A daily pill has helped transform outcomes for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, but navigating its side effects takes real-world know-how. Debbie Ciak's story shows why listening to your body and speaking up can make all the difference. SurvivingBreastCancer.org  |  Breast Cancer Conversations | By Laura Carfang Debbie Ciak, 75, lives outside Pittsburgh. She was diagnosed in early 2023 with stage 2B ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer after noticing an indentation in her breast one morning after a shower. Debbie's Ki-67 score was 57%, indicating an unusually fast-growing tumor. She underwent a single mastectomy and radiation. When her oncologist strongly recommended Verzenio to reduce her high risk of recurrence, Debbie didn’t hesitate. It was her second month on Verzenio when Debbie first noticed something was off. She’s a walker, and she began noticing that climbing hills was harder than it used to be. Then came the stairs. “I started to notice going up steps... just a little bit of shortness of breath,” she recalls. She reported it at her next appointment. Nothing was done. What followed was a months-long medical odyssey that would take Debbie through an ER visit on the day before Thanksgiving, three different pulmonologists, a bronchoscopy with ten biopsies, and a diagnosis of drug-induced pneumonitis (permanent lung scarring) that her pulmonologist now describes as feeling like “a straight jacket” around her lung. She will never be able to take a fully deep breath again. Debbie tells her story not to frighten anyone, but because she believes deeply that if she had known what to watch for, things might have gone differently. “You’ve got to listen to your body,” she says. “When something’s telling you it’s not right, don’t just let it go. You’ve got to pursue it until you get some answers.” Extra protection from Verzenio Verzenio (abemaciclib) belongs to a class of drugs called CDK4/6 inhibitors. By blocking proteins that cancer cells depend on to divide and replicate, these therapies can meaningfully slow or stop tumor growth in ways that hormone therapy alone cannot. For patients with HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer at high risk of recurrence, like Debbie, whose Ki-67 score came back at 57%, signaling an exceptionally fast-growing tumor, Verzenio can represent a crucial extra layer of protection. As Debbie understood it, Verzenio was her best extra line of defense against recurrence. The drug carries known side effect risks, but she was “ willing to take that risk,” she says. “I want to continue to live my long, full life.” But she also walked into treatment without a full picture of what the drug could do, and she believes that gap cost her. For many patients, Verzenio is a pill taken every day for years. What it does to the body day-to-day matters enormously. The side effect everyone talks about — and how bad it can actually get Ask anyone on Verzenio about side effects and the conversation starts in the same place: diarrhea. Debbie is no exception. “The diarrhea was terrible — three or four times a day, no warning. I literally almost could not leave my house.” She became severely dehydrated, her kidney function became elevated, and her hemoglobin dropped. She needed five hospital infusions for dehydration in the first month alone. All the while, her weekly check-in calls from the nurse practitioner came back marked “normal, normal, normal.” GI symptoms are real and, for some patients, genuinely disabling in the early weeks. There are strategies that help (careful hydration, anti-diarrheal medications started proactively, smaller meals, easy-to-digest foods) and for many patients, symptoms do ease as the body adjusts. But Debbie’s experience is also a reminder that “common” doesn’t mean “minor,” and that patients shouldn’t have to white-knuckle through symptoms alone. Practical strategies to manage GI side effects Ask your oncology team about anti-diarrheal medications before symptoms start Stay well hydrated throughout the day; consider using electrolyte drinks Eat smaller, more frequent meals rather than large ones Focus on low-fiber, easy-to-digest foods during flare-ups Track symptoms carefully: timing, frequency, and triggers to help your team respond faster One note worth flagging: Debbie had been prescribed Verzenio at the highest starting dose of 150mg. She had questioned this at the time, but was told the logic was that if problems arose, the dose could be reduced. Since then, she says, protocols have shifted — many providers now start patients at lower doses and titrate up. If you’re starting Verzenio, it’s worth asking your oncologist about current dosing approach and what flexibility exists. The side effect that changed everything: ILD Among Verzenio’s less common but more serious potential side effects is interstitial lung disease (ILD), also called pneumonitis. In plain language, this is inflammation in the lung tissue that can reduce its flexibility and make breathing feel more labored. The FDA issued a warning about this risk in 2019. It appears in the drug’s prescribing information. It is mentioned, in small print, at the bottom of Verzenio advertisements. Debbie had sat through a mandatory hour-and-a-half session with a pharmacist and nurse practitioner