METUP UK

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).

13/05/2026

As Nicole walks towards the Senedd in Wales, she reflects on the power of advocacy and the women who campaigned before us to change the future of Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) treatment.

In 2006, Jane Sullivan became one of the leading voices campaigning for access to Herceptin, standing alongside women across the UK demanding that life-extending treatment should not depend on postcode, privilege, or delays to treatments being approved.

Today, because of that advocacy, Nicole receives Phesgo, a treatment containing Herceptin.

Looking back at the patients who refused to stay silent is part of what Looking Back, Moving Forward means.

The women who protested, campaigned and pushed for change are those who helped secure treatments.

Advocacy is never just for ourselves. It’s for everyone who comes after us.

PatientAdvocacy

The treatment landscape for HER2-positive Metastatic Breast Cancer (HER2+ MBC) has changed dramatically over the last tw...
12/05/2026

The treatment landscape for HER2-positive Metastatic Breast Cancer (HER2+ MBC) has changed dramatically over the last two decades.

Before 2006, Herceptin (trastuzumab) was the first targeted therapy to transform outcomes for people with HER2+ breast cancer but for many years, there were very few additional treatment options available.

Since then, new generations of HER2-targeted therapies including Perjeta, Kadcyla, Enhertu and tucatinib have steadily expanded treatment options, helping many patients live longer and with better quality of life.

But this progress did not happen quickly or easily. Many of these drugs faced delays and rejections before becoming routinely available on the NHS. Patient advocacy played a crucial role in pushing for access across the UK.

One of the most significant advances came in 2022 with tucatinib, the first HER2-targeted drug shown to cross the blood-brain barrier - a major breakthrough for patients with HER2+ MBC, where up to 50% of patients may eventually develop brain metastases.

This timeline is a reminder of how far treatment has come and why advocacy, research, and equitable drug access remain so important. The advances and ‘average’ timeframes in HER2+ disease is not reflected equally in other sub types.

Every new treatment line can mean more time, more options and more hope.

11/05/2026

Today, as part of , we’re sharing a powerful reflection on drug progress from our Access to Medicines Lead and former Trustee, Madeleine.

Madeleine is living with HER2+ Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC). In this video she reflects on HER2+ treatment and drug access challenges over the years. It highlights how much has changed and how much still needs to improve when it comes to timely diagnosis, access to life-extending treatments and equitable care for people living with MBC.

Patient voices matter and Madeleine’s experience as our Access to Medicines Lead has been crucial to so many recent drug approvals. Advocacy is important not only for ourselves as patients but also for entire communities of patients who come after us.

Patient voices matter and Madeleine’s experience is a powerful reminder of why advocacy remains so important.

08/05/2026

Radiotherapy has changed dramatically over the last 20 years, especially for people living with Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC).

Once seen mainly as a last-resort palliative treatment, advances in precision, planning and technology now mean radiotherapy can treat more areas of the body, with greater accuracy, fewer side effects and often in fewer hospital visits.

From treating liver and lung metastases, to stereotactic radiotherapy for brain metastases, re-irradiation and AI-supported planning, radiotherapy is no longer the “just radiotherapy” many people still think it is.

In this conversation for , we spoke with therapeutic radiographers Jo McNamara and Naman Julka-Anderson , about how radiotherapy has evolved, why patient advocacy matters and why access to these treatments is still far from equal across the UK.

Their message is clear:
Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
Don’t be afraid to ask for a second opinion.
And never underestimate the power of advocating for yourself.

Radiotherapy doesn’t just treat cancer, it can improve quality of life, relieve symptoms and keep patients on the same treatment line for longer.

Watch the full conversation and join us as we continue Looking Back, Moving Forward.

PatientAdvocacy

Over the last 20 years, de novo Metastatic Breast Cancer (dnMBC) treatment has changed significantly.Diagnosis rates hav...
07/05/2026

Over the last 20 years, de novo Metastatic Breast Cancer (dnMBC) treatment has changed significantly.

Diagnosis rates have stayed largely the same, survival gains are still measured in months and years and inequalities in access to treatment remain a major issue.

Too many patients still face delays, postcode lotteries and gaps in care, while recurrent MBC often goes unrecorded, leaving the true scale of MBC under-recognised.

We’ve moved from chemotherapy-led care with limited options to more personalised, subtype-driven treatments that are helping some people live longer, especially in HER2+ disease, where 5+ year survival is becoming more common for some patients. MBC remains incurable. 

Swipe through to see how far we’ve come and how much further we still need to go.

06/05/2026

As part of , Elizabeth is sharing her diagnosis story - highlighting the reality of dormancy, late recurrence and why knowing the signs and symptoms of Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) matters so much.

For many people, MBC can return years, even decades after an initial primary breast cancer diagnosis. This is the difficult reality of dormancy and late recurrence, and it’s something that still isn’t talked about enough.

Elizabeth’s story is a powerful reminder that symptoms should never be ignored, dismissed, or explained away, especially for those living beyond a primary diagnosis.

Awareness saves time. Earlier recognition can lead to earlier intervention.

