Guisborough mam takes fight to Downing Street

A North East mother is taking her campaign to the heart of Government to push for greater awareness and funding for a rare form of breast cancer.

Melissa Robinson, a mam of three from Guisborough, travelled to London to support the Lobular Moon Shot Project, joining dozens of women in a series of silent vigils and presenting a petition at 10 Downing Street.

Diagnosed with lobular breast cancer in 2023, Melissa is campaigning for increased research into the condition, which is often harder to detect than other forms of breast cancer. 

Despite undergoing scans, a second tumour was only identified through an MRI, highlighting the challenges of diagnosis.

Now undergoing long-term hormone treatment, Melissa continues to work at Prior Pursglove College, where she supports students, while also raising awareness of the disease. 

Melissa said: “My diagnosis came as a shock, but thankfully, it was discovered after I found a lump, which is quite unusual, because it’s quite rare for this type of breast cancer to present with a lump.

“Lobular breast cancer represents about 15 per cent of all breast cancers, but is very different to the more commonly found ductal cancer.

“Because it doesn’t present with a lump it is often found at a much later stage when the disease has progressed.”

She added: “It’s a sneaky cancer because it is hard to pick up through the usual detection methods – including mammograms and ultrasounds.

“When I was first diagnosed, I searched Google and read everything about the condition.

“I was trying to find out as much as I could about the cancer and I came across the Lobular Moon Shot Project that was campaigning to get £20 million of Government funding for research to understand the basic biology of the disease.

“I was keen to get involved and started liaising with MPs about the issue.”

Staff and students at Prior Pursglove College, shown below, along with Stockton Sixth Form College, have held their own vigils in support of her efforts.

The campaign is calling for a significant increase in research funding, with organisers highlighting the need for a major global study to improve understanding and treatment.

Melissa, who has helped secure the support of her local Labour MP Luke Meyer, with 464 MPs currently supporting the project, added: “Currently, there is no specific treatment that addresses the basic biology of lobular breast cancer and women are presented with a ‘one-size-fits-all’ treatment approach.”

The Lobular Moon Shot Project was founded in 2023 by Australian pilot Dr Susan Michaelis in Horsham, West Sussex. 

First diagnosed in 2013, she died in July 2025 after multiple treatments failed to stop the disease progressing.

The campaign is calling for a £20 million global research project over five years, aiming to address a condition affecting around 1000 people a day worldwide, including 22 in the UK, as organisers seek stronger political backing and greater investment.

Melissa, who is in touch with Susan Michaelis’ husband, added: “Susan was so inspirational.

“Three weeks before she passed away, she was standing outside Downing Street and the morning before she passed, she was on the telephone to MPs.

“There are an esteemed team of researchers all over Europe ready and lined up to carry out research into lobular breast cancer and they just need the funding so they can get going.

“A five-year research project costing £20 million is what’s needed – and what we don’t want to see is money being drip-fed into the first year or two of research and then the researchers having to apply for more further down the line.

“This cancer was discovered in the 1970s – and we don’t want to still be in the same position in 30 years’ time.”

Dr Nichole Munro, chief executive of Atomix Educational Trust, which includes Prior Pursglove and Stockton Sixth Form College, added: “Melissa’s bravery and dedication to this cause close to her heart is truly inspirational.

“Not only is Melissa tackling her cancer head on, she is also actively putting herself at the centre of a movement for vital change, which stands to benefit women now and in the future.

“Myself and all the staff and students at Stockton Sixth Form College and Prior Pursglove College – where she is a much-valued colleague – are delighted to support her in her efforts and stand with her today.”

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