"Metastatic breast cancer, also known as mbc, stage IV or Advanced Breast Cancer, is cancer that has spread beyond the breast and lymph nodes under the arm. The most common sites of metastases are the bones, lungs, liver and brain.
No one dies from breast cancer that remains in the breast. The lump itself is not what kills. The spread of cancerous cells to a vital organ is what kills. This is called metastasis." (SOURCE)
Today has been designated as Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. Even the federal government has granted this one day in this pink month to this. I will honor this by making it my topic of the day.
In the film "Pink Ribbons, Inc.", there are interviews with a group of women from the Stage IV support group. One woman spoke of being unwelcome at regular breast cancer support groups. Stage IV is "the elephant in the room". Stage IV messes with people's hope, it's the party crasher, the buzzkill.
The other day someone commented on a post, "What is mets?" I would have had to ask the same question, before. BC. Now, of course, it's what we all fear. "Don't even think like that" our friends and family say, as if thinking about it will cause it to happen. Believe me, we all know the statistics and none of us wants to be in that number. I have to admit it's really hard for me to think about it, and to write about it now. So I'll use the words of others.
Some quotes from patients:
On Fear of your cancer returning and spreading:
On Fear of your cancer returning and spreading:
* "Living with the fear of breast cancer is having a whale move into your living room. One day, it just appears and is always in the way. Over time, the whale can get smaller, but it never quite goes away. Maybe, sometimes, it gets down to the size of a magazine rack and once in a while you bump into it. Sometimes, it swells up in your face again, like when you have a mammogram and they call you back for extra views."
On being Stage 4:
On being Stage 4:
* “The pink ribbon is a ribbon of hope and I think what is troubling is (that) we feel forgotten and feel like we represent the lack of hope. When we are remembered, we are recognized as losing the battle. We are what the pink crowd wants to forget because we are the painful reminders of what can happen.”
* “Why isn’t the truth ever told about breast cancer during ‘Awareness Month’? Why do we hear this same old worn out message? Why are we with metastatic disease not mentioned or ignored and viewed as breast cancer's dirty little secret?”
* Many breast cancer organizations don’t recognize those of us who are living with stage IV breast cancer – they serve the ‘survivors’. We are scary to them and we are pushed into the shadows.
* Many breast cancer organizations don’t recognize those of us who are living with stage IV breast cancer – they serve the ‘survivors’. We are scary to them and we are pushed into the shadows.
And from an expert:
* Often, with all cancers, I see people who do really well emotionally while going through treatment. They go into a phase of, 'I gotta do what I gotta do.' Then when it's all over, they relax. They start feeling things that they didn't allow themselves to feel before. And there's the fear—that they are not doing anything any more! And they feel more vulnerable than while they were in treatment. Which is why in my groups, we talk about 'BC' and 'AC'—Before Cancer, and After Cancer. You can never go back to Before Cancer. You wonder: Will the cancer come back? The fear does lessen over time. But it's never gone completely.
In closing, I would like to present the following (SOURCE)
13 Facts Everyone Should Know about Metastatic Breast Cancer
1. No one dies from breast cancer that remains in the breast. Metastasis occurs when cancerous cells travel to a vital organ and that is what threatens life.
2. Metastasis refers to the spread of cancer to different parts of the body, typically the bones, liver, lungs and brain.
3. An estimated 155,000 Americans are currently living with metastatic breast cancer. Metastatic breast cancer accounts for approximately 40,000 deaths annually in the U.S.
4. Treatment for metastatic breast cancer is lifelong and focuses on control of the disease and quality of life.
5. About 6% to 10% of people are Stage IV from their initial diagnosis.
6. Early detection does not guarantee a cure. Metastatic breast cancer can occur 5, 10 or 15 years after a person’s original diagnosis and successful treatment checkups and annual mammograms.
7. 20% to 30% of people initially diagnosed with early stage disease will develop metastatic breast cancer.
8. Young people, as well as men, can be diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer.
9. Like early stage breast cancer, there are different types of metastatic breast cancer.
10. Treatment choices are guided by breast cancer type, location and extent of metastasis in the body, previous treatments and other factors.
11. Metastatic breast cancer is not an automatic death sentence. Although most people will ultimately die of their disease, some will live long and productive lives.
12. There are no definitive prognostic statistics for metastatic breast cancer. Every patient and their disease is unique.
13. To learn more about National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day on October 13 and to access resources specifically for people living with metastatic breast cancer and their caregivers, visit www.mbcn.org.
"My breast cancer is no longer just pink. It now, includes gray, the color of nothing – the nowhere land where I live, no longer a survivor, but a fighter, never giving in, never giving up. And, black, the color of death, for surely, one day, my fight will end."
Stupid Pink of the Day:
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