WHEREAS, breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women in the world, and the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States; more than one in eight women and one in 833 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes; and
WHEREAS, metastatic breast cancer (MBC) occurs when breast cancer spreads to other parts of the body, including the bones, lungs, liver and brain and has an average life expectancy of 26 months; and
WHEREAS, regardless of early detection, approximately 30% of stage 0 to III breast cancers will return as stage IV; an estimated 44,130 Americans, equal to 115 women and men per day, with 98% due to metastatic breast cancer; and
WHEREAS, the national organization, METAvivor Research and Support, funds critical stage IV metastatic breast cancer research, educates the public about metastatic breast cancer and lack of funding for stage IV treatment; they aim to dramatically increase the current percentage of U.S. breast cancer research dollars from under 5 percent to 30 percent for the already metastasized patient; and
WHEREAS, there are national hashtags #DontIgnoreStageIV and #LightUpMBC campaign on October 13th every year to illuminate 115 landmarks in the metastatic colors of teal, pink and green, throughout the world, bringing awareness to the disease and to honor the daily number of lives lost to MBC; in partnership between the METAvivor and Moore Fight Moore Strong organizations, the day will culminate in a virtual broadcast, #LightUpMBC Live, to commemorate landmarks lighting around the country, share inspiring stories by the metastatic breast cancer community and raise research funds; and
WHEREAS, the pink ribbon is well-known for representing the fight against early-stage breast cancer, it is not inclusive of Stage IV; the metastatic breast cancer awareness tri-color ribbon includes teal, pink and green, teal color portrays healing and spirituality, green represents the triumph of spring over winter, life over death, renewal, hope, and immortality, lastly, the thin pink overlay signifies that the cancer originated in the breast; and
WHEREAS; metastatic breast cancer affects all races and socioeconomic classes, while Caucasian women see slightly higher incidence rates of breast cancer, the mortality rate for Black women with breast cancer is 41 percent higher than that of Caucasian women, and breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death for Hispanic women;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim October 13, 2021, as “METASTATIC BREAST CANCER AWARENESS DAY” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.