This is such a powerful explanation on how we should understand Metastic Breast Cancer Day. We need to transcend sentiment and take some sort of action that is both personal and political. Raise your voice and tell a person’s story who deserves remembering. This is also a way to raise awareness about metastatic breast cancer and to urge whoever hears your voice to support mets research and education. We’re here as a platform for you to share your stories, ideas and information – and at the bottom of the post, you will find our email addresses and FB page link.
WHO WILL YOU REMEMBER ON OCT.13?
“As Elaine Schattner reported in October, 2009, the U.S. Senate and House voted to support the designation of October 13 as Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. The point of those proclamations was to draw attention to the needs of the metastatic breast cancer community.
‘We want people to know we exist, that we’re still alive, says Ellen Moskowitz, president of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network. ‘The day is not about general cancer awareness; it’s about acknowledging the distinct needs of people who have the advanced, incurable form of breast cancer.’
Many people don’t grasp that metastatic breast cancer is not a rare ‘kind’ of breast cancer. When someone dies of breast cancer, that’s metastatic breast cancer. It might have been triple negative breast cancer, triple positive breast cancer, inflammatory breast cancer, hormone receptive breast cancer (ER/PR+) or some variation. In all cases, regardless of pathology, if the person had metastatic breast cancer, it means the cancer spread outside the breast to the bones, liver, lungs or brain.
Metastatic breast cancer claims 45,000 lives annually in the U.S*. As one of 155,000 U.S. people living with MBC, I have a vested interest in educating people about this incurable disease and urging them to support research that helps people with advanced breast cancer live longer.”
As we approach October the 13th, we will be sharing stories of people who died from MBC. We invite you to do the same. Email us at lynne@hippocommunications.com or lisa@onedropofink.co.za — or, join our ABC community on Facebook.
*Statistics for South Africa are incomplete – but we will be writing about our insufficient and outdated data about breast cancer and mets.
ABC - Advocates For Breast Cancer: South Africa 
I am so blessed and fortunate 8 years ago diagnosed with breast cancer and 20 Dec 2013 diagnosed with mets in my spine, hips, ribs, skull. My medical aid has supported me wonderfully for all the scans, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hospital stay and medication required. GIven the good news today that my cancer count has halved in the past two months. My heart goes out to those who are not able to receive the same level of treatment.
WOW! That is amazing, Elsabe! And — thank you for sharing your news and heart with us. Would you be ok with us using your kind words of concern on our Facebook page? (If you haven’t already Liked our page, we would LOVE to connect with you there as well: https://www.facebook.com/AdvocatesForBreastCancer )
Elsabe is a wonderful example of a Reach for Recovery volunteer who lives life to the full and is there to support other women going through Mets.We all admire you!!