before starting the drug. She does not remember anyone discussing shortness of breath as a serious warning sign. When she arrived at the ER with respiratory symptoms two months into treatment — at the same hospital system where her oncologist practiced, with access to her full medication record — the clinical team checked for a pulmonary embolism, ruled it out, and sent her home with an antibiotic. Nobody called a pulmonologist. Nobody flagged the drug she was taking. “I think there was a total unawareness of the possibility of what the drug I was taking might have been doing to my lungs.” — Debbie Ciak It was Debbie herself who, over that Thanksgiving weekend, searched “FDA alert Verzenio” and found the 2019 warning. When she called her oncologist Monday morning and shared what she’d found, she remembers “total silence on the other end of the phone.” Her oncologist told her not to take the drug again. By the time Debbie reached the third pulmonologist — the first two either didn’t know about CDK4/6 inhibitor-related pneumonitis or treated it generically — the damage was done. Steroids that might have helped were too late. She now has pulmonary fibrosis and has completed 12 weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation. She has undergone regular pulmonary function tests ever since. “Now it's in my chart,” she says. “Nobody will ever prescribe anything like that to me.” Tell your care team right away if you notice new or gradually worsening shortness of breath, especially with activity that felt easy before; a dry cough that’s new or persistent; chest tightness or a sensation of not being able to take a full breath; noticeably reduced stamina on walks, stairs, or daily tasks. These symptoms have many possible causes, but they require prompt evaluation, not a wait-and-see approach. What Debbie wishes the system had done differently Debbie is measured and thoughtful when she talks about this. She isn’t angry. But she is clear about the gaps she experienced: a care system where specialists operated in silos, where an ER team looked for the one thing they were asked to rule out and stopped there, where a known FDA-listed drug side effect wasn’t on anyone's radar in the room. “Everybody’s in their own little silo and only looking at one thing,” she says. “The nurses at a different hospital would have been more on top of what was going on. It’s a big lack of education piece.” She later participated in a medical webinar on ILD and CDK4/6 inhibitors, as the patient voice alongside an ER physician, a radiologist, and a medical oncologist. All three agreed: this is a significant and underrecognized issue, and clinicians need better awareness of what to look for when imaging a patient on these drugs. Movement as medicine: Debbie’s path forward Here’s the part of Debbie’s story that matters just as much as the warning: she didn’t stop living. Despite permanent lung limitations, she walks. She practices restorative yoga. She does Pilates. She is enrolled in a cancer and exercise research study through Colorado State University. She credits the SurvivingBreastCancer.org virtual exercise program and a local Pittsburgh organization called Cancer Bridges with being central to her recovery. “Exercise has been very important to me in my recovery — which is the one big positive change since having cancer, because I was not an exerciser before,” she shares. Her pulmonologist put it bluntly: “You can’t be sedentary. It would only make it worse. You have to keep active.” She schedules her classes the way she schedules medical appointments, because that’s what it takes. “I’m one that’s had to put it on the calendar.” For anyone who struggles with motivation during treatment, that framing alone is worth something. Questions for your next appointment Ask your oncologist before or during Verzenio treatment What starting dose is recommended for me, and what’s the reasoning? What respiratory symptoms should I watch for, and how urgently should I report them? If I go to an urgent care or ER, what should I tell them I’m taking? Are there supportive medications I should have on hand from day one? What is my bloodwork monitoring schedule, and what are you watching for? Should I be tracking symptoms between visits? How detailed should those notes be? The bottom line Verzenio is an important drug. For patients at high risk of recurrence, it may be the difference that matters. Debbie knew that going in — and still believes she made the right choice in trying it, even knowing how it ended for her. What she wants other patients to have is what she didn’t: a full picture, a care team that communicates across specialties, and the confidence to keep pushing when something feels wrong. “Keep asking those questions,” she says, “and don’t stop until you get the answers.“ Survivorship is not passive recovery. It is active navigation. Debbie Ciak is proof of that. Listen to the full episode: Debbie Ciak tells her complete story — including her diagnosis, treatment, the Thanksgiving ER visit, and what she’s learned about advocacy — on Breast Cancer Conversations , the SurvivingBreastCancer.org podcast. Listen below, or wherever you listen to podcasts. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult your oncology team regarding treatment decisions and symptom management.

