METUP UK

UK’s only metastatic breast cancer patient advocacy charity. Led by patients, for patients.

Focused on the unmet needs of people living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

13/08/2026

“I had no idea it could be cancer.”

No two Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) experiences begin the same way. For Claire, it started with what she believed was a harmless lump. She went to her appointment alone, never imagining the diagnosis that followed.

After treatment for primary breast cancer, Claire wasn’t told that MBC could be a possibility or what signs and symptoms to look out for. Three years later, severe back pain led to the diagnosis of bone and liver metastases.

In this post, Claire shares the advice she wishes she’d known: trust your instincts, ask questions, take one step at a time, and always be your own advocate.

Today, Claire treasures every milestone with her children and finds strength in the small positives each day.

Swipe through to read Claire’s story, and if it resonates with you, please share it to help raise awareness of MBC.

06/08/2026

Some stories deserve to be read more than once.

Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) doesn’t just affect the person diagnosed - it reshapes the lives of the people who love them too. For children and young adults, living with uncertainty can become part of everyday life.

We’re resharing this powerful comic by RM, whose mum has been living with MBC for 8 years. Through beautifully illustrated moments, RM captures what it’s like when someone you love says they’re “fine” - even when they’re anything but.

If you missed it the first time, take a moment to scroll through. And if you’ve read it before, it’s a story that’s worth revisiting.

02/08/2026

Not everything should be brushed off as “probably nothing.”

A pain that keeps coming back. Breathlessness that feels different. Fatigue that doesn’t improve. A change in your body you can’t quite explain.

This 2nd of the month, we’re reminding you that persistent or unexplained changes deserve attention.

When it comes to Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC), symptoms can be vague and easily mistaken for other things. But you know your body. If something feels different, persists or worries you, speak to your healthcare team and keep asking questions.

Every day in the UK, 31 people die from MBC.

That’s why we keep talking about the signs. Why we keep encouraging people to advocate for themselves. And why being heard matters.
Save this reminder. Share it with someone you love. And if something doesn’t feel right, don’t keep putting it off.

Seconds matter. Symptoms matter. Your voice matters.

31/07/2026

Our METUPUK team is taking a well-earned summer break throughout August.

As a volunteer-led charity, taking time to rest and recharge is incredibly important to us, so our usual channels will be a little quieter over the coming weeks.

As a volunteer-led charity, taking time to rest and recharge is incredibly important to us, so our usual channels will be a little quieter over the coming weeks. We will still be sharing some pre-planned content throughout the month and will catch up with messages in September.

If you need to get in touch while we’re away, please contact [email protected].

Thank you, as always, for your continued support, for sharing our work and for helping us keep Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) firmly in the conversation.

We’ll see you in September, rested and ready to keep driving change.

27/07/2026

Sometimes, the words meant to comfort can be the hardest to hear.

When someone is living with MBC phrases like “you’re so strong”, “you’ve got this” or “at least it’s treatable” are often said with the best intentions. But they can also minimise the fear, uncertainty and reality of living with an incurable cancer.

You don’t need to have the perfect words. Sometimes, simply listening, acknowledging how hard it is and being there is enough.

What would you add to this list?

24/07/2026

Whether you’re planning a weekend away, visiting loved ones or heading off on holiday, travelling with MBC can take a little extra preparation.

Members of our community have shared some of the things they’ve learned along the way, from ensuring you have adequate insurance protection, building rest into your itinerary, staying hydrated, to planning ahead with medication and knowing the location of your nearest hospital.

Every experience of MBC is different, and these tips won’t be right for everyone. If you’re planning to travel, speak to your healthcare team beforehand so you have the advice and support that’s right for you.

We’d love to hear from you - if you’ve travelled while living with MBC, what’s one piece of advice you’d share with someone else in our community? Leave your tips in the comments below.

22/07/2026

METUPUK volunteer Claire Redshaw, shares a powerful piece of artwork and poetry, capturing the heart of what drives our community.

Voices That Refuse To Be Quiet is a tribute to the volunteers behind METUPUK – many living with Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) themselves, others supporting someone they love. Together, they give their time, energy and lived experience to campaign for better research, better treatments and better outcomes for everyone affected by MBC.

Every campaign, meeting, conversation and petition is driven by one shared belief: people living with MBC deserve better.

Thank you, Claire, for putting into words what so many in our community feel.

What does being part of the METUPUK community mean to you? We’d love to hear in the comments.

20/07/2026

The end of treatment for primary breast cancer doesn’t always mean end of treatment. Recurrence can happen years, even decades later. Late recurrence can happen 15+ years after treatment for primary breast cancer ends.

That’s why knowing the signs and symptoms of Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) matters.

Swipe to read quotes from our community ▶️

Save this post, share it with someone who needs it, and learn the signs and symptoms of MBC.

17/07/2026

These photographs were taken shortly after each of these volunteers was diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC).

Behind every smile, every expression and every glance is a moment that changed their life forever.

There was fear and uncertainty coupled with grief for the future they thought they would have; questions without answers, and the overwhelming reality of learning that MBC is incurable.

None of them knew what their journey would look like from that moment on: the treatments they would receive, the challenges they would face, the milestones they would celebrate or the resilience they would discover within themselves.

Every experience of MBC is different. There is no single path, no predictable timeline and no guarantee that the same treatment will work for everyone.

These photographs are a reminder that behind every diagnosis is a person. A life that continues. A story that deserves to be heard.

Today we acknowledge the courage it took for everybody in the MBC community to face their diagnosis and the strength it takes to keep going.

Address

Manchester

Website

http://www.metupuk.org.uk/

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