31 life size figures of women are now set to tour the UK as an interactive campaign to raise awareness of issues surrounding secondary breast cancer after a small residency with the support of The Corn Exchange in Manchester.
Improving access to new breast cancer drugs
When I first started volunteering with METUPUK, I wasn’t really sure what I would do. For a few months, I sat on the sides to get a feel for the organisation. I shared METUPUK links on social media, but I don’t have much of a social media presence, and Instagram is a bit of a mystery to me. I’ve never figured out how to do makeup, plus my hair is a non-event after chemo. I thought I wanted to help with drug access or access to clinical trials, but I was flexible and wanted to see what was needed.
About brain metastases
To follow on from yesterday’s post about the death of Leila, I would like to highlight some information about brain metastases and just a quick look on google provided this information.
Why I support MetUpUK – thoughts from one of our Primary advocates Juliet
I was diagnosed with Grade 3 primary breast cancer in my left breast in January 2016 and am now cancer free. That sounds great to me. I’m one of the
“Never mind cancer outcomes”
It was shocking to hear the Prime Minister dismiss the importance of cancer outcomes in such an offhand way in a TV interview this week. But at the same time, it was sadly not surprising to many of us at Met-Up UK.
Friends and family friday – Connie and her friends
MetUpUK member Connie sat down, on zoom, with some of her oldest friends to talk to them about their understanding of her life with MBC.
They discuss cancer types, treatment lines, tumor profiling, trials, survival rates, progressions, drug lines, and how all of this makes them feel.
A Real Life Accounts of Accessing Clinical Trials
In 2018 I was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in my liver, I was 44.
I knew the survival statistics were grim, so decided from the outset, in order to outlive the 2 to 3-year median I’d have to embrace experimental drugs and treatments.
I made this clear during my first oncology appointment, telling my doctor I was keen to sign up for clinical trials right from the start.
Fighting for Palbociclib
Under NICE rules, I would not be eligible to receive the medication that I am currently taking for my metastatic breast cancer on the NHS. I have been on my current drug regime since 2017, I am feeling really well, my disease is stable, and my scans are clear.
I began taking Palbociclib over 3 years ago, badgering my Oncologist and accessing it through a free trial set up by Pfizer. The trial was designed to sway NICE into approving the drug for NHS use, despite it’s high price.
The Cancer Postcode Lottery
I have been living with secondary breast cancer for 7 years, and am very aware that I’m one of the very lucky ones as the median life expectancy is 2-3 years. The general public perception of breast cancer is that it’s ‘sorted’ – eg if you get it you will be fine. But few people realise that when it metastases (spreads) to the organs as mine has, it cannot be cured. It is the biggest killer of women under 50 with over 11,000 women dying of it every year in the UK.
Aren’t you a bit young to have a pacemaker
Stage 4 breast cancer with a pacemaker
Most people know someone with a pacemaker, and chances are that person will be elderly. The average age of a first pacemaker implantation in the UK is 72, but pacemakers are actually fitted in people of all ages from newborn babies to the very elderly. I was 39 when I had mine, which was needed as a complication after heart surgery to replace my aortic valve and root.