David shares his future moment in the Gallery of Hope, a photography exhibition made in collaboration with people living with incurable secondary breast cancer.
It’s the 28th of September 2025, my late mother’s birthday. I’m visiting Lourdes in France, peacefully watching the pilgrimage and remembering family members who have passed away.
David hails from Birmingham but has lived in Oldham for over 35 years. After a brief spell in catering down south, he spent the majority of his career working in social care, in particular, working with homeless people. He played an instrumental role in the success of Early Help in Oldham, a service that integrated the different social care units in the area.
He was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 after going to the GP with a new-found inverted nipple. In the following months he had a mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone therapy, but unfortunately in 2023 he was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. David is a vocal advocate for raising awareness of breast cancer in men. He frequently gives talks and supports a number of causes aiming to help people, of any gender, from all walks of life, living with the disease.
David's story
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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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.
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Nina Lopes
A creative spirit, Nina is living with secondary breast cancer. She wants to live to experience a dream holiday in Japan with her daughter.
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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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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.
