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Public Awareness of MBC

A greater understanding of what MBC is and how it differs from early stage breast cancer is
needed among patients, their families and HCPs, researchers, and the public.

• The focus on “fighting” and “beating” breast cancer has led to the creation and “The deaths of 108
dominance of a breast cancer “survivor” identity, which masks the reality that women people today from
who have had early stage breast cancer can develop metastatic disease. MBC will not make
the nightly news. If
• The focus on screening and survivorship can stigmatize patients who experience a they did, most of
recurrence or are diagnosed at stage IV—they may be perceived to be at fault for the the public might be
cancer’s progression. surprised, but then
conclude that these
• The effects of public and professional misconceptions or lack of understanding about women and men
probably did not
MBC can negatively influence decisions made by patients and their doctors regarding get a mammogram
treatment and quality of life. early enough, or
fight the disease
• More can be done to build the understanding of HPCs about how to discuss treatments hard enough.”
and quality of life, including palliation with their patients. Shirley Mertz,
SABCS 2013

Analysis to Action

This landscape analysis has provided the Alliance with a foundation of shared knowledge of the
MBC landscape and pointed us to some critical gaps/needs to be addressed. Collectively, we
are now better informed about the areas of scientific research for further exploration, the need
to accelerate improvement in quality of life, the gaps in information and support services that
require resources, and the current state and limitations of the epidemiology of MBC.

One of the forces that drove breast cancer and MBC advocate organizations to join in an
Alliance was the need to build understanding about the different types of MBC and how it
differs from early stage breast cancer, not just for people living with the disease and their HCPs,
but also researchers, policy makers, and the general public.
In moving forward, MBC Alliance members agree that pivotal to resolving gaps/needs is an
effort to build greater understanding in all our future endeavors.
The power of the Alliance lies in our collective experience, resources, and spheres of influence.
Guiding our approach to future work is a commitment to not duplicate efforts of individual
organizations in the Alliance, and to collaboration to ensure we learn from each other’s
experience and research. As our work is resource intensive and time consuming, we will be
thoughtful in committing our assets and will develop an evaluation framework as part of our
planning for 2015–2016.

We have identified a series of actions for our next phase of work over 2015 and 2016. These
actions require sustained commitment of multiple stakeholders and MBC Alliance members
stand ready to contribute time and energy to this work.

We look forward to reporting on our progress in 2015.
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