For Immediate Release

THE METASTATIC BREAST CANCER ALLIANCE LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN TO RAISE AWARENESS AND SUPPORT FOR THOSE WITH METASTATIC BREAST CANCER

“Help Keep Me in the Picture” Aims to Share Information on an Incurable Disease

Causing 40,000 Deaths Every Year in the U.S.

NEW YORK, NY (September 29th, 2016) – The Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance (MBC Alliance) – a coalition of nonprofit groups, breast cancer survivors, individuals with metastatic breast cancer, and industry partners – will launch the “Help Keep Me in the Picture” campaign today. The campaign aims to broaden understanding of the incurable disease and improve the lives of the men and women who live with it. The campaign includes a social media initiative and new microsite, KeepMeInThePicture.com, that shares facts and personal stories about the disease, as well as a petition to push Congress to give cancer registries, including the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the funds needed to collect accurate statistics for those with metastatic breast cancer, since research funding for metastatic breast cancer currently accounts for only 7% