In this episode, Laura talks to Hannah Gardner about the life-extending drug Enhertu, which has just been rejected for use on the NHS in England. This means thousands of women, including Hannah, will be denied access to a drug that could’ve given them the hope of more time to live.

Join Hannah and Breast Cancer Now in calling on NICE, NHS England and the drug companies Daiichi Sankyo and AstraZeneca, to do everything possible to make Enhertu available on the NHS.

Hannah also shares how life with secondary breast cancer is for her and her 3-year-old daughter. She discusses her previous career as a clinical trials manager, and what it was like to be on the other side of the table when she joined a clinical trial herself. Hannah also describes the devastating impact of finding out she may be denied the drugs that could give her more time.

You can follow Hannah on Instagram @realhouseofhannah

We’re Breast Cancer Now, the research and support charity. However you’re experiencing breast cancer, we’re here. For information and support, visit our website or phone our free helpline on 0808 800 6000 (UK only).

You can also watch this episode on YouTube.

Key Topics:

0:00 Introduction

0:24 Laura introduces Hannah

1:00 How Hannah was first diagnosed with breast cancer

3:35 Hannah's treatment

4:01 Difficulty getting the diagnosis

6:08 Hannah talks about being diagnosed with secondary breast cancer

10:36 The effect of the diagnosis on Hannah's daughter

15:33 Treatment for secondary breast cancer

16:07 Hannah's experience with clinical trials

25:01 How breast cancer affected Hannah's body image

29:59 Looking well with an invisible illness

31:40 Enhertu and HER2-low breast cancer

37:31 Breast Cancer Now's Enhertu open letter campaign

39:30 An update on Enhertu and what it means for Hannah

50:38 What you can do to help Breast Cancer Now make a difference

54:01 Differences in how primary and secondary patients are treated

57:46 What needs to change in breast cancer?