Our recent research tells us that shockingly, 80% of breast cancer survivors wouldn’t mention their breast cancer history to their GP when talking to them about seemingly unrelated issues or symptoms, but these may be a sign of secondary breast cancer. That’s why we’ve teamed up with TV personality, singer, entrepreneur and breast cancer survivor Brenda in a powerful new campaign to raise awareness of Secondary Breast Cancer. The campaign aims to help those who have had breast cancer identify secondary breast cancer early, which, coupled with advances in treatments, means there’s hope for people to live and love life for longer.

I’ve had my treatment and now look at life very differently – it’s like having a second opportunity to live life to the fullest

Sadly, between 10% and 40% of UK patients diagnosed with primary breast cancer go on to develop secondary breast cancer.

However, our new research tells us more than half of all Brits, and even one in three breast cancer survivors, don’t actually know what secondary breast cancer is, and 72% of breast cancer survivors don’t know where in the body secondary breast cancer is most likely to appear.

At GenesisCare we know firsthand how early diagnosis, coupled with advances in treatments, is achieving much better outcomes and improving quality of life for patients with secondary breast cancer. 

 Our Second Chance campaign aims to raise awareness of:

• Secondary breast cancer symptoms
• The importance of informing your GP of previous primary breast cancer 
• Knowing the treatment options available

72% of breast cancer survivors don’t know where in the body secondary breast cancer is most likely to appear

Secondary – otherwise known as metastatic - breast cancer, is when breast cancer cells spread beyond the breast, through the lymphatic or blood system, to other parts of the body including the brain, bones, skin, liver or lung.

The symptoms of secondary breast cancer will vary depending on where the cancer has spread. It's important to note that these symptoms can also be caused by other medical conditions, so may not always indicate that the cancer has spread.

General symptoms that breast cancer may have spread include

• Constant tiredness
• Constant nausea
• Unexplained weight loss

Signs that breast cancer may have of spread to the:

Bones

• Pain in your bones
• Bone fractures
• Unexplained back pain
• Numbness
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Passing large amounts of urine
• Confusion
• Feeling very thirsty

Lungs

• Feeling out of breath (during activity or rest)
• A constant cough
• Pain or tightness in the chest

Liver

• Pain in the stomach which may also be felt in the right shoulder
• Discomfort under the ribs on the right side
• Hiccups
• Swelling in the abdomen
• Itching
• Yellowing of the skin

Brain

• Headache
• Feeling sick especially when waking in the morning
• Weakness or feeling numb down one side of the body
• Dizziness, or loss of balance and co-ordination
• Fits
• Difficulty with speech
• Problems with vision
• Changes in behaviour, mood or personality
• Confusion
• Memory problems

Skin

• Change in the colour of the skin
• Persistent rash
• Firm, painless small lump or different sized lumps
• Lymphoedema (swelling of the arm, hand or breast area)
• Pain
• Bleeding
• Infection

Brenda, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, is featured in our powerful Second Chance photography exhibition, alongside secondary breast cancer patients Anna and Natalie, who were both treated at GenesisCare. This unique, brave and emotive exhibition features anatomical close-up images of the chest, stomach, back, head and skin, highlighting key areas of the body where secondary breast cancer is most likely to strike and the most common symptoms to look out for.

All these images have been captured by Abigail Fahey a talented photographer and breast cancer survivor.

The purpose of the Second Chance photography exhibition - which goes on display at GenesisCare centre in Surrey in October, is to engage, inform, educate and drive conversation around this lesser-known yet deadly cancer and help bust myths which often surround it. 

From first symptoms through to secondary breast cancer, we offer complete personalised treatment plans. Our team of experts include breast cancer consultants and advanced radiotherapy practitioners, who design each care plan based on individual diagnosis and preferences, with treatment starting within days.

There are now many options for treating secondary breast cancer and we’re at the forefront of these. We are the leading provider of advanced treatments for secondary breast cancer, including: 

• SABR - providing better outcomes and improved quality of life for cancer which has spread to the spine
• SRS - advanced ‘brain sparing’ radiotherapy which preserves quality of life when treating cancer which has spread to the brain, and
• MRIdian - highly targeted radiotherapy used to destroy tumours in the lungs in just a few treatments.

We support people through their cancer journey with wellness programmes through our unique partnership with the national charity, Penny Brohn UK.