Dunmow Mother Leads Silent Vigil in Westminster Over Lobular Breast Cancer Funding Crisis
A mother from Dunmow in Essex is staging a silent vigil in Westminster today, Wednesday, April 22, to highlight the urgent need for government action on lobular breast cancer. Sarah Ramsey Smith, 63, will join 22 women from across the UK, standing in silence to represent the 22 women diagnosed daily with this often-overlooked form of the disease.
Personal Battle with a Silent Killer
Sarah Ramsey Smith, a mother of two, was diagnosed with advanced lobular breast cancer in 2021, just 16 months after receiving a clear routine mammogram. Since her diagnosis, she has undergone a lumpectomy, full mastectomy, radiotherapy, and is now on long-term hormone therapy. Her experience underscores the challenges of detecting this cancer, which rarely forms a lump and can evade standard scans.
"When I was diagnosed, I had no idea what lobular breast cancer was," Sarah said. "I was told it is the second most common form, yet under-researched and underfunded - the forgotten breast cancer. I was terrified. I live with constant fear knowing this cancer can evade screening and that there are no treatments designed specifically for it."
The Scale of the Problem
Approximately 8,000 women in the UK are diagnosed with lobular breast cancer each year, accounting for around one in seven breast cancer cases. Despite its prevalence, campaigners report that it receives no dedicated government funding for research. This lack of investment means current treatments are largely based on hormone status rather than the specific biology of the disease, leaving many women diagnosed at later stages with limited options.
Campaign for Change: The Lobular Moon Shot Project
The vigil is part of the Lobular Moon Shot Project, led by campaigner Tristan Loraine, whose wife, Dr. Susan Michaelis, died from the disease in 2025. The campaign is calling on ministers to commit £20 million over five years to fund vital research into the basic biology of lobular breast cancer. Campaigners argue this investment would equate to just £238 per patient over the next decade and could transform understanding and treatment.
"The current one-size-fits-all approach to treating lobular breast cancer is failing patients," said Tristan Loraine. "It is wasting resources and costing lives. I lost my wife, Susan, to lobular breast cancer last year. Eight generic breast cancer treatments could not stop the disease progressing. She would be devastated to see that little progress has been made."
A Tragic Case Study
Dr. Susan Michaelis was first diagnosed with lobular breast cancer in 2013, presenting with no lump or pain, only a 1mm mark on her left breast. A mammogram and ultrasound failed to detect the 7cm of cancer she had. By 2021, it had spread to her spine, and she passed away on July 9, 2025. Despite trying eight different types of generic breast cancer treatments, none could save her life.
Urgent Calls for Action
The Lobular Moon Shot Project, launched in 2023, aims to secure government funding for a five-year £20 million research project to discover weaknesses in the disease that could lead to specific treatments. Despite backing from more than 460 MPs, no dedicated funding has been secured, prompting patients to take their concerns directly to Westminster.
Simultaneous silent vigils will also take place outside Downing Street, the Department of Health and Social Care, and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Campaigners emphasize that urgent action is needed to ensure women with lobular breast cancer are no longer overlooked and to prevent further loss of life.
