National summit supporting people with secondary breast cancer comes to Liverpool

A major national summit supporting people living with secondary breast cancer is taking place in Liverpool next month, with online places still available after in-person tickets sold out.

The Secondary Breast Cancer Patient Summit 2026 runs from Monday 2 to Wednesday 4 March and is organised by charity Make 2nds Count in partnership with The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust and ECMC. The three-day event brings together patients, clinicians, researchers and specialists to share the latest information on treatments, clinical trials and supportive care.

Now in its third year, the summit is the UK’s only national conference focused entirely on secondary, or metastatic, breast cancer. The programme is designed to give clear and practical information while helping people connect with others living with the condition.

Sam Howarth, 30, from St Helens, was diagnosed with breast cancer shortly before her 28th birthday. Further tests showed the cancer had already spread to her liver and lungs.

She said: “I didn’t know anything about secondary breast cancer. I’d had family and friends’ mums with breast cancer, but I thought it was a one-year treatment and then you’re fine. When they said it had spread, I thought, ‘Just give me a new liver then.’ I had no clue what it meant. It was terrifying.

“It’s taken time to learn what it actually means – that it’s not curable but it is treatable.”

Sam found support through Make 2nds Count and attended last year’s summit.

She said: “It was really powerful to be in a room full of people with the same diagnosis, while also being surrounded by experts across so many different fields. Having access to that level of knowledge and lived experience in one place helped me feel more informed and more confident about my own care.

“The summit helped me better understand the wide range of support available but also gave me insight into clinical trials – how they work, how to access them and how important they are in shaping future care.”

Although the Liverpool event is now fully booked, people can still register to attend online. Sessions will be livestreamed and available to watch on demand after the event.

Dr Sarah Thomas, Director of Research and Programmes at Make 2nds Count, said: “The summit has our community at the heart of it. We promise honest, evidence-based information that is never oversimplified or sugar-coated.

“We bring together speakers who respect people living with secondary breast cancer as equal partners in their care and who are willing to answer difficult questions, listen and learn.”

Professor Carlo Palmieri, Consultant Medical Oncologist at The Clatterbridge Cancer Centre and Clinical Lead for the summit, said the event aims to help people better understand complex topics and feel more confident managing their care.

This year’s programme includes expert talks on clinical trials, new treatments and managing side effects, as well as sessions focused on different breast cancer subtypes including TNBC, HER2+ and ER+. There will also be discussions on integrative oncology, genomics and ways to improve quality of life.

Across the three days, attendees will be able to take part in live Q&A sessions, panel discussions and community conversations designed to support both newly diagnosed patients and those living long-term with secondary breast cancer.

Lesley Stephen, Co-Founder and Patient Lead for the summit, said: “This event gives a voice to people affected by secondary breast cancer. It is a platform where questions are heard and answers are accessible.”

Register here.

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