# Navigating the Waiting Game: Coping with Cancer Test Results By Laura Carfang Waiting for medical test results can feel like living in suspended animation. Time stretches endlessly. Thoughts spiral out of control. You check your phone more often than you realize. You refresh the patient portal, even though you know nothing has changed. Your body remains tense, as if something significant is about to happen. For many impacted by cancer, the waiting can be just as distressing as the diagnosis itself. And sometimes, something unexpected occurs. You prepare yourself for the worst. Let’s talk about why. Preparing for the Worst as a Coping Strategy There’s a psychological concept called defensive pessimism . It describes what happens when someone anticipates a high-stakes outcome—like cancer test results—and mentally assumes the worst on purpose . This isn’t because people want bad news. It’s because certainty, even painful certainty, can feel safer than hope. By imagining the worst-case scenario, the mind tries to: Reduce the shock if bad news arrives. Regain a sense of control. Emotionally “pre-grieve” what might come. For those diagnosed with cancer, waiting on test results and frantically refreshing the screen of your medical portal, this strategy is incredibly common. The challenge? When the results are good, your mind has already rehearsed catastrophe—and relief doesn’t land. When Your Body Thinks Waiting = Danger If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, your brain has learned something powerful: Waiting for results once changed everything. That memory doesn’t just live in our thoughts; it resides in our nervous system. Psychologists call this anticipatory anxiety or medical PTSD . It means your stress response activates before danger is confirmed. When this happens: Your body stays in fight-or-flight mode. You scan for threats, even after reassurance. Good news feels unreal, fragile, or temporary. You might think: “They must have missed something.” “This can’t be right.” “I’ll believe it when more time passes.” This isn’t disbelief; it’s your brain prioritizing safety over celebration. The Whiplash of Good News There’s also something called cognitive dissonance at play. If you’ve spent days or weeks organizing your life around the assumption that something is seriously wrong, your mind has already adapted. Then suddenly, you’re told: “Everything looks okay.” Your brain needs time to undo what it prepared for. Disbelief is often not denial—it’s lag time between threat and safety. Hypervigilance Is Not Pessimism — It’s Protection Many people feel guilty for not feeling relieved right away. They wonder: “Why can’t I just be happy?” “What’s wrong with me?” “Other people would be grateful—why am I still scared?” Here’s the truth: Hypervigilance is a form of self-protection. Believing good news can feel like lowering your guard—and after a cancer diagnosis, that can feel dangerous. Your mind may be saying: “If I don’t fully trust this, I won’t be crushed if it changes.” How Relief Actually Arrives (Hint: It’s Not All at Once) For many cancer survivors, relief doesn’t come as a wave of joy. It arrives quietly: Sleeping a little better. Taking a deeper breath without realizing it. Thinking about the future for a few seconds longer. Relief often comes in increments, not declarations. You don’t have to force yourself to believe good news fully. You can let it be true for today. Here is a mantra to stay grounded in the present moment: “The results are good right now, and that’s enough.” If you’re struggling to trust good medical news: You are not broken. You are not pessimistic. You are not doing survivorship “wrong.” Your body remembers how real the danger once was. And it is slowly—at its own pace—learning that this moment is different. You don’t have to rush relief. You don’t have to perform gratitude. You don’t have to explain yourself. If this resonates with you, please know: you are not alone in this experience. At SurvivingBreastCancer.org , we believe survivorship includes the emotional aftermath of waiting, fear, and uncertainty. Healing isn’t just about test results; it’s about giving yourself permission to feel exactly where you are. The Importance of Community Support Navigating the emotional landscape of waiting for test results can be overwhelming. It's essential to connect with others who understand your journey. Sharing experiences can lighten the load. Whether through support groups, online forums, or one-on-one conversations, community support can provide comfort and reassurance. Finding Your Tribe Consider reaching out to local organizations or online platforms dedicated to breast cancer support. These communities often host events, workshops, and discussions that can help you feel less isolated. Engaging with others can foster a sense of belonging and understanding. Sharing Your Story If you feel comfortable, share your story. Writing about your experiences can be therapeutic. It allows you to process your feelings and connect with others who may be going through similar challenges. You can submit your story, poetry, or art at SurvivingBreastCancer.org . Self-Care Strategies During the Wait While waiting for results, it's crucial to prioritize self-care. Here are some strategies to help you cope: Practice Mindfulness: Engage in mindfulness exercises. Focus on your breath and the present moment. This can help reduce anxiety and promote relaxation. Stay Active: Physical activity can boost your mood. Even a short walk can help clear your mind and reduce stress. Limit