Metastatic Breast Cancer Research

It is estimated that as many as 168,000 women in the United Staes are living today with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Also know as Stage 4 or advanced stage, metastatic breast cancer occurs when cancer cells spread from the breast to other organs in the body, most commonly liver, lungs, bones, or brain. Currently, there is no cure for metastatic breast cancer.  

As many as 30% of women initially diagnosed with breast cancer will go on to have a metastatic diagnosis. That may happen years after being declared cancer free. Although uncommon, some women’s initial diagnosis could also be metastatic meaning the cancer cells have already invaded other organs. The average life expectancy after a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis is three years. Some women live much longer, some not as long.

What too many of us don’t know about beast cancer deaths is that they don’t occur until the cells have metastasized to other body organs. People don’t die from breast cancer, they die from metastatic breast cancer. Unfortunately, a relatively small amount of funding goes into research for metastatic breast cancer. Much more funding is directed to early stage breast cancer, awareness, and prevention than metastatic disease. All breast cancer research is important, but metastatic research needs to be receiving more attention and much more funding.

The Breast Cancer Network of WNY supports women living with MBC by offering complementary programming that includes twice-monthly support groups, restorative health classes in yoga, zumba, Qigong, Tai-chi, and exercise, wellness education, an MBC Tote resource packet, and this website. This organization has lost many friends and loved ones to this disease and is committed to finding its cure.

In 2017, the Breast Cancer Network of WNY initiated a commitment to metastatic breast cancer research. Inspired by the loss of BCN members and loved ones, BCN created a Metastatic Breast Cancer Research Fund. Each year, all memorial donations we receive plus all donations directed to research are accumulated and awarded as a grant to New York State researchers engaged in finding a cure for MBC. Through 2023, we have directed $75,000 to that cause.

To get more information on our advanced stage breast cancer programming, contact us here or call our office at 716-706-0060. And please, help us help find a cure.