Double award boost for Saddleworth breast cancer campaigner Jo

A Saddleworth-based author, breast cancer campaigner and patient advocate has vowed to continue her focus on raising awareness of the disease after ending last year with prestigious awards from the National Lottery and Women in Marketing.

Jo Taylor, who is 53, accepted her National Lottery “Local Health Hero” award at a high-profile event in London hosted by Davina MacCall and attended by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Leader of the Opposition Kier Starmer, as well as a host of MPs, celebrities and health care professionals.

The event, which was televised on Channel 4 last month, celebrated “Who Cares Wins”.

This followed Jo also receiving another prestigious “Best Leader in Creating Change in Health and Wellness” award in London from industry body, Women in Marketing.

Secondary breast cancer sufferer Jo, a former Marketing Executive, founded abcdiagnosis in 2013 and METUPUK in 2016 after developing primary breast cancer 15 years ago while on maternity leave with her two young children.

The two sites provide valuable information and peer support, while Jo also runs a motivational exercise retreat for breast cancer patients.

A year after abcdiagnosis and it’s website was launched in 2013, she was re-diagnosed with secondary (metastatic) breast cancer, which is an incurable disease.

Secondary breast cancer kills 31 women a day in the UK and is the biggest killer of women from the age of 35 – 64.

Despite this, it is not known if survival rates have improved because patients are only registered when they have passed.

Data collection forms a cornerstone to Jo’s campaign as many patients continue to search for more clinical trials and recognition of this incurable side of the disease.

Frequent personal setbacks and multiple operations have only added to Jo’s commitment to help other patients and her demand for change and support for people with this incurable disease.

The launch of a campaigning and support group METUPUK in 2016 received charitable status only last year.

Now, her platforms have collectively 35,000 followers across Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Jo said: “I’m thrilled to end the year with two high profile awards as it helps raise awareness for secondary breast cancer as we work to bring about change and energy for this long-neglected group.

"Secondary breast cancer is often ignored simply because patients will not get better from this disease.

"My message is clear – despite our diagnosis, it is possible for us to live busy, and fulfilling lives - many of us still work and need to work, supporting our families, contributing to the economy, and campaigning for breast cancer patients.

"It’s important that we are seen, visible and not ignored.

"We deserve better outcomes, and our message is to keep campaigning so that we can keep looking for medical solutions and support over 57,000 patients who are living (not dying) with this disease.”

Jo will continue her work in 2023 to focus on data collection, awareness, drug access, clinical trial access, and delivering the award winning abcd motivational exercise retreats, as well as Nordic Walking for breast cancer patients across Greater Manchester.

You can join her campaign by following her on social media and looking at the websites: www.abcdiagnosis.co.uk and: www.metupuk.org.uk

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