People with secondary breast cancer can still live a relatively normal life
When Sue was initially diagnosed with secondary (metastatic) breast cancer, she was told she may only have a year to live. Five years on, sh...
Losing my hair and my breast at 24 made me feel so alien
When Sacha was diagnosed with breast cancer last year, she felt isolated. Through social media, she was able to find support – and now hopes...
Before my diagnosis, I was terrified of developing breast cancer
Anne was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly after her mum had finished treatment. Despite her fears, she felt supported throughout and bey...
Waiting to know what type of cancer I had left me completely terrified
Catrina, a writer and artistic director, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the end of last year. These excerpts from her blog show the tur...
Breast cancer stripped me of everything, but I felt born again
When Nina began treatment for breast cancer at the age of 36, she saw her body change drastically. As she began to recover, she discovered a...
Getting breast cancer at 26 has turned my life upside down
When Tabby found a lump in her breast, she immediately feared the worst. Since starting treatment, she feels positive about the future.
I was always the caregiver in my family. When I got breast cancer, I had to learn how to be cared for
Julia had several unexpected hospital treatments when she had breast cancer. She learned how to let herself be cared for, and how to better ...
My wife was given 6 months to live the same month we found out our daughter was pregnant
Shirley was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2016, but sadly passed away in 2020. Her husband, Bob, tells us about how one of her l...
After my cancer diagnosis, I started a care package charity for people in treatment
Oa set up littlelifts as a way of supporting people in active cancer treatment. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, she is still making sure p...
When our older sister passed away from breast cancer, we wanted to do something in her memory
When their older sister, Susan, was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2016, Carol and Lisa began fundraising. They continue their ef...
Being diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age made it hard to find support
When Beth was diagnosed with breast cancer at 33, she struggled to find other patients her age. After joining the Younger Women Together co...
I regret my breast reconstruction decision, and I want other women to know their options
Gina was offered a single mastectomy with reconstruction after her breast cancer diagnosis in May last year but has regrets about the outcom...
After my breast cancer diagnosis, I needed a place to share my difficult thoughts
When Irene was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2020, she was so grateful for all her family support. However, she also needed to sp...
Nobody talks about feeling self-conscious about your body after breast cancer
Kate and Sarah became friends after being diagnosed with breast cancer around the same time in 2018. They faced a lot of the same problems d...
I've had to go through a lot of treatment on my own, but I feel really positive
When Deb was diagnosed with DCIS last year, she didn’t panic. Now, she’s just finished radiotherapy – and she explains why she’s still feeli...
It took time, but I have now accepted breast cancer as part of my story
Tracy was diagnosed with breast cancer following a mammogram, and felt challenged by treatment side effects. Over time, she has been able to...
Opting for a double mastectomy was one of the hardest decisions of my life
After finding she carried the altered BRCA1 gene, Chantal made the decision to have a double mastectomy. She tells us why she feels it was r...
I may have secondary breast cancer, but hope keeps me going
Natasha was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer at the age of 43. She tells us about her experience of being diagnosed and living with se...
For the first time since my secondary diagnosis, I am being relentlessly kind to myself
After being diagnosed with secondary breast cancer, Sherin lost her usual zest for life. Thankfully, she’s now rediscovered it – but it came...
There is still room for hope with a secondary breast cancer diagnosis
Anna, a 53-year-old mother of two, has been living with secondary breast cancer since 2017. Here, she talks about how her life has changed –...
After brain surgery and chemotherapy, I have gained appreciation for what I am capable of
When she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer at 25, Fran put her all into building and maintaining her physical strength.
I needed emergency surgery after my secondary symptoms were ignored for so long
Gillian was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in January 2020. She tells us about the difficulties she faced getting diagnosed and what...
When I had a recurrence, I was forced to face my greatest fear
Lucy was just 28 when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. She faced a recurrence only 3 years later. She’s now taking part in a clin...
I wanted to create a magazine to empower women of colour with cancer
Rachel, our senior clinical nurse specialist, chats to Leanne Pero, founder of Black Women Rising, about the magazine she hopes will help BA...
Even with secondary breast cancer, I am still able to feel ‘normal’
Flora Sheringham is a 73-year-old mother of three and a grandmother of six, and has been living with secondary breast cancer since 2014.
Cancer made me realise who my true friends were
When Aurelie was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 40, only a few of her friends stuck around for support. Thankfully, she found so...
As a widow, my first thoughts when I was diagnosed were for my children
Last year, Francesca was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had lost her husband five years before and struggled with handling treatment duri...
I was working as a palliative care nurse when I found out I had secondary breast cancer
Rachel, a married mum of three, was diagnosed with secondary (metastatic) breast cancer in 2018. She tells us about her experience of living...
I love my body after having a double mastectomy
When Carly first got breast cancer, she decided she’d have a double mastectomy if it ever recurred. However, when that happened, she was met...
I remain a positive person, even though my cancer has spread to my brain
Natalie was diagnosed with secondary (metastatic) breast cancer in 2017 and received news it had spread to her brain a year later. She expla...
Even though my wife had limited time, she never stopped caring about others
Melissa was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer at the age of 36. She sadly passed away in March 2020 – but not before leaving behind a w...
‘You’ll feel so alone’: a letter to myself a year after my diagnosis
In November 2019, Laura found out she had breast cancer. This is the letter she wrote to herself exactly a year after her diagnosis.
I can’t change what I’ve been through, so I’m embracing it instead
Shevelle was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at the age of 28 after finding a lump in her breast. The mum-of-one took part in I...
Breast Cancer Now's services kept me positive in dark times
Louisa was diagnosed with breast cancer at the start of 2019. Throughout her treatment, she turned to Breast Cancer Now for help and support...
I found it difficult to move forward after my treatment
After being diagnosed with breast cancer, Aisling found it difficult to adjust to a new pace of life. Now, she feels she's made progress.
Losing your hair can leave you feeling extremely vulnerable
When Ann lost her hair due to chemotherapy, she found it difficult. Now it’s grown back, she’s planning on shaving her head to raise money f...
My world came crashing down when I was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer at 25
Fran was diagnosed with secondary (metastatic) breast cancer this year. She shares why she wants to raise awareness of cancer in younger peo...
I didn’t realise the connection between my symptoms and breast cancer
Joy has been living with secondary breast cancer since 2011. She tells us about the difficulties she faced getting diagnosed and the importa...
Even though people offered support, it was hard not to feel alone
Kate had a 3-year-old boy and another little 1 on the way when she found out she had breast cancer. Here’s how our Someone Like Me service h...
I hope my mum’s story will encourage others to have genetic testing
After her mum was diagnosed with breast cancer, Jess discovered she had the BRCA1 gene. She’s set up the Jo Fine campaign in memory of her m...
Marcia’s 5 yoga poses to support you through treatment
After her breast cancer diagnosis, Marcia began to practise yoga. She felt empowered and in charge of her recovery and well-being. Now a qua...
I was in denial about the lump in my breast
Louisa was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in April 2017. She shares why it’s important to know the signs of breast cancer, and how y...
I found out I had breast cancer after a random mammogram trial
Georgina had no history of breast cancer in her family and believed that she was too young to develop the disease when she was diagnosed.
When I found out I had breast cancer, all I could think about was my little girl
Maxine was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2019 at the age of 32. Her first thought was for her daughter, who had just turned two.
I was meant to run the London Marathon in memory of my mum
Steve was going to run the London Marathon 2020 in memory of his mum, who passed away from breast cancer. Instead, he’s been organising virt...
I struggled to find support for my PALB2 gene mutation
Yulia was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2019. After finding out she had the PALB2 gene mutation, she struggled to find support for...
I struggled with deciding which reconstruction option was best for me
When Sara-Jane was told she needed a mastectomy, she worried a lot about her options. She used our Someone Like Me service to help her come ...
I was diagnosed with cancer twice – but I’m not letting it stop me
Victoria was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2019, but she refuses to be held back by it. She shares how her diagnosis encouraged ...
Someone Like Me helped me stay positive during the worst parts of treatment
On Valentine’s Day, all of Louisa's plans came crashing down when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Our Someone Like Me service was ther...
I was working as a doctor during the coronavirus pandemic when I got diagnosed with breast cancer
Marisa, a doctor, was diagnosed with breast cancer in April. The diagnosis took a toll on her physical health, her mental wellbeing, and her...