Information Overload: While it’s tempting to research every detail, too much information can increase anxiety. Set boundaries on how much you consume. Connect with Loved Ones: Reach out to friends or family members. Talking about your feelings can provide relief and support. Conclusion: Embracing the Journey The journey through cancer and its uncertainties is deeply personal. Each person's experience is unique. Embrace your feelings, whatever they may be. Allow yourself to feel the weight of waiting, the fear of the unknown, and the hope for good news. Remember, you are not alone. Many have walked this path and emerged stronger. At SurvivingBreastCancer.org , we’re here to support you every step of the way. Read More: Permission to Feel: 10 Tips for Navigating Cancer and Treatments with Honesty and Humor No Pink Here: What October Really Feels Like for Breast Cancer Survivors The Transformative Power of Art Therapy in Cancer Survivorship On the Podcast: Breast Cancer Conversations Understanding and Coping with Medical PTSD in Cancer Care with Emily Parks Share your story, poetry, or art: https://www.survivingbreastcancer.org/submit-breast-cancer-story SurvivingBreastCancer.org Podcast Weekly Meetup Free Events

A breast cancer diagnosis at 28, 33, or 40 doesn’t just shock you — it reshapes everything. You expect career momentum or family milestones, not medical appointments. The fear is real, and it’s understandable. But fear without facts helps no one. Let’s examine what researchers are discovering about breast cancer in young adults, explain why it matters, and explore where the latest science is leading us. Spoiler: The outlook is more hopeful than the headlines suggest. Why Breast Cancer in Young Adults Looks Different Breast cancer affects people of all ages, but in younger adults, it often behaves differently. About 10% of all new breast cancer cases in the US occur in women under 45, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Incidence in this group rose 1.1% per year between 2012 and 2022, according to Harvard Medical School data . Younger-onset breast cancer also tends to include more aggressive subtypes. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) occurs more often in younger people. Because it lacks estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors , treatment options were once limited, though newer therapies are expanding care. HER2-positive breast cancer also shows up more frequently in younger patients. While aggressive, targeted HER2 treatments have transformed outcomes over the past two decades. Dense breast tissue adds another challenge. Most people under 40 have dense breasts, which can make tumors harder to detect on standard mammograms. Researchers continue to develop improved screening tools to close that gap. The Good News: Progress Is Accelerating Here’s the part that deserves more attention: outcomes for younger people with breast cancer keep improving. Even as diagnoses rise, mortality continues to fall. Research presented at the American Association for Cancer Research shows that incidence-based mortality for women ages 20 to 49 declined between 2010 and 2020 across every major subtype. That’s meaningful progress across the board. Survival gains tell an even stronger story. A 2025 analysis in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians reports that the five-year relative survival rate has climbed from 50% in the mid-1970s to 70% today. According to the American Cancer Society , when doctors detect breast cancer at a localized stage, survival now exceeds 99%. More than 4 million breast cancer survivors are living in the United States — and that number continues to grow. What’s fueling this momentum? Smarter science, earlier detection, and a treatment pipeline that keeps expanding. HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Antibody-drug conjugates have transformed care for HER2-positive breast cancer. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) reports that trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) outperforms standard chemotherapy. Regulators have approved it for some metastatic cases, even in patients with low HER2 expression. At the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2025 Annual Meeting (ASCO 2025), the DESTINY-Breast09 trial showed that combining trastuzumab deruxtecan with pertuzumab extended progression-free survival by 13.8 months over standard first-line therapy. Based on these results, the FDA approved in December 2025 the combination of trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu) and pertuzumab as a first treatment for people with metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer. Many experts now consider this combination a leading first-line option and expect it to replace the older CLEOPATRA regimen (taxane chemotherapy plus trastuzumab and pertuzumab) for many patients. Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Triple-negative breast cancer once depended largely on chemotherapy, but new targeted therapies are expanding options. The NCI reports that adding pembrolizumab (Keytruda) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves event-free survival in early-stage TNBC. At ASCO 2025, the ASCENT-04/KEYNOTE-D19 trial showed that sacituzumab govitecan plus pembrolizumab reduced the risk of progression or death by 35% in advanced PD-L1-positive TNBC. Hormone Receptor-Positive Disease CDK4/6 inhibitors palbociclib (Ibrance), ribociclib (Kisqali), and abemaciclib (Verzenio) are now a cornerstone of treatment for hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer. In late 2024, the FDA approved a three-drug combination for some people whose cancer has a PIK3CA mutation and has stopped responding to hormone therapy. In the INAVO120 trial, the combination of inavolisib (Itovebi) plus palbociclib and fulvestrant (Faslodex) helped people live longer before their cancer grew again compared with palbociclib and fulvestrant alone, roughly doubling the time before the cancer worsened. In 2025, the FDA also approved datopotamab deruxtecan for the treatment of ER-positive metastatic disease following strong trial results. For younger, premenopausal women with early-stage hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, we now have long-term evidence that “shutting down” the ovaries and using a strong hormone-blocking pill can make a real difference. Data from the SOFT and TEXT studies show that adding ovarian suppression and an aromatase inhibitor (such as exemestane) lowers the chance of the cancer coming back and can improve long-term survival, especially for women who are younger than 35 or have higher-risk tumors. The Unique Challenges Young Patients Face — and the Support That Exists A breast cancer diagnosis at 30 carries different pressures than one at 65. Fertility decisions, career disruption, parenting, relationship strain, and financial stress often collide with treatment. Many young adults must weigh fertility preservation before chemotherapy, juggle work during infusions, and explain their diagnosis to children while trying to keep life steady. Savings may be limited, student loans may be ongoing, and disability coverage may be uncertain. Early adulthood brings unique challenges — but it also brings advancing research, coordinated care, and stronger support networks. No one should face it alone, and with SurvivingBreastCancer.org , no one has to. Count on Us for Information, Resources, and Support Aggressive breast cancer in young adults is a serious and growing challenge. Science makes that clear. It also shows real progress: survival rates have climbed, treatment options have expanded rapidly, and researchers continue to close screening and equity gaps. Fear alone doesn’t move outcomes forward. Informed action does. Stay informed. Advocate for yourself. Connect with others who understand. Thousands of researchers, oncologists, and advocates work every day to improve outcomes for young adults facing this diagnosis. Whether you’re newly diagnosed with breast cancer , navigating survivorship, or supporting someone you love, SurvivingBreastCancer.org offers virtual support groups and programs , as well as trusted educational resources on symptoms , testing, treatment options , surgery, and more, plus podcasts featuring professionals, advocates, and caregivers. Your support helps SurvivingBreastCancer.org continue providing knowledge, connection, and community to those impacted by breast cancer, every day, all year long. Read More: Addressing the Unique Challenges of Breast Cancer in People Under 40 Breast Cancer in Young Women: Common Questions Answered The Role of Hormones in Breast Cancer How to Improve Cancer Screening for People with Dense Breasts On the Podcast: Breast Cancer Conversations Breast Cancer in Younger Women: Navigating Survivorship, Surgery Choices, and Lymphedema with Dr. Kohli Share your story, poetry, or art: https://www.survivingbreastcancer.org/submit-breast-cancer-story SurvivingBreastCancer.org Podcast Weekly Meetup Free Events

Tell cancer to take a hike! Join SurvivingBreastCancer.org on October 25th and share your own walk to encourage donations for breast cancer support programs. Achieving Growth TELL CANCER TO #TAKE A HIKE Join Tell Cancer to Take a Hike on Oct 24, 2026. Support breast cancer awareness, community, and free programs. Register and get involved today! Register Now Meet our Presenting Sponsors! Join now Where Can I Hike? You can join Tell Cancer to Take a Hike on October 24th, 2026—anywhere in the world. Choose a path you love and get outdoors to support breast cancer awareness, fundraising, and community wellness. Whether you walk, run, hike, or stroll, your participation helps generate critical donations and funding for free breast cancer programs. SurvivingBreastCancer.org has volunteers in select locations who organize local meet-up points and group hikes. We continue to expand our list of cities and volunteer-led events, making it easier to join a community near you. Don’t see a location nearby? No problem—you can participate from your own neighborhood, park, or favorite trail. Start your own group, invite friends and family, and make an impact from wherever you are. Every step helps raise awareness and support those affected by breast cancer. Get Your School Involved Get Your Company Involved Become a Sponsor Bring your school community together for a meaningful cause! Students, teachers, and staff can walk, run, or hike to support breast cancer awareness while raising funds for free programs and services. It’s a great way to promote wellness, teamwork, and giving back. Start a school team, set a goal, and make an impact—every step counts. Engage your team in a meaningful way while making a real impact. Encourage your employees to walk, run, or hike together to support breast cancer awareness, funding, and community programs. Corporate participation helps generate vital donations that sustain free support services, education, and wellness initiatives. Start a company team, match employee donations, or organize a workplace challenge—every step helps drive funding for