If you can get past the pumpkin spice shroud of September (yuck!), you will most definitely fall right into the pink-washing of Pinktober….all in the name of breast cancer awareness. Don’t get me wrong – there are lots of great people and companies raising awareness for breast cancer and research, but there are some that simply slap a color on their products to get your attention and make you buy it (thinking you are helping something other than their bottom line)….No judgement here about choices, just do your research to make sure the company you are supporting is supporting what is important to you.
So much amazing work has been done to increase awareness of early detection and treatment of early-stage disease, and there is still much work to be done. Especially for those still living with metastatic disease….their voices deserve to be heard.
Here’s the deal…no one dies from breast cancer that stays in the breast. Metastasis (breast cancer spreading to vital organs) is the danger – and several years ago, the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance did a study that found that of all research grants, funded by major public and private sources from 2006-2013, only 7% of funds studied metastatic breast cancer, even though metastasis is what causes breast cancer to become a deadly disease. (quoted from mbcn.org)
So, now we have Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Awareness Day on October 13th!
Here are 13 facts to educate yourself (and everyone you know, please!!) about MBC
- No one dies from breast cancer that remains in the breast. Metastasis occurs when cancerous cells travel to a vital organ and that is what threatens life.
- Metastasis refers to the spread of cancer to different parts of the body, typically the bones, liver, lungs and brain.
- An estimated 155,000 Americans are currently living with metastatic breast cancer.(also called Stage IV breast cancer) Metastatic breast cancer accounts for approximately 40,000 deaths annually in the U.S.
- Treatment for metastatic breast cancer is lifelong and focuses on control of the disease and quality of life.
- About 6% of people are Stage IV from their initial diagnosis.
- Early detection does not guarantee a cure. Metastatic breast cancer can occur 5, 10 or 15 years after a person’s original diagnosis and successful treatment checkups and annual mammograms.
- 20% to 30% of people initially diagnosed with early stage disease will develop metastatic breast cancer.
- Young people, as well as men, can be diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.
- Like early stage breast cancer, there are different types of metastatic breast cancer.
- Treatment choices are guided by breast cancer type, location and extent of metastasis in the body, previous treatments and other factors.
- Metastatic breast cancer is not an automatic death sentence. Although most people will ultimately die of their disease, some will live for many years.
- There are no definitive prognostic statistics for metastatic breast cancer. Every patient and their disease is unique.
- To learn more about National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day on October 13 and to access resources specifically for people living with metastatic breast cancer and their caregivers, visit www.mbcn.org.
All information above was found at www.mbcn.org.
Find more information there – especially at http://mbcn.org/mbc-alliance/
Or at The Silver Pen – http://www.thesilverpen.com/breast-cancer-information-facts/breast-cancer-awareness/metastatic-breast-cancer-awareness-day-2/
SHARE A FACT – HELP RAISE AWARENESS AND FUNDING!! https://www.keepmeinthepicture.org/get-the-facts/
For those that don’t know, my incredible big sister is fighting MBC right now, so share a fact for her, and all those that have gone before her in this fight, and let’s help make a real difference!
Make it a GREAT Day!
It’s CFRS – Positively!