News

We are thrilled to announce an inspiring partnership between Make 2nds Count and LAB FACTOR, a UK-based professional beauty supplier. This collaboration is driven by a personal and heartfelt connection to honour Toni, sister to Lab Factor’s founder Angelina Salacinski, who tragically passed away aged just 47 after receiving her secondary breast cancer (SBC) diagnosis.

"The Summit was so brilliant and informative, please repeat it next year. It's the first and only thing of its type that I have seen and it was so needed." We were thrilled that our Secondary Breast Cancer Patient Summit in Liverpool, in partnership with ECMC and The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, went so well last week.

We are delighted to be hosting the first national patient-focused conference in the UK dedicated to secondary (metastatic) breast cancer, working together with ECMC and The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. Taking place in Liverpool on July 9 and 10, this ground-breaking event, designed specifically for women and men living with secondary breast cancer, will bring together 16 medical experts who will support them with gaining vital knowledge and navigating the world of medical terminology and clinical guidelines.

Seasoned Leader Brings Extensive Experience with Influencing Policy Changes and Her Passion for Addressing Inequality in Women's Health and Wellbeing to the Role We are delighted to announce the appointment of Samantha Dixon as our new Chief Executive Officer. With nearly three decades of experience in the voluntary sector, Samantha’s career has consistently focused on increasing the impact of available services, promoting innovation and addressing inequality, particularly in women's health and wellbeing, and she is committed to amplifying the voices of women with secondary breast cancer, increasing research funding, and improving support services.

Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been awarded a grant of £18,157 that will help to support our monthly Tea & Chat friendship support group in Northern Ireland and enable 22 women living with secondary breast cancer to attend our two-day 2nds Together Retreat in Antrim in July for rest, relaxation and peer-to-peer support. Claire O’Donnell, our Support & Patient Engagement Manager, said: “The retreats enable long-lasting friendships to be formed, helping to ease the pressures of living with secondary breast cancer.

We were thrilled to launch our 'Truth Be Told' photographic exhibition roadshow last week, with Newcastle paving the way for more dates in other locations. Held at Newcastle Arts Centre on April 26 and 27, with a special preview on the evening of April 25, the exhibition showcased the challenges, and the hope and strength, shown by women living with secondary breast cancer through captivating photography originally shot by Jennifer Willis from Northern Ireland.

The Lancet is a peer-reviewed medical journal and is also one of the world's highest- impact academic journals. In addition to weekly publication of original research, it runs projects called Commissions.

In a first for the charity, we are working with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a stakeholder in the drug consultation process for a new treatment for secondary breast cancer called Elacestrant. Elacestrant is currently approved to treat people in the EU and USA living with oestrogen receptor-positive (HR+) HER2-negative (HER2-) secondary breast cancer with an ESR1 mutation, who experience disease progression after at least one line of hormone therapy.

The Make 2nds Count Patient Trials Advocate (PTA) service has so far supported 500 secondary breast cancer patients across the UK, marking a significant milestone and pivotal achievement in advancing patient access to clinical trials. The PTA service is the first of its kind in the UK, offering fresh hope to patients by connecting them with clinical trials that have the potential to improve outcomes and extend life.

Make 2nds Count is pleased to hear from the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) that Talazoparib (Talzenna) has been approved to treat adults with BRCA1 or 2 mutated HER2-negative secondary breast cancer. The announcement is welcome news for many people in Scotland and their families as this is the first ever BRCA-targeted treatment for those living with locally advanced or secondary breast cancer.