those affected by breast cancer. Partner with us as a sponsor and help expand access to life-changing breast cancer resources. Your sponsorship provides critical funding to sustain our 100% free programs, while also supporting opportunities for grants, education, and patient services. As a sponsor, your organization will gain meaningful visibility while demonstrating a strong commitment to community impact and healthcare support. Join us in driving awareness, increasing donations, and making a difference. Contact us to Learn More Contact us to Learn More View Sponsor Opportunities Donate $65 Donate $100 What's Inside the Box? Make A Donation: $65 Seeds of Hope When you make a donation of $65, you’ll receive a beautifully curated Seeds of Hope box with three packets of seeds representing hope, strength, and renewal. Your gift helps support SBC’s education, community, and integrative wellness programming, creating space for connection, healing, and growth. Make A Donation: $100 Plant it Forward When you donate $100 or more, you’ll receive your Seeds of Hope box along with a special gift from SBC. Your donation helps expand access to SBC’s programs and access to support and wraparound services. A Look Inside Inside your Seeds of Hope box, you’ll find a curated collection of flower seeds including wildflowers, sunflowers, and a seasonal bloom. Each flower is chosen to represent hope, strength, and renewal. Alongside your seeds, you’ll receive a planting guide and a message from SBC, a small, and meaningful way to honor our breast cancer community. Donate $65 Donate $100 What's Inside the Box? Make A Donation: $65 Seeds of Hope When you make a donation of $65, you’ll receive a beautifully curated Seeds of Hope box with three packets of seeds representing hope, strength, and renewal. Your gift helps support SBC’s education, community, and integrative wellness programming, creating space for connection, healing, and growth. Make A Donation: $100 Plant it Forward When you donate $100 or more, you’ll receive your Seeds of Hope box along with a special gift from SBC. Your donation helps expand access to SBC’s programs and access to support and wraparound services. A Look Inside Inside your Seeds of Hope box, you’ll find a curated collection of flower seeds including wildflowers, sunflowers, and a seasonal bloom. Each flower is chosen to represent hope, strength, and renewal. Alongside your seeds, you’ll receive a planting guide and a message from SBC, a small, and meaningful way to honor our breast cancer community. Get Your School Involved Contact Us to Learn More Meet our Companies National Grid PFM Madam Glam OncoCare.io Get Your Company Involved Contact Us to Learn More Become a Sponsor Let's Tell Cancer To Go #TakeAHike together! View sponsorship options The Story Behind the Hike When Laura was going through early-stage breast cancer treatment at the age of 34, her husband would bundle her up each day and they would go for a walk. Sometimes that walk would be a mile, some days, after all of the steroid injections, it would be 5 miles. On other days, it would be to the end of the block, to the stop sign, the next red light, or even just down the steps of their condo building to only turn back around and go inside. William (the husband) knew that movement was essential for the mental, emotional, and physical well-being of his wife. Telling Cancer To Go #TakeAHike is a celebration of life, of honoring those we have lost to this horrendous disease, and for moving our bodies in recognition of what we can do. At SurvivingBreastCancer.org (SBC) we are Stronger Together!

Free resources for your cancer paitents. SurvivingBreastCancer.org provides weekly support groups, art therapy classes, movement classes and so much more. Free Programs in English Download the Brochures From Art Therapy and Expressive Writing, to Yoga & Meditation SBC provides the complementary care your patients deserve. Free Programs offered in English & Spanish Download the Flyer From virtual meet-ups to art therapy and webinars, our programs provide proven emotional support to assist your patients undergoing breast cancer treatment Free Educational Webinars Download the Flyer Offered in both English & Spanish, SBC provides educatoinal content through our livestreaming webinar series. Breast Self-Exam Tips Monthly breast checks are critical to detecting changes. Learn how to perform a breast self-exam with our tips! Download now Classes, Webinars, LiveStreams, and More! Order Materials For Your Office Looking for bulk flyers and brochures to put in patient packets or distribute at upcoming health fairs? We have you covered. You can shop at our store and we kindly ask for a donation to help support the cost of printing and shipping. Order Now What Sets Us Apart Our Story Download Flyers for your Office, Clinics, and Patient Packets Empowering Resources for your patients! Refer a Patient Download Brochures Building Strong Connections Through Online Support Groups All Stages. All Subtypes Download Flyers Join Our Medical Professionals Mailing List First name* Last name* Email* Company name Address Submit Refer Your Patients Let us bring hope and joy to the patients you serve. Looking to have a patient join one of our free online support groups, have them attend a workshop, or request a care package before your patient starts chemo or has surgery? SurvivingBreastCancer.org is here for you! Submit the Patient Referral Form below and we'll take it from there! Learn More Join Join Our Medical Professionals Mailing List Thanks for subscribing!

