It's not curable... but it is treatable

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a new campaign aims to dispel myths and educate people about secondary breast cancer. Here patients share their stories...

- BY KAREN ROCKET

It is the leading cause of death for women under 60 in the UK, yet a new survey has found a staggering 40% of the population have never even heard of secondary breast cancer.

It affects 61,000 people in the UK every year, but it still remains under-recognised and under-discussed.

An estimated 1,000 women die from the illness every month, with men also affected. So, this month, a powerful new national campaign is being launched to highlight secondary (metastatic) breast cancer during Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The survey from the charity, Make 2nds Count, found more than a third of Brits don't know what any of the signs and symptoms are, despite it being the leading cause of death for UK women between the ages of 40 to 59. And nearly a third (28%) of UK adults wrongly believed secondary (metastatic) breast cancer could be cured.

The Truth Be Told campaign is part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and was created in recognition of Secondary (metastatic) Breast Cancer Awareness Day on October 13.

Sam Dixon, CEO of Make 2nds Count, says: "Truth Be Told is more than an awareness initiative - it's a movement of empowerment which aims to give hope.

"This disease is real, relentless - and invisible to so many. This research shows that a high percentage of adults in the UK have never even heard of secondary (metastatic) breast cancer, even though 1,000 people die every month from the disease.

"Our goal is to ensure that the voices of those living with secondary (metastatic) breast cancer are heard, respected, and supported."

Here some of those affected share their experience.

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