secondary breast cancer – Page 2 – The NEN

Loose Women’s Carol McGiffin becomes breast cancer ambassador

Chat show star and breast cancer survivor raises awareness of forgotten disease

Loose Women star and breast cancer survivor Carol McGiffin has been appointed as an ambassador for a charity highlighting a forgotten form of the disease.

The outspoken broadcaster, who underwent a year of treatment after her own diagnosis, will represent Make 2nds Count, which campaigns to fund research into secondary breast cancer and support patients and their families.

And her big personality and fearless opinions are set to raise the profile of the little-known, incurable cancer which kills 1000 women a month.

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 the disease.

Carol was diagnosed with the aggressive and highly-invasive triple negative form of breast cancer in 2014, the year after she came an impressive fourth in Big Brother.

Following successful treatment, she passed her five-year remission milestone in late 2019. But her cancer was not suitable for treatments like Herceptin and Tamoxifen which can help to prevent the disease returning. As a result, she is well aware of the feelings that can provoke.

She said: “I am constantly aware and fearful of secondary cancers that might not be obvious early on but can never be cured. I monitor my health religiously and attend checks all the time. But I’m concerned at the lack of awareness of secondary breast cancer and of this brilliant charity which does so much to help women who are suffering.”

Carol learned of Make 2nds Count, which recently celebrated raising its first £1 million, when it supported a live tour she was taking part in and is now passionate about promoting its work: “Even though secondary breast cancer is incurable, early detection is still key and treatment more likely to preserve a decent and longer life.

“So, it’s vital that more people are aware of the disease and informed about the support, information and initiatives like patient trials that Make 2nds Count promotes.”

Make 2nds Count founder Lisa Fleming of Edinburgh said: “Having Carol on board is fantastic and gives us a really vibrant, authentic voice. She’s got the lived experience and can identify exactly with what we are trying to do and the anxieties patients face. We’re really looking forward to working together to raise the profile of the disease and our work.”

Lisa set up Make 2nds Count after being diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. She had no primary diagnosis, warning signs or lump when she was told the disease had already spread to the majority of her bones. It swiftly spread to her brain and she is living with a life sentence.

Carol started her media career at Music Box, precursor to MTV, and later co-presented a weekend morning radio show with her former husband Chris Evans. She went on to become a producer on the Big Breakfast before moving on to Talk Radio and, subsequently, other radio work. In 2000 she joined the Live Talk panel – Loose Women by another name – and, barring a five-year break in 2013, has been there ever since.  

She had a lifelong dream to live in France and in 2016, motivated by the cancer diagnosis, sold her London flat and bought a house near Nice where she lives with her now husband Mark, travelling back to the UK to do Loose Women.

Make 2nds Count charity raises £1million for forgotten cancer

Secondary breast cancer charity Make 2nds Count has a million reasons to mark the occasion after reaching a phenomenal fundraising milestone.

Hitting the £1 million mark is bringing hope to those living with the forgotten form of cancer through financing vital research at universities across the UK and providing much-needed support for patients and families.

The disease – also known as metastatic, advanced or stage IV breast cancer – is an incurable cancer that has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body. It can be treated but, on average, there are around 35,000 patients in the UK living with secondary breast cancer and the death toll here is a shocking 1000 women a month.

Make 2nds Count founder Lisa Fleming, 38, of Edinburgh, set up the charity in 2018 and says: “Reaching our £1million fundraising milestone is just the most exciting start to what we predict will be another productive year for us.

“And while we look forward to achieving so much more, I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has helped us reach that phenomenal million-pound total. Our supporters really do provide a lifeline and without them we would be unable to make the progress we have accomplished in raising awareness of this disease, in funding dedicated research and in facilitating projects like access to patient trials. Every contribution and donation are enormously appreciated.”

The £1million milestone was reached thanks to activities including an Inaugural Gala Ball at Edinburgh’s Prestonfield House Hotel and £500,000 from individual fundraisers who took part in events from abseiling off the Forth Rail Bridge to skydiving, trekking the Arctic, running 12 marathons in 12 days and walking 500 miles.

The UK-wide charity focuses on patients and families of women and men living with secondary breast cancer and among its biggest achievements has been donating £270,000 in research funds to the Universities of Edinburgh, Warwick, Liverpool and Sussex.

It also launched the Patient Trial Advocate Service, in partnership with NHS Lothian, last year which has already helped 65 patients gain vital information about clinical trials.

Other initiatives supported by the fundraising include: the first 2nds Together Wellbeing Retreats giving patients a much-needed relaxing break from treatments; a virtual Wellbeing Week with sessions led by industry experts; and littlelifts boxes, packed full of mood-boosting goodies and practical products to support women undergoing breast cancer treatment.

One of those to benefit is Make 2nds Count patient champion Tricia. She says: “I don’t know how I would have coped without Make 2nds Count and the support services I have been able to access.

“There is nothing like it where I live in the Scottish Highlands. The Tea and A Chat has been a lifesaver for me – being able to talk to others who ‘get it’ is so important.

“And the Wellbeing Week gave me a much-needed boost, so much fun and very informative. It’s difficult put into words what the retreat meant to me. To meet in person others I’ve only met on zoom was incredible. The love and support I felt from the group were inspiring.”

Lisa set up Make 2nds Count after being diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. She had had no primary diagnosis, warning signs or lump when she was told the disease had already spread to the majority of her bones. It swiftly spread to her brain and she continues to live with the disease – knowing it is also a death sentence.

Donations to help the charity provide more support, education and research funds come from a variety of sources including individual and corporate fundraising, legacies, the Make 2nds Count Lottery and the annual Make Christmas Count campaign.

To find out how to contribute go to https://www.make2ndscount.co.uk/get-involved/ and https://www.make2ndscount.co.uk/donate .

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.”