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  1. Home
  2. Breast cancer research

Secondary breast cancer research

When breast cancer spreads around the body, it's called secondary breast cancer. It can be treated, but it currently can't be cured. Our research could help buy more time so people can live their lives to the fullest for as long as possible. 

A close up of a researcher using a microscope

What's our secondary breast cancer research about?

Our research has 1 main goal. To stop secondary breast cancer in its tracks. 

It covers many different areas. From improving our understanding of secondary breast cancer and developing better treatments. To improving the care and support services for people living with it.   

Right now, some of the brightest minds in breast cancer research are making progress in every aspect of secondary breast cancer. 

Secondary breast cancer research facts

Pink icon of a group of people on purple background

How many people are affected?

We estimate that around 61,000 people are living with incurable secondary breast cancer in the UK. And in around 5% of women, breast cancer has already spread by the time it's diagnosed. 

Pink icon of microscope on purple background

How much research do we fund?

Right now, we’re funding £5.3 million worth of research into secondary breast cancer. And we hope breakthroughs from our research into other areas of breast cancer will also benefit people with secondary breast cancer in the future.

Pink pound icon on purple backgroud

Our total investment in research

To date, we've invested around £284 million in world-class breast cancer research. All to discover how we tackle secondary breast cancer, prevent and diagnose breast cancer earlier, find better treatments and improve people’s quality of life.  

Male researcher working Breast Cancer Now lab

Why do we need research into secondary breast cancer?

Breast cancer is affecting more of us than ever before. And each month in the UK, around 1,000 people die from secondary breast cancer. That’s someone dying every 45 minutes. 

For decades, scientists have been trying to understand why breast cancer spreads around the body. For people living with secondary breast cancer, it could be life-changing. We need to understand the disease better to give them and their loved ones more time. We need to treat it better. We need research. That's why we’re investing in groundbreaking science.  

Emma has secondary breast cancer. She has brown wavy hair, is wearing an orange necklace and a stripy top. She's speaking to us from her barge.
If there was more research around secondary breast cancer, more of us could probably live for a lot longer.

Emma, living with secondary breast cancer

Our secondary breast cancer research projects

Professor Penelope Ottewell in Breast Cancer Now lab

Testing new drug combinations

Professor Penelope Ottewell is testing new combinations of drugs to treat breast cancer that’s spread to the bone. She hopes this work could eventually lead to new treatments for people with secondary breast cancer. 

 

See Penelope's project 

Dr Damir Varešlija in Breast Cancer Now lab

Studying how breast cancer spreads

Dr Damir Varešlija is looking at how gene switches in breast cancer cells might make them more likely to spread to the brain. He hopes to find ways to stop this from happening. 

 

See Damir's project 

A group of researchers in Breast Cancer Now lab

Our other research projects

See all our research projects focused on secondary breast cancer happening right now. 

 

See all research projects

Our secondary breast cancer research achievements

Our scientist researching secondary triple negative breast cancer

Finding more effective treatments

Our research discovered that people with secondary triple negative breast cancer with BRCA gene changes can benefit more from carboplatin chemotherapy than standard treatment - stopping their cancer growing for longer.

See Andrew's achievement

Our scientist researching the lung cancer drug crizotinib

Potential new drug for lobular breast cancer

Our research revealed that the lung cancer drug crizotinib could help treat some secondary lobular breast cancers. Our clinical trial to test the benefits of this for women with secondary cancer is underway. 

See Chris's achivement  

Female researcher working in lab

Our top achievements

We've been funding research into secondary breast cancer for over 2 decades. See the difference it’s making.  

See all our achievements

Katie is at home looking our the window

Support our research into secondary breast cancer

If secondary breast cancer affects you or the ones you love, our research could help buy more time.

Donate

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© 2023 Breast Cancer Now.

Breast Cancer Now is a company limited by guarantee registered in England (9347608) and a charity registered in England and Wales (1160558), Scotland (SC045584) and Isle of Man (1200). Registered Office: Fifth Floor, Ibex House, 42-47 Minories, London EC3N 1DY.