My name is Sharon Baker and I have incurable secondary breast cancer.

After my primary breast cancer diagnosis, I had a clear annual mammogram meaning that my secondary cancer was not discovered and my doctors were not worried. However, I know now that the progressive secondary disease was growing throughout my body.

Secondary breast cancer is when breast cancer returns to the body after a primary diagnosis. It is incurable. Caught early enough it can be treatable and can be successfully managed for many, many years.

By the time my Doctors and I found out about the secondary cancer, I had cancer throughout most of my skeleton.  I was just diagnosed with cancer in my brain.

Despite being at high risk of my cancer returning I was never offered a scan alongside my mammogram. The procedures in place in the UK to pick up and monitor the disease, at crucial early stages, are inadequate. 

Women who have had primary breast cancer need to be able to access regular scans alongside their annual mammogram and without a GP referral.  Secondary breast cancer does not return to the breast so just having a mammogram check alone is not enough.

Thank you.