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Foreword

The slogan of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance (MBC Alliance)—together we are
stronger than the disease—is not an empty claim. Each year approximately 40,000
women and men will die of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) in the United States. This
number has remained unchanged for over a decade. Given the devastating toll this
disease takes, the MBC Alliance members—29 cancer, breast cancer, and MBC advocacy
organizations, individuals, and industry partners—have come together to transform
and improve the lives of people living with MBC. This collaboration is truly the “first of its
kind” for breast cancer, with all advocate and industry members committed to working
together, openly sharing resources and information.

Since the MBC Alliance’s public launch on October 13, 2013, we have been conducting
a comprehensive landscape analysis of the needs of people living with MBC and the
available information and support services. We have also been looking at funding of MBC
research, the analysis of which will help to identify the needs and gaps for future funding.

This is exciting work! In inquiring whether the psychosocial and quality of life needs of
MBC patients are being met, we have looked at what gaps exist in information and support
available to those living with MBC today and how we can improve our own organizations
and programs. We have also conducted a comprehensive assessment of MBC research
that has been funded since the year 2000, spanning basic research, clinical trials,
epidemiology, and quality of life and psychosocial research.
The purpose of the analysis is to learn from recent patient surveys, comprehensive
research-gap analysis, and our own new analysis of the literature, clinical trials, and grant
funding in order to develop actions that MBC Alliance members and others can implement
to improve outcomes for people with MBC.

It is an honor for me to lead the MBC Alliance as it launches. The Avon Foundation for
Women is able to provide a much-needed “neutral place” for the Alliance’s early work. I
am delighted that the Avon Foundation will be working alongside MBC Alliance members
to begin tackling some of the challenges and implementing the critical actions highlighted
in this report.

Marc Hurlbert, PhD
Project Leader, MBC Alliance Landscape Analysis
Executive Director, Breast Cancer Crusade, Avon Foundation for Women

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