Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day is March 13th. For more information, visit: hopeandfriendship.org

Hope and Friendship Metastatic Breast Cancer Foundation

March 13, 2016 is Metastatic Breast Cancer Day.

Hope & Friendship Metastatic Breast Cancer Foundation is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit and a local resource offering FREE services to individuals and families affected by metastatic breast cancer.

13 Facts Everyone Should Know about Metastatic Breast Cancer

1. 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.

2. Metastasis refers to the spread of cancer to different parts of the body, typically the bones, liver, lungs and brain.

3. An estimated 155,000 Americans are currently living with metastatic breast cancer. Metastatic breast cancer accounts for approximately 40,000 deaths annually in the U.S.

4. Treatment for metastatic breast cancer is life long and focuses on control of the disease and quality of life.
5. About 6% to 10% of people are Stage IV from their initial diagnosis.

6. 20% to 30% of people initially diagnosed with early stage disease will develop metastatic breast cancer.

7. Early detection does not guarantee a cure. Metastatic breast cancer can occur 5, 10 or 15 years after a person's original diagnosis, even with successful treatment, checkups and annual mammograms.

8. Young people, as well as men, can be diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.

9. Like early stage breast cancer, there are different types of metastatic breast cancer.

10. Treatment choices are guided by breast cancer type, location and extent of metastasis in the body, previous treatments, and other factors.

11. Metastatic breast cancer is not an immediate death sentence. Although most people will ultimately die of their disease, some will live for many years.

12. The average life expectancy for patients diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer is
2-3 years. Every patient and their disease are unique.

13. To learn more about National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day on March 13 and to access resources specifically for people living with metastatic breast cancer and their caregivers, visit www.mbcn.org.

Hope & Friendship welcomes you to join our patient support group in Wilmington, MA. All of our programs are FREE. Since 2010, Hope & Friendship has offered a warm, caring and confidential support group for those with a diagnosis of Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer. Feel at home in our casual environment with music, candles and comforting cups of tea. You can share your story or simply listen to others – you are not alone! Our members enjoy retreats, workshops, symptom management reimbursement, and scholarships to national conferences.

Our meetings offer a variety of enriching activities and conversation topics. We practice relaxation techniques and share resources from the foundation’s growing library of books, DVDs and other media. We learn how to integrate exercise and healthier eating into our treatment and follow-up care, and we explore the role of spirituality in illness. Sometimes, there are guest leaders like art and music therapists, meditation guides and gentle yoga practitioners.

Overwhelmingly, our participants report that the experience provides:
• decreased feelings of anxiety, fear and isolation;
• better coping skills for managing a cancer diagnosis and its impact on daily life;
• improved relationships with family members and friends;
• increased knowledge about breast cancer, including the latest treatments, clinical trials and related side effects;
• new friendships and opportunities to relax, laugh, cry and play in a safe and supportive environment; and
• hope for the future.

Meetings are held every other Wednesday morning, 10-1130am in Wilmington, MA. The group is FREE, open to patients of all surrounding areas, and all are welcome regardless of age or gender. Check out hopeandfriendship.org to learn more, to join our support group, or to make a tax-deductible donation.