Claire shares her future moment in the Gallery of Hope, a photography exhibition made in collaboration with people living with incurable secondary breast cancer.
I think everyone deserves the hope to reach any moment they want. That’s why in my moment it’s 2050. I’m now 80 and I’m raising a glass of champagne to the next generation of research scientists. Celebrating their success in helping Breast Cancer Now achieve their mission to ensure everyone diagnosed with breast cancer will live, and be supported to live well.
Claire's story
Claire is a retired board level IT director in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector. Her technical background in this field has given her a great level of expertise and understanding of the research behind the treatments that have enabled her to live her life. She was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2016, 3 years after a primary diagnosis which had, at one point, looked to have been all but overcome. But the cancer had in fact spread to other parts of her body. The first treatment Claire had for secondary breast cancer was completely ineffective and the tumours kept on growing. But the second treatment proved much better and still continues to work to this day.
Claire hates the phrase ‘battling cancer,’ as, in her words, “Cancer is not a fight. It’s just biology, just cells multiplying out of control.” Instead, she puts her trust in the science and focuses on managing her mind to keep positive and hopeful.
What research are we doing into secondary breast cancer?
Secondary breast cancer occurs when breast cancer cells spread from the first (primary) breast cancer in the breast, through the lymphatic or blood system, to other parts of the body.
Our researchers are here working to buy more time for people with secondary breast cancer.
More from the Gallery of Hope
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Rebecca Brown
Rebecca is a loving mother and keen poet who's living with secondary breast cancer. She wants to live to see her 50th birthday.
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Mel Ozlem Khaled
Cyprus-born and London-raised, Mel hopes to live to see her dream home built on the east coast of Cyprus.
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David McCallion
First diagnosed in 2019, David is now a vocal advocate for raising awareness of breast cancer in men.
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Oge Onwuachu
As a proud mum of 3 and an educator, Oge hopes to see her son's graduation day and be surrounded by everyone she loves.
