symptoms can initially be attributed to other health conditions, such as arthritis, and a quarter of people surveyed believe that more than 25% of patients with a history of primary breast cancer have initially been treated for another condition before their secondary breast cancer diagnosis. 

Emma Hall, Head of Fundraising and Engagement, Make 2nds Count, says much media coverage has focused on checking for primary breast cancer but not for secondary.

She explained: “So people are not being informed about the different signs and symptoms to look for. We need more education, support and research, and understanding that with secondary breast cancer you won’t be cured, you can only be treated.” 

Make 2nds Count founder Lisa Fleming, 38, of Edinburgh, had no previous breast cancer diagnosis, warning signs or lump when she was told she had primary and secondary breast cancer. It had already spread to the majority of her bones and swiftly spread to her brain.  

She says: “We desperately need people to be aware of this forgotten form of breast cancer. We need to change the narrative, raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of this disease and in turn save lives. And that needs to happen all year round, not just on an annual awareness day. 

“Primary breast cancer is well documented. Secondary breast cancer is incurable. It’s like a relative that no one really wants to speak about but without education this disease will continue to destroy the lives of so many.” 

Professor David Cameron, Professor of Oncology at Edinburgh University and a board member of Make 2nds Count says: “We have made remarkable progress in the education of signs and symptoms, treating and curing primary breast cancer. 

“However, secondary breast is complex, no diagnosis is the same, and no patients’ journeys are the same. Although it can be treated, and we have made much progress in more and better treatments, it still has no cure.

“We need to make sure that information on secondary breast cancer is readily available and there is more dedicated research and accessible trials.” 

Make 2nds Count: Ignorance of secondary breast cancer – a deadly lack of knowledge  

Two-fifths of UK population are unaware of the condition killing 1,000 women and men every month 

 Astonishingly, just under two-fifths of the adult population in the UK are ignorant about secondary breast cancer, a new survey shows. 

The disease killed former Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding last month yet according to a YouGov poll just three weeks later, 38% of those questioned say they don’t know what secondary breast cancer is. 

Furthermore, 21% are aware of this form of cancer, but oblivious of any signs or symptoms indicating the spread of the incurable disease. 

The survey, to coincide with October’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month, was commissioned by Make 2nds Count, a patient and family-focused charity dedicated to giving hope to women and men living with secondary breast cancer. 

Emma Hall, Head of Fundraising and Engagement at Make 2nds Count, says: “Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK but despite all the coverage of the sad passing of Sarah Harding, what has not been clear is that she had secondary breast cancer.  And that lack of knowledge is borne out by the results of our poll. Saying it’s unusual or rare or she was unlucky losing her battle doesn’t apply to secondary breast cancer. 

“There are about 35,000 people in the UK currently living with the disease and 1,000 lose their lives every month. The coverage has focused on checking for primary breast cancer, but not secondary, so people are not being informed about the different signs and symptoms to look for. We need more education, support and research, and understanding that with secondary breast cancer you won’t be cured, you can only be treated.” 

The poll, of 2113 UK adults carried out at the end of September, also showed that 44% of respondents think that young women – those aged 15-39 – have the best chance of survival. But breast cancer in young women can be more aggressive and it’s actually the 60-69 age group who live longer after diagnosis. 

Edinburgh mum Lisa Fleming, 38, Founder of Make 2nds Count, knew nothing about secondary breast cancer more than four years ago when, without any warning signs, she learned she had primary and secondary breast cancer. It had already spread to the majority of her bones and a few months later spread to her brain.  

She had no previous breast cancer diagnosis and no lump. She is still living with the death sentence and founded Make 2nds Count to raise awareness of secondary breast cancer. 

She says: “We desperately need people to be aware of this forgotten form of breast cancer. We need to change the narrative, raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of this disease and in turn save lives.” 

Capital charity team to give ‘Ten Thousand Gifts’ during Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Jennifer Young, alongside Make 2nds Count, is gifting 10,000 skincare products from her Beauty Despite Cancer range in support of UK cancer patients and small charities from the local area and beyond throughout Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October.

Over the past few weeks, the organisation has been asking people to nominate their favourite small charities, hospices and cancer support groups, through which they will give away the natural products.

Those being treated for, living with or recovering from cancer will know finding the right skincare can be an additional source of anxiety during an already trying time. Finding products that can help to calm the side effects that some cancer treatments may have on the skin can be difficult, especially given the increased skin sensitivity chemotherapy and radiotherapy can cause. 


Recent Challenges

Recent Macmillan research found that 91% of cancer patients suffer a loss of income, causing stress and mental health issues. With the current pandemic also affecting the job market across the region, this can be an even more distressing prospect to those going through treatment.

The ‘Ten Thousand Gifts’ project not only supports those most affected by cancer poverty by providing them with skincare which is of significant benefit during treatment, but also spreads joy in the form of receiving gifts which lifts mood and increases emotional health and wellbeing.

Additionally, many charities’ fundraising efforts have been affected by the restrictions enlisted to prevent spread of the coronavirus. ‘Ten Thousand Gifts’ will not only provide those who deserve it with luxury products but will raise awareness for charitable causes across the region. 

The Company 

Jennifer realised her passion for working with cancer patients when her local NHS hospital invited her to meet those going through treatment. Since then, Jennifer has created more than 300 specialist products to calm the effects of cancer treatment on the skin, available through BeautyDespiteCancer.com. The Midlands-based company is now known for its pioneering development of new products that are gentle and luxurious. 

The Giveaway

Products included in the giveaway are the Defiant Beauty Nail Oil (4g) and the Defiant Beauty Healing Hand Balm (15g). The Defiant Beauty Nail Oil is a gentle, moisturising oil designed to care for brittle nails caused by the effects of cancer treatment. Meanwhile, the Defiant Beauty Healing Hand Balm is a gentle multi-tasking balm that acts as a hand mask, nail moisturiser and a hand cream to soothe and restore the skin.


Jennifer said: “Everything we do at Jennifer Young and Beauty Despite Cancer, is about supporting individuals each day of their cancer experience. Reducing skin irritation and soreness, creating nurturing rituals from everyday routines and giving a sense of restoration are invaluable when you’re experiencing something as challenging as cancer and cancer treatment.

” Knowing that options are available and that you are not alone, can make a huge difference to how someone feels. Local and national independent charities, hospices and support organisations are incredibly important in delivering that message of care and community, which is why we aim to provide sustainable support to them as well in the work that we do.

“It is important to us that the charities we help are those that reflect the experiences of our customers, and this month is an opportunity to celebrate that connected support network between products, charities and clients.”

Francesca Arbury, Charity Service Manager for Something To Look Forward To, says: “It’s amazing for people to receive things that will boost their emotional health, make them look and feel better but also because we know as a charity how badly people have been affected by the pandemic, and especially the cancer community.

“With delays and cancellations, screenings, treatments and surgery, a lot of strain has been put on people, they are scared and are feeling low. More than that finances may be tough and life’s little luxuries that some people may see it as, may no longer be affordable now. So ‘Ten Thousand Gifts’ is going to be so popular!”

You can watch the full video, and hear other testimonials here.