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It’s hard to be a woman today and not have a breast cancer story. Whether it’s a personal experience surviving breast cancer or the experience of watching a mother, sister, or friend struggle through it, breast cancer, sadly, touches so many of us.
I admit that I didn’t know the difference between “normal” breast cancer and metastatic breast cancer until just recently, as I have watched my friend Susan Niebur fight MBC valiantly. Susan is the mother of two young children and is living every day to the fullest. But my heart breaks for her as I think back on the stories of my own father, who at 24 was diagnosed with melanoma. I was 2 at the time and had a hard time understanding why I couldn’t climb on Daddy and run and play with him like I used to. Cancer is a horrible disease for individuals and families.
What is MBC?
Metastatic Breast Cancer is an aggressive and fatal disease. Breast cancer is considered metastatic when it has spread from the breast to another part of the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs or brain. Those with MBC are facing a very different disease than women with early-stage breast cancer, and most will be on treatment for the rest of their lives.
Metastatic Breast Cancer Facts:
- There are currently 155,000 people in the United States living with MBC
- Unlike early-stage breast cancer, there is currently no cure for MBC
- 41,000 women die of MBC each year
- Some people with MBC will live for 10+ years battling the disease and receiving medicines for the remainder of their lives
The little things matter: 81% of women living with MBC say just spending time with family and friends is what helps them live day-to-day.
“Faces of MBC” Videos
Genentech has partnered with Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Metastatic Breast Cancer Network, and MetaVivor to recognize the 155,000 people in the U.S. living with metastatic breast cancer to create videos featuring real women living with MBC and their family and friends.
Watch their Faces of Metastatic Breast Cancer videos to hear stories of real women who are fighting MBC, and how much the support of family and friends means in their day-to-day journey with MBC. More videos are being added about strong, inspiring women with metastatic breast cancer.
Not only will your heart be touched, but for each video view $1 will be donated to MBC initiatives (up to $20,000).
Connect with Faces of MBC:
- www.facesofmbc.org
- @facesofmbc on Twitter
Written by 5 Minutes for Mom managing editor, Lolli. You can find me blogging at Better in Bulk and tweeting at @1momof5.
This post is part of a sponsored campaign with Face of MBC. All opinions are our own.
Theresa says
I find it very ironic that your topic today is metastatic breast cancer. Tonight I am attending the wake for the mother of a very good friend of mine. She was diagnosed with breast cancer 17 years ago at the age of 40. Over the course of time it spread to her bone, more specifically her hip. They were able to keep it contained there with treatment for years until last November they found it had spread to her liver and stomach. Sadly she passed away on Saturday at 57 years old. This woman was a fighter and a champion. She put up with more pain than anyone should ever have to have in a lifetime. But what made her so amazing that the cancer may have taken over her body but she never allowed it to take away who she was a person. She was still al loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend to all she knew. She was truly an inspiration to everyone that knew her. Thank you for this post today. It means a lot.
Kevin says
Dear Friends:
My name is Kevin Gianotto and on behalf of Living Beyond Breast Cancer (where I serve as the Marketing & Public Relations Manager) thank you for posting this important information recognizing the 150,000+ women currently living with advanced breast cancer disease in the United States.
If you or someone you know is navigating life beyond a metastatic diagnosis, LBBC has reosurces, tools and support services that can help, provided for little or no cost.
Metastatic Breast Cancer Series: Treatment Options for Today and Tomorrow
http://www.lbbc.org/Understanding-Breast-Cancer/Guides-to-Understanding-Breast-Cancer/Metastatic-Breast-Cancer-Series-Treatment-Options-for-Today-and-Tomorrow
Metastatic Breast Cancer Series: Managing Stress and Anxiety
http://www.lbbc.org/Understanding-Breast-Cancer/Guides-to-Understanding-Breast-Cancer/Metastatic-Breast-Cancer-Series-Managing-Stress-and-Anxiety
Metastatic Breast Cancer Series: Understanding Palliative Care
http://www.lbbc.org/Understanding-Breast-Cancer/Guides-to-Understanding-Breast-Cancer/Metastatic-Breast-Cancer-Series-Understanding-Palliative-Care
Understanding Symptoms and Treatment Side Effects of Advanced Breast Cancer
http://www.lbbc.org/Understanding-Breast-Cancer/Guides-to-Understanding-Breast-Cancer/%28offset%29/10
Toll-Free Survivors’ Helpline
http://www.lbbc.org/Audiences/Newly-Diagnosed/Survivors-Helpline/%28language%29/eng-US
Please call LBBC at 610-645-4567 for additional information.
Jean says
What a great cause. Cancer is ravaging so many people these days. It’s scary to consider how many people you know have it or have had it. God bless them!