Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance Launches New Public Awareness Campaign Focusing on Lack of Understanding of Metastatic Breast Cancer
The new social media campaign, #MetastaticSayIt, aims to educate the public about metastatic breast cancer and how it differs from early stage breast cancer
NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, on National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, October 13, the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance launches a new public awareness campaign to encourage people to spread the word about metastatic breast cancer on social media. The campaign, #MetastaticSayIt, aims to increase the public's understanding of the difference between early stage breast cancer and metastasis.
Do you know what metastatic breast cancer means? #MetastataticSayIt
Metastatic Breast Cancer Advocate and Patient, Shirley Mertz shares a joke with AgencyRx’s VP, Group Copy Supervisor, Jeffery Forester - Photographer: Angelo Merendino
The Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance, led and coordinated by the Avon Foundation, represents 35 cancer organizations across the United States. Learn more at www.mbcalliance.org.
#MetastaticSayIt addresses the findings of a 2014 Pfizer-sponsored study which found that more than 60% of the general public knew little to nothing about metastatic breast cancer. More than 2,000 adults were surveyed for this study, and the results issued a public call-to-action to expand the breast cancer dialogue to include metastatic disease.
The Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance, the largest breast cancer coalition of its kind, represents more than 35 cancer organizations working together to improve the length and quality of life for people living with metastatic breast cancer; advance progress in scientific research; and build the public's general understanding of the disease and how a metastatic diagnosis differs from early stage breast cancer.
People living with metastatic breast cancer often feel isolated, stigmatized and at fault for their diagnosis. Myths and stigmas about metastatic breast cancer have a very real negative financial, social and emotional impact for patients and their families. While 20-30% of those diagnosed with early stage breast cancer will go on to develop metastatic disease, and metastatic breast cancer claims the lives of 40,000 women and some men in America every year, awareness remains low.
"This social media campaign, starring real people living with metastatic breast cancer, is an important first step in educating people about the disease," stated Marc Hurlbert, PhD, Alliance Chairman. "The public has a limited knowledge of what 'metastatic' means in relation to breast cancer. Sadly, many breast cancer initiatives do not focus on the metastatic community. People living with the disease are frustrated by a lack of knowledge of metastatic breast cancer."
"Working with the Alliance to create this social media campaign was very important to us," said Michael Schreiber, President, AgencyRx. "So many patients die from metastatic breast cancer, and yet many people have never heard the word, or said the word, including people diagnosed with breast cancer. People don't know that when someone dies from breast cancer, 99% of the time they die from metastatic breast cancer. Social media is a powerful way for encouraging people to talk to each other and spread the word."
Three Ways To Get Involved:
Watch and share the META-WHAT video on your social channels with #MetastaticSayIt.
Record yourself saying the tongue-twister - Meta-WhatMeta-WhoMeta-MeMeta-You, - upload to your social channels, use #MetastaticSayIt and tag 5 five friends to make their own version!
Metastatic Breast Cancer, also referred to as Stage IV, currently has no cure and treatment is life-long, with patients switching from one treatment to the next after each fails to control the cancer.
October 13 is National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, which recognizes patients who are often forgotten and may feel isolated during October.
About the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance The Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance was formed in October 2013, and in 2015 includes 35 of the leading cancer charities, advocacy groups, pharmaceutical industry partners and individual advocates. The Alliance vision is to transform and improve the lives of people living with metastatic breast cancer. More information is available at http://www.MBCAlliance.org/.
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