Living With
Metastatic Breast Cancer
Resources & Support
So You Can Keep Living Life!
Created in partnership with Abigail Johnston,
Alyson Tischler & the Grieving Together Project
Living With Metastatic Breast Cancer
Living with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) requires unique, tailored approaches that often differ from those diagnosed at an earlier stage breast cancer. Survivingbreastcancer.org is committed to addressing the gaps between early and advance stage breast cancer to improve education, support, and resources for our MBC community.
Metastatic Breast Cancer Terms and Definitions
Metastatic breast cancer is also referred to as Stage IV, or advanced (stage) breast cancer. It is when the cancer cells have spread through the lymphatic system or blood stream to other parts of the body such as the bones, brains, lungs, or liver.
De Novo is a term that refers to a metastatic diagnosis at the time of initial diagnosis and staging. A de novo metastatic breast cancer diagnosis accounts for approximately 6-10% of breast cancer diagnoses.
Distant Recurrence is a term that is used when the cancer has returned after an initial diagnosis and treatment and has spread beyond the breast to other parts of the body. The average time from diagnosis to distant recurrence is approximately 5 years, though it can vary widely.
Living Well With Metastatic Breast Cancer
Women (and men) diagnosed with MBC have unique needs and concerns and it is important to acknowledge the emotional, mental, and physical aspects associated with such diagnoses.
Living well is more than looking after the physical self. It entails taking care of the emotional self, time management as priorities may shift, balancing quality of life with treatments and finding support and information when you need it. This Resource Guide will continually be updated with information and we're always happy to hear your feedback on what may serve you best!
MBC Sunday Series
Every other Sunday we host free webinars for our MBC community where we invite guest speakers and panelists to address the most pressing questions. Topics range from grief support, speaking to your family about your diagnosis and telling your children, to advances in treatments, legal estate planning and more.
Attend Events & Webinars
Community
Connecting with others who have similar experiences helps us share our stories and heal. There are a variety of ways to meet those who are living with MBC through our virtual and online communities.
Online Support
MBC Grieving Together
This group was created to provide a safe and confidential space for those of us in the MBC Community to honor those we’ve lost and grieve together. Grief is not a linear process. The disenfranchised grief we often feel when someone passes who we’ve only known online is very real, yet many in our lives don’t understand. The members of this group do.
Read Their Stories
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Grab & Go Information
Estate Planning for the Terminally Ill (and anyone else)
Handout with key information, terms & definitions. Plus a two part Podcast episode:
Part I. Access and Authority - preparing documents prior to passing
Part II. Avoiding Probate -ensuring documents are in order after your passing.
Featuring:
Anna Spencer ESQ. from Spencer Law
Moderated by Abigail Johnston, Esq. and founder of Connect IV Legal Services and No Half Measures Blog, living with MBC
Anticipatory Greif: A Toolkit and Podcast
Tips and Tricks for Handling Anticipatory Grief
From those who are doing it NOW. Plus two podcast episodes:
Part I. How to speak to your children about cancer
Part II. Questions children have about cancer
Featuring:
Amanda Raffenaud, a widow with 2 sons (one is in college and one in high school) living with MBC;
Ann Camden, a married mother of teenage girls (twins!) living with MBC;
Ginny Mason, a grandmother living with Inflammatory Breast Cancer and head of the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Network;
Moderated by Abigail Johnston, Esq. and founder of Connect IV Legal Services and No Half Measures Blog, living with MBC
Watch The Series
CONTACT US
if you would like to share your story or
be a guest speaker at an upcoming event/podcast.