Do you know or care for someone who lives with metastatic breast cancer (MBC)? Would you love to raise awareness about MBC but aren’t sure where to start?

One option is to focus on Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day this year. In this article, we’ll talk about what this day means and how you can participate.

Understanding Metastatic Breast Cancer

Metastatic breast cancer, also known as stage 4 breast cancer, is cancer that has spread to one or more parts of the body beyond the breast tissue. While early-stage breast cancer is located only in the breast, those cells can spread — or metastasize — and cause cancer elsewhere.

Awareness is important because there are several ways that MBC is still misunderstood.

A Few Misconceptions About MBC

Some people think that MBC is either curable or quickly fatal. In reality, MBC isn’t currently curable, but many people live for years after diagnosis.

Some treatments can keep the cancer under control for long periods, allowing people to stay on the same treatment for years before needing to switch to another option. This means that MBC can be considered a chronic condition.

Also, friends and family members may expect someone with MBC to look visibly ill, such as losing weight or experiencing hair loss. However, MBC affects everyone differently, and some treatments don’t cause these side effects. As a result, a person with MBC may appear healthy even while living with a serious, ongoing illness.

Another misconception is that a person with MBC will be able to stop treatment at some point. Instead, the goal of treatment is to keep the cancer under control in a way that doesn’t make the person feel too sick, so they can have a high quality of life for as long as possible.

Why Does Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day Matter?

It builds understanding and compassion — Raising awareness helps people better understand MBC and what it’s like to live with the condition. Greater understanding may encourage more empathy and motivate people to offer support or get involved in advocacy efforts.

It increases support and resources — In the past, there were fewer educational resources, conferences, support groups, and breast cancer organizations focused specifically on MBC. Awareness efforts, including those surrounding Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, have helped bring greater attention to the needs of people living with MBC.

It helps reduce stigma — People with MBC may face stigma and misconceptions about their diagnosis. Education and open conversations can challenge these misconceptions and help create a more supportive environment for people living with MBC.

It encourages research and funding — Awareness campaigns can raise money for metastatic breast cancer research and show funding organizations that MBC research is a priority. Increased attention may help drive investment in better treatments and a deeper understanding of the disease.

How To Participate in Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day

There are several ways that you can participate in Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. You can choose what feels right for you. You may even ask your loved one with MBC what would be most meaningful to them.

Participation may look like:

• Donating money for metastatic breast cancer research or clinical trials
• Talking to your friends and neighbors to share accurate information about MBC
• Posting on social media about your loved one’s experience with MBC (with their permission, of course)
• Sharing posts about MBC, connecting with others, and supporting research on social media using hashtags related to the topic, such as #MBC #MetastaticBreastCancer #ThisIsMBC #ResearchNotRibbons #BreastCancerAwareness #BusyLivingWithMets
• Wearing pink, teal, and green and knowing what they mean
• Asking your city to participate in the #lightupMBC campaign, where landmarks are lit in metastatic breast cancer awareness colors
• Setting up a local run or walk to highlight MBC and have participants raise money

Individuals can come up with their own ways of raising awareness, too. On MyBreastCancerTeam, one member shared, “I continue to raise awareness about breast cancer by just talking to others that I meet. Sometimes on my daily morning walk, I talk to others one-on-one.”

Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Can Change Lives

Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day takes place each year, but creating meaningful change takes time.

Continued awareness efforts can help educate the public, challenge misconceptions, encourage support, and raise money for research. This research is especially important because advances in treatment may help people with MBC live longer.

Greater awareness can also improve everyday life for people living with MBC. When friends, family members, and others better understand the condition, they can provide meaningful support and help people with MBC feel more understood throughout their experience.