Live Chat: From Devastating Diagnosis to Distinction with Lesley Stephen MBE
Live from Stage 4 | Episode # 02/24/2026 | Live Chat
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Guest
Lesley Stephen MBE
Lesley Stephen MBE is a prominent patient advocate from Edinburgh, diagnosed with de novo metastatic HER2+ breast cancer in 2014, who has dedicated her life to supporting others with secondary breast cancer through research awareness and clinical trial access.
Early Career and Diagnosis
Before her diagnosis in March 2014, Lesley worked as a self-employed communications consultant in Edinburgh. She paused her career during initial treatment but has since thrived for over seven years on a phase 1b clinical trial, which enabled her to pivot fully to advocacy work.
Advocacy and Contributions
Lesley serves as a patient representative for key organizations, including the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI), Edinburgh ECMC, Cancer Research UK (CRUK), and Breast Cancer Now (BCN). She is a member of the International Council of Patient Voices (ICPV) and a trustee of Make 2nds Count, a charity aiding those with advanced breast cancer.
Motivated by her positive trial experience, she champions research and trials for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients.
Through Make 2nds Count, she established a service educating MBC patients on research, empowering trial discussions with clinicians, and matching them to eligible UK trials.
She co-led a patient-driven survey with the Universities of Warwick, Liverpool, and Southampton on patient experiences and needs in clinical trials, with results now published.
Lesley is also a co-founder of the Secondary Breast Cancer Patient Summit, where she brings together patients, healthcare professionals, and researchers to discuss the challenges and needs specific to those living with secondary breast cancer.
Recognition
In November 2025, Lesley received an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours for her services to people with secondary breast cancer. She continues her advocacy, including as a speaker at events like UKIBCS 2026
Quick Summary
In this powerful episode, Victoria Goldberg sits down with Lesley Stephen, MBE, a 12-year metastatic breast cancer survivor from Edinburgh, Scotland, who has transformed her near-death experience into a mission that's changing lives across the UK.
Leslie shares her remarkable trajectory from a devastating de novo stage 4 diagnosis—given just one to two years to live—through multiple treatment failures, to finding hope in a last-chance clinical trial that kept her alive for seven years. Today, she has no evidence of active disease and has just been honored by Princess Anne at Windsor Castle with an MBE for her extraordinary advocacy work.
As a trustee of Make 2nds Count, the UK's only charity focused exclusively on metastatic breast cancer, Lesley has pioneered groundbreaking initiatives including:
A clinical trial matching service that's helped thousands of patients access potentially life-saving treatments
The UK's first Secondary Breast Cancer Patient Summit, bringing together over 100 metastatic patients with world-class clinicians
Advocacy work with the Lancet Breast Cancer Commission addressing global disparities in care
This conversation explores the stark realities of the UK's "postcode lottery"—where your location determines which treatments you can access—the critical importance of clinical trials as a lifeline rather than a last resort, and why precision oncology and liquid biopsies represent the next frontier in metastatic breast cancer care.
Lesley’s story is a testament to resilience, the power of patient advocacy, and why every second truly counts when you're living with stage 4 cancer.
Key Topics Discussed
De novo metastatic breast cancer diagnosis and early treatment challenges
The UK's healthcare "postcode lottery" and treatment access disparities
Clinical trials: from Hail Mary to seven-year lifeline
Creating the UK's first metastatic breast cancer patient summit
Trial matching services and breaking down barriers to clinical trial access
Receiving an MBE from Princess Anne at Windsor Castle
The future of precision oncology and liquid biopsies in the UK
Living 12 years beyond a terminal diagnosis with no active cancer.
Resources Mentioned
Make 2nds Count: https://make2ndscount.co.uk
Make 2nds Count Secondary Breast Cancer Patient Summit (March 2-4 2026, Liverpool)
This is the UK's only patient summit specifically for the metastatic breast cancer community, and you can join virtually from anywhere in the world. Over three days, you'll hear from leading breast cancer clinicians and researchers on the latest treatments, genomics, clinical trials, side effects, palliative care, and so much more.
To find out more about the event and register to join virtually, sign up here: https://make2ndscount.co.uk/.../secondary-breast-cancer...
All our sessions will be recorded and shared on the charity’s YouTube channel
Clinical trial matching service
Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC) conference
