Governor Roy Cooper has declared April as Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Month in North Carolina to bring attention to this second-leading cause of cancer death among women.
First Lady Kristin Cooper read the proclamation today at the Executive Mansion during a luncheon hosted by the North Carolina Oncology Navigator Association to honor metastatic breast cancer patients.
“We’re shining a light on metastatic breast cancer to raise awareness for those living with the disease, and to encourage continued advances in research and treatment,” said Gov. Cooper.
Metastatic breast cancer, which is incurable but treatable, occurs when cancer has spread beyond the breast to other organs. It is estimated that 30 percent of all women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer will develop metastatic breast cancer, even five-to-20 years after completing treatment for breast cancer.
Today’s luncheon featured panel discussions on metastatic breast cancer. Panelists included breast cancer clinicians and researchers from UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center and Duke Cancer Institute as well as a metastatic breast cancer patient and a representative of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.
Jean Sellers, RN, MSN, president of the North Carolina Oncology Navigator Association and administrative clinical director at the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, said raising awareness about the disease will lead to greater support. “Our goal is to expand the conversation about metastatic breast cancer,” she said. “North Carolinians with this disease are facing treatment for the rest of their lives, all while potentially still working, caring for their families and engaging with their communities. While I am hopeful that we will one day have a cure, we want to empower our patients and create an environment in which they and their families feel supported.”
A national survey conducted by Kelton Global in 2014 found more than 70 percent of respondents incorrectly believed that metastatic breast cancer is curable if diagnosed early, and half incorrectly believed breast cancer progresses because patients either did not take the right treatment or preventive measures. Because of this awareness gap, women and men with metastatic breast cancer often feel isolated and unsupported in their ongoing battles with the disease.
Read Governor Cooper’s proclamation declaring April 2017 Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Month.