31/10/2025
It’s okay to be bold and brave
“Secondary breast cancer just isn’t talked about enough. Even with research – people donate a lot to breast cancer charities, but only a very small percentage goes to secondary. When you’re diagnosed with secondary, it can feel like you’re written off.”
Cheryl, 58, is from Belfast and is married with two sons, now aged 22 and 27. “My experience of breast cancer goes back 15 years. I was first diagnosed with triple-negative primary breast cancer and was in treatment for about a year. Ten years later, it came back as DCIS – ductal carcinoma in situ. Within a year of that, I was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer. I’d never even heard of it before, despite already having two primary diagnoses. So when I was called in to see the consultant, I was in a bit of a daze.
“I was told my prognosis was very poor. I had two tumours under my arm, one on my breastbone, one in my neck, one on my spine, and some in my lungs. They wouldn’t even tell me how many tumours – there were too many. That day was actually my son’s 18th birthday. The consultant advised me to go home and tell the family.
When I googled secondary breast cancer, I was just blown away. I think patients with primary should be given the option to learn about secondary. Not in a fear-mongering way – just so they’re aware of signs and symptoms. I was never given any information about the possibility of progression. Four and a half years later, I’m doing well. My latest scans show the lungs are stable and haven’t worsened.
I got involved with this campaign to raise awareness - to get people talking, and maybe even help someone who had primary and starts to notice something, like a cough or a pain in their back, that they’ll go to their GP.
This campaign is what I’d call advocacy through art. I’m proud to be representing Northern Ireland alongside 15 other people from across the UK. It’s powerful – a different way of telling our stories.”
Listen to Cheryl’s story here: https://tinyurl.com/5ynyhzz3
