Following my primary diagnosis in May 2017, I was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer (stage 4) in December 2018, the breast cancer had spread to both of my lungs and some lymph nodes in the chest wall. It had remained stable for just over a year, but during lockdown I was given the news that it had started to progress slightly. They changed my medication around with the hope of getting me back to “stable”,  but on Friday I was told that it was still growing. My oncologist has made the decision to put me straight back on to chemotherapy again, but this time I will be on it for good, with no end in sight. I start this next week on the 17th of September.  A bit of a blow, but after a bad day....I am back in a positive place! I won’t lose my hair this time, and the oral chemotherapy will spare my damaged veins! I would like to raise as much money as I can, for a charity very close to my heart, Make 2nds Count. They do a HUGE amount to raise funds and awareness for secondary breast cancer. They have been extremely helpful to me, giving me advice and much needed support throughout my secondary cancer journey.

I had planned to walk 26 miles or 26 kilometres on my birthday, the 26th of September...but with the recent bombshell,  and knowing that I will now be on chemotherapy over my birthday, I have set myself a smaller goal of 26k steps! So I will still be doing 26 on the 26th! If anyone would like to join me in doing 26 on the 26th (26 miles, 26km or 26k steps or 26 anything, be creative!)  to help raise even more awareness and funds, that would be just amazing!  Thank you for your support,  Nina  ❤️

A bit about secondary  breast cancer:

Secondary breast cancer is breast cancer which has spread from the breast to other parts of the body. Although secondary breast cancer can be treated, there is no cure. Unlike those living with primary breast cancer, there is no end of treatment, there is no remission. It’s estimated that 35,000 people are currently living with secondary breast cancer in the UK yet only 7% of the National funding for cancer goes towards this incurable disease. Make 2nds Count aim to address this imbalance. Please give generously!