Lobular cancer campaigners meet health secretary

A group of campaigners, including some from Surrey and Sussex, have met Health Secretary Wes Streeting in a call for more research into a form of breast cancer which "has no specific treatment".

Lobular cancer is often missed because it begins in the milk-producing lobule glands and often does not form a lump.

Dr Susan Michaelis from Horsham in West Sussex, founded the Lobular Moon Shot campaign and was due to be at the meeting on Monday but died last week.

In a statement released on Monday Mr Streeting said he will try to bring campaigners and researchers together to "plot a way forward".

Dr Michaelis's husband, Tristan Loraine, said: "The day after my wife passed away, the leaders of most political parties wrote to the prime minister and Wes Streeting, and said 'please fund this project, stop other people dying.'

"This is the will of the majority of MPs."

The campaigners want the government to commit to spending £20m over five years for research.

Kate Ford from Walton-on-Thames was diagnosed with lobular breast cancer in 2023, and has undergone surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

She said: "Lobular cancer has been known about for 80 years and 22 women a day are diagnosed in the UK, and they find out there is no specific treatment because the basic biology of this disease has never been studied.

"The Lobular Moon shot, partnered with the Manchester Breast Centre have put together a team of global experts. The project is ready to go."

In a statement released after the meeting, the health secretary said: "I'm so grateful the team from the Lobular Moon Shot project took the time to meet me today, less than a week since losing Dr Susan Michaelis, their founder and the driving force behind the campaign.

"This is an under researched disease and I was grateful to have the opportunity to speak to campaigners to understand how we can bring together academics, charities, and industry to improve our understanding of lobular breast cancer which goes undetected in too many women and robs too many families of mums, sisters, and daughters.

"Everyone is determined to honour Susan's legacy."

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