The Metastatic Breast Cancer Network (MBCN) is a national non-profit advocacy group dedicated to raising awareness of and advocating for the needs of those living with metastatic breast cancer. Their mission is to raise awareness of metastatic breast cancer through advocacy, education, and fighting for treatments to extend life. They work to give those with metastatic breast cancer a greater voice in the medical, research, and breast cancer communities. They also provide education to help those living with metastatic breast cancer advocate for themselves.

1. Metastatic Breast Cancer Network
MBCN is a national, independent, patient-
led, non-profit advocacy group, dedicated
to the unique concerns of the women and
men living with metastatic breast cancer.

2. Our Mission
AWARENESS/ADVOCACY:
• put a public face on metastatic breast cancer (mbc)
• gain a greater voice and visibility in:
• the breast cancer community,
• the medical community,
• the research community,
• and with the public-at-large
• fight for treatments to extend life and to make mbc
a truly chronic disease like HIV/AIDS or diabetes, as
the search for a cure continues

3. Our Mission
EDUCATION:
• help those living with metastatic
breast cancer be their own best
advocates through providing
education and information on better
treatments and coping with the
disease

4. …Fighting for treatments to
extend our lives…

5. Metastatic Breast Cancer
Awareness Day – October 13
Proclaimed by Congress
in 2009…
…after a successful lobbying campaign
by MBCN
MBCN Lobby Team

6. 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. 13 Facts - continued
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.

8. MBCN Educational Conferences
2013 MD Anderson, Houston
New Directions in Metastatic Breast Cancer
2012 Northwestern, Chicago
Moving Forward with Metastatic Breast Cancer
2011 Johns Hopkins Avon Breast Cancer Center, Baltimore
Empowerment Through Education
2010 IUPUI , Indianapolis
Current Approaches & Emerging Advances
2009 Dana Farber, Boston
2009 Dana Farber, Boston
An Open Conversation on Metastatic Breast Cancer
2009 Memorial Sloan-Kettering, New York
The Rapidly Changing Management of Metastatic Breast Cancer
2007 MD Anderson, Houston
2006 Memorial Sloan-Kettering, New York
Metastatic Breast Cancer Conference

9. Let our Voices be Heard!
WEBSITE: BLOG:
www.mbcn.org MBCNBuzz
YOU!
TWITTER
EMAIL NEWSLETTER:
@MBCNBuzz
Voices
facebook:
Metastatic Breast Cancer Network