For those living with metastatic breast cancer (mBC), seemingly ordinary moments matter more – they become extraordinary. This video celebrates one of them.
In 2017, an estimated 26,300 Canadian women would be diagnosed with breast cancer.1 Of those women, about 10% will have an initial diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer (mBC) and 30% who are first diagnosed with early stage breast cancer will go on to develop mBC.2
For women living with mBC, also known as advanced or Stage IV breast cancer, the cancer has spread beyond the breast to other areas of the body, such as the lungs, liver, bones or brain.2 It may happen before or after treatment, or it may develop from reoccurring breast cancer.3 Although there have been advancements in early detection and treatment, there is still no cure.4
The 5-year relative survival of women diagnosed with mBC is 22%.4,5 However, a small but meaningful number of women may live many years after an initial diagnosis of mBC.6
For those living with mBC, each moment is special, no matter how common it may seem. Living in the now is more than a mantra – it’s essential. Here is a collection of extraordinary moments from the women who live them and family members who provide much needed support.
Being diagnosed with mBC is without a doubt a difficult experience. Women who have just been diagnosed, their family members and caregivers are processing a lot of information and dealing with many emotions. They may feel numb, overwhelmed, frightened, in turmoil and find it hard to think clearly. Important questions about disease progression, genetic testing, treatment options and next steps may not all come to mind in the first moments of the diagnosis. However, these first moments in the journey with mBC represent a critical point where information and support gaps need to be addressed.
This checklist has been developed to empower newly diagnosed women, their family members and caregivers along their journey and help them get the most out of the first moments with mBC.
Those living with and personally affected by mBC have very different needs from those with early stage breast cancer. There are many resources and support programs available to help provide psychosocial support, a specialty in cancer care focused on understanding and treating the social, psychological, emotional, spiritual, quality of life and functional aspects of cancer.7 This whole-person approach to cancer care addresses a range of very human needs that can improve quality of life for people affected by cancer,7 including those with mBC.
When women living with mBC as well as their caregivers and families receive psychosocial support, they can experience their own extraordinary moments.
The resources listed below are meant to help address some of the everyday issues facing women living with mBC and those caregivers and families who support them.
Canadian Cancer Society. Breast Cancer Statistics. Available at: http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/breast/statistics/?region=bc. Accessed on November 23, 2017.
Canadian Cancer Society. Metastatic Breast Cancer. Available at: http://cbcf.org/central/AboutBreastCancerMain/MetastaticBreastCancer/Pages/Metastatic-Breast-Cancer.aspx. Accessed on November 23, 2017.
Canadian Breast Cancer Network. What is Metastatic Breast Cancer? Available at: https://www.cbcn.ca/en/what_is_mbc. Accessed on November 23, 2017.
Canadian Breast Cancer Network and Rethink Breast Cancer. Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer in Canada. Available at: https://www.cbcn.ca/web/default/files/public/Reports/Metastatic%20Breast%20Cancer%20In%20Canada%20Report%20June%202013%20-%20English.pdf. Accessed on November 23, 2017.
Canadian Cancer Society. Survival Statistics for Breast Cancer. Available at: http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/breast/prognosis-and-survival/survival-statistics/?region=bc. Accessed on November 23, 2017.
Mariotto A et al. Estimation of the Number of Women Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer in the United States. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 2017;26:809-15.
Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology. What is Psychosocial Oncology? Available at: https://www.capo.ca/patient-family-resources/what-is-psychosocial-oncology/. Accessed on November 23, 2017.
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