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MEDIA RELEASE & CONTENT PERMISSION POLICY: Media Release and Content Permission At SurvivingBreastCancer.org, community members may choose to share stories, photos, written reflections, podcast interviews, webinar participation, and other content. This policy explains how that content may be used. Scope of this permission By submitting or sharing photos, videos, written content, stories, testimonials, comments, audio, artwork, recordings, or other materials with SurvivingBreastCancer.org (“SBC”), or by participating in any SBC podcast, webinar, livestream, interview, event, program, campaign, support initiative, or other media or recording opportunity, you agree to the terms of this Media Release and Content Permission. This policy applies to content you submit directly, as well as content created by SBC in connection with your participation. Permission to use your content and participation You give SBC permission to record, photograph, film, interview, edit, copy, reproduce, publish, display, distribute, transmit, and otherwise use your: name voice image likeness biographical information statements submitted materials participation SBC may use this material in whole or in part, alone or together with other materials, in any format or medium now known or later developed. Ownership and rights You understand and agree that any audio, video, photographs, recordings, written works, interviews, podcasts, webinars, testimonials, promotional materials, educational materials, edited versions, excerpts, derivative works, or other content created, captured, produced, or published by SBC in connection with your submission or participation will be owned by SBC. You also grant SBC the right to use, adapt, edit, modify, crop, combine, reproduce, publish, translate, and create derivative works from any materials you submit, in whole or in part, in SBC’s sole discretion. To the extent permitted by law, and to the extent you may hold any rights in content created by SBC from your participation or submission, you assign those rights to SBC. How SBC may use the content SBC may use your submitted content and any resulting content for any lawful purpose, including: educational and informational purposes editorial and storytelling purposes advocacy and awareness-building community engagement fundraising and development marketing, publicity, and promotion advertising, including paid advertising and sponsored promotions internal, archival, and historical purposes This includes use in: websites podcasts webinars livestreams videos social media newsletters email campaigns print materials annual reports donor communications grant applications sponsorship materials books speeches presentations media outreach and press materials No payment or further approval You understand and agree that: your participation is voluntary SBC may use the content without giving you additional notice SBC is not required to allow you to review or approve the final use you will not receive payment, royalties, residuals, or other compensation for the use of your submission, participation, or resulting content unless SBC agrees otherwise in writing Your promises about submitted content By submitting content to SBC, you confirm that: the content is yours, or you have all rights and permissions needed to share it SBC’s use of the content as described in this policy will not violate the rights of any third party the content does not infringe any copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, confidentiality, or other legal rights of another person or organization If your submission includes another person’s name, image, likeness, voice, story, or personal information, you confirm that you have that person’s permission to share it, or the permission of their parent or legal guardian if required. Public nature of shared content You understand that content shared with SBC, or created through your participation with SBC, may be made public and may remain in use for an unlimited period of time. This means the content may be: displayed publicly shared widely reused in future campaigns or materials distributed in multiple formats and channels viewed, shared, or reposted by others Release of claims To the fullest extent permitted by law, you release and discharge SBC and its officers, directors, employees, volunteers, contractors, representatives, licensees, successors, and assigns from any claims, demands, damages, liabilities, costs, or causes of action arising out of or related to SBC’s use of the content or your participation, including claims relating to: defamation invasion of privacy right of publicity copyright emotional distress This release does not apply where prohibited by law. Minors If the person participating, submitting content, or appearing in submitted content is under 18 years of age, consent must be provided by a parent or legal guardian. By agreeing on behalf of a minor, you confirm that you are the minor’s parent or legal guardian and that you are authorized to provide this consent. Acceptance of these terms By checking the consent box, submitting materials, participating in an SBC program or media opportunity, or otherwise providing content to SBC, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to this Media Release and Content Permission. Special note for parents and guardians If you are submitting content on behalf of a minor, or if a minor appears in any photo, video, audio, or written submission, please make sure you are authorized to give permission before submitting.