Balancing Hope and Preparation...
Since the mid-80s, October has been the time that Breast Cancer Awareness has been highlighted in the US and other countries. The pink ribbon came along in the mid-90s and is now an international, wordless message reminding us of breast health. There is no question this movement has been good for millions of women and men (men get breast cancer, too) worldwide.
Because “and” is the conjunction of choice, let’s add to our recognition of the pink ribbon and delve just a bit deeper. Thirty percent of people diagnosed with breast cancer contract Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC). So that means 3 of every 10 breast cancer patients who have been declared cancer-free will subsequently be diagnosed with metastases. Stage IV MBC is a terminal diagnosis with a median prognostic life span of three years.
Those years are very similar to the nearly two years Bob and I had after his diagnosis, which was a Stage IV, metastatic cancer, just not originating in the breast. That is, Stage IV MBC patients and their families experience the initial devastation that comes with the diagnosis. Their lives are completely dominated by treatments, medications, side effects, financial implications, and psycho-social issues. Stage IV MBC patients suffer “scanxiety” before each imaging study. Like Bob and I, they try to balance Hope and Preparation. They make the most of their Precious Time. Many Stage IV MBC patients are young women (some with small children), so they make every attempt to get a full life into the illness-laden, abbreviated time they have.
Because of my work engaging with people impacted by terminal diagnoses, I have had the great honor of getting to know many, many people adversely affected by Stage IV MBC, from the patients themselves to their family caregivers and even their children. Stage IV MBC patients will not be cancer “survivors,” yet are making every effort to live fully. Thus, they refer to themselves as “Metavivors.”
Metavivors are represented by this ribbon.
As you can see, it includes the iconic pink representing the breast, adding teal to denote the metastases, and finally, a green ribbon to celebrate life or living fully with this diagnosis.
Every 15 seconds, someone in the US dies of Stage IV MBC, that’s 115 each day
Only 2-5% of breast cancer research funds go to Stage IV MBC
Many physicians and scientists who study Stage IV MBC hypothesize that it will one day be a chronic condition rather than a terminal diagnosis!
So, redirecting the money, you might spend this month on pink stuff to Stage IV MBC Research could make a HUGE difference in the field very soon. Let’s do this. I made a donation to METAvivor.org because I know it can make a difference and 100% of the money goes to MBC support and research. Please join me, just click the button and give what you can.