LookingBackMovingForward

Breast cancer diagnostics have changed dramatically over the last 20 years.From 2D film mammograms and limited imaging o...
05/05/2026

Breast cancer diagnostics have changed dramatically over the last 20 years.

From 2D film mammograms and limited imaging options in the early 2000s, to today’s era of AI-assisted precision imaging, faster MRI protocols, advanced ultrasound and deeper tumour profiling - progress has transformed how breast cancer is detected, monitored and treated.

Earlier detection, better surgical planning, improved treatment response monitoring and more personalised care are changing outcomes for many patients.

But progress is not the same as equality.

Access to advanced imaging still varies widely by region. Some cancers are still missed, particularly in dense breast tissue and delays in diagnosis remain a reality for far too many people.

For those living with Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC), diagnosis is no longer “one and done.” Tumours can change over time, requiring re-biopsies, updated receptor testing, genomic testing like ctDNA and ESR1 and better imaging for areas such as brain metastases.

Better diagnostics don’t just mean finding cancer earlier, they mean understanding it better, treating it smarter and giving patients the best possible chance.

Swipe through our timeline to see how far we’ve come. There is still so much more to do to give us the best chance of more time.

We’re back with our monthly reminder.As part of Metastatic May and this year’s theme, Looking Back, Moving Forward, we...
02/05/2026

We’re back with our monthly reminder.

As part of Metastatic May and this year’s theme, Looking Back, Moving Forward, we’re taking a moment to reflect on how awareness of Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) has changed over the last 20 years.

In 2006, MBC was barely visible in patient information. The word “metastatic” was rarely used, symptom awareness was limited and many people were left without the information they needed to recognise the signs or advocate for themselves.

Today, progress has been made, but there is still so much further to go.

This post looks back at where awareness began, the gaps that still remain and why continuing to raise awareness is just as important now as ever.

Because earlier recognition, better information and stronger patient voices can change lives.

Swipe through for a reminder of the lesser-known signs of MBC - the symptoms too often overlooked, misread, or dismissed.

01/05/2026

Welcome to Metastatic May 2026: Looking Back, Moving Forward.

This year’s theme honours the original vision of our founder, Jo Taylor, whose passion and determination shaped METUPUK and our mission to improve the lives of people living with Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC). This month is both a reflection on how far we’ve come and a renewed commitment to the work still ahead.

Throughout May, we’ll be sharing a 20-year overview of the MBC landscape - exploring the progress made in treatment, drug development, policy change, radiotherapy and patient support. Support looked very different back then - Facebook was in its earliest form 20 years ago but growing quickly and platforms like Twitter and Instagram didn’t yet exist as spaces for patient connection.

We’ll look at the breakthroughs that have changed lives, the barriers that still remain and what must happen next to ensure better outcomes for everyone living with MBC.

As always, we’ll be sharing patient voices, expert insight and the real experiences behind the headlines.

Join the conversation, help amplify our voices and be part of shaping the future.

Over March & April METUPUK patient advocates Sue and Nicole, attended two key Welsh election hustings, one at the Senedd...
30/04/2026

Over March & April METUPUK patient advocates Sue and Nicole, attended two key Welsh election hustings, one at the Senedd and one at Maggie’s Cardiff. Their attendance at these hustings ensured the voices of people living with Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) were heard.  
 
Geographical factors and the predominantly rural landscape of Wales still pose challenges to achieving equality of care. Many patients’ ability to access diagnostics, treatment centres, and specialist services depends on their location and differing service levels across health boards continue to affect outcomes.
 
Across the political parties present there was strong agreement on prevention, early diagnosis, palliative care and tackling inequalities however one critical gap was clear; metastatic cancer is still missing from policy and data. 
 
Nicole challenged candidates on the lack of accurate data for people living with incurable cancer. This data is essential for planning services, staffing and budgets. Inspired by progress in Northern Ireland, Nicole urged Wales to commit to collecting and publishing MBC data. In response to her call to action, candidates acknowledged the issue, agreed on the importance of better data, and committed to taking this forward. 
 
We’ll keep pushing until everyone living with MBC is counted, visible, and supported. 


 

Kirstin’s journey into advocacy wasn’t something she chose - it was something she needed. After facing devastating gaps ...
29/04/2026

Kirstin’s journey into advocacy wasn’t something she chose - it was something she needed. After facing devastating gaps in care, delays in diagnosis and the emotional and physical toll of navigating breast cancer, she turned her experience into something powerful. Now living with Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC), she uses both her scientific expertise and lived experience to push for safer, more effective and more accountable cancer care for all.

As one of our patient experts supporting NICE and SMC drug approvals, Kirstin dedicates countless hours to researching, learning, speaking and educating - all while balancing treatment, motherhood and the realities of MBC. She continues to show up for others, even when the system didn’t show up for her.

Kirstin, thank you - for your honesty, your strength and the hope you give to so many.

Thank you for campaigning for patients, for change and for a future where no one is dismissed, unheard, or left behind.
We’re so grateful to have you as part of Team METUPUK.
Stronger together. Always.

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