A diagnosis of advanced breast cancer can feel devastating. Just when you thought you had put the disease behind you, it has returned. Or, maybe the cancer was first found when it was already at an advanced stage.
Between 5% and 9% of women diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time are diagnosed with advanced disease. And, depending on the specific stage of the disease at diagnosis, some women who are initially diagnosed with early breast cancer later experience a distant recurrence, or metastasis, which means the cancer has spread beyond the breast and lymph nodes under the arm to other organs.
Although there are no exact statistics, it is likely that tens of thousands of women are living in the United States with advanced breast cancer right now. We believe that with a better understanding of the disease and treatment options, you will be able to regain a sense of control, alleviate some feelings of isolation and find a renewed sense of hope.
The Cancer Support Community and the Young Survival Coalition have teamed up to develop an online program for young women living with advanced, or metastatic, breast cancer. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in women ages 15 to 40 and each year, approximately 24,000 American women under age 45 are diagnosed with breast cancer. Young women with breast cancer often have unique needs not specifically addressed in psychosocial support programs and in patient literature. These highly specific concerns often center around issues of body image, employment, fertility and relationships. We would like to better understand your unique needs in order to tailor and educational program directly to your concerns.
If you are 45 years old or younger and living with advanced breast cancer, we invite you to complete our survey so that we may develop a program that speaks to your unique social and emotional needs. To participate in the survey, click Survey for young women with advanced breast cancer.
If you’ve ever been diagnosed with breast cancer, share your voice and change the course of breast cancer survivorship. Click here to learn about the Cancer Support Community’s Breast Cancer M.A.P. (Mind Affects the Physical) Project.
Resources
This program was created specifically for women diagnosed with advanced, or metastatic, breast cancer. The booklet covers topics ranging from treatment and pro-active side effect management, to short and longer-term quality of life issues. An interactive CD-ROM was developed and is distributed as a companion piece with this book in hard copy.
Click here to download a copy of this book.
Diagnosing, dealing with and discussing advanced breast cancer
Includes information on treatments and questions to ask your doctor when treating advanced breast cancer
Helpful information to manage side effects commonly associated with advanced breast cancer