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  3. Facing breast cancer

Secondary (metastatic) breast cancer

Support when you have secondary breast cancer

Secondary breast cancer occurs when breast cancer cells spread from the first (primary) cancer in the breast through the lymphatic or blood system to other parts of the body. Read more about diagnosis, treatments and living with secondary breast cancer, and find support.

Secondary breast cancer is not the same as breast cancer recurrence. If you are concerned about your primary breast cancer returning, find information and support here.

 

What is secondary breast cancer?

sign and symptoms of secondary breast cancer

Signs and symptoms of secondary breast cancer

Find out about the signs and symptoms of secondary breast cancer.

tests and scans for secondary breast cancer

Tests and scans for secondary breast cancer

Read our information on the tests you may be offered if you have signs or symptoms of secondary breast cancer

treatments for secondary breast cancer

Treatments for secondary breast cancer

​Learn about treatments for secondary breast cancer.

Rebecca
My secondary breast cancer diagnosis was shocking, and it’s fundamentally changed my perspective on life.

Rebecca, Breast Cancer Now support services user

Just diagnosed with secondary breast cancer

Just diagnosed with secondary breast cancer

Our information on coping in the days and weeks after a secondary breast cancer diagnosis, and find out more about secondary breast cancer in the bone, the lung, the liver, the brain or the skin. 

Find out more

Living with secondary breast cancer

living with secondary breast cancer

Understanding your needs and concerns

Learn about ways to cope with your diagnosis and the changes it may bring about.

Planning ahead

Planning ahead

Being diagnosed with secondary breast cancer may mean making difficult decisions about the future.

support in your local area

Join our online support group

Talk to others who understand in our regular virtual group meetings on Zoom, or join our Living with Secondary Breast Cancer online programme to access specialist information and share experiences and support.

Finding support

talk to our nurses

Talk to our breast cancer nurses

If you have a particular concern about breast cancer or just want to talk, our specialist nurses and trained staff are here for you.

Email our nurses

Email our nurses

Email any question, big or small, to our team of nurses.

find support on our forum

Find support on our Forum

Visit our welcoming community of people just like you, offering emotional and practical support. 

Laura is taking part in our campaign

Demand change for people with secondary breast cancer

Urgent change is needed for those living with secondary breast cancer. These women need you to join us and help ensure the right support, treatment and care is available — right now.

Join the campaign

Join our online programme and virtual meetings

If you would like to get more information and talk to others who understand, our online programme and virtual meetings are here for you. We have created these online services to provide alternative support whilst Breast Cancer Now’s face-to-face services are suspended due to the Covid-19 crisis.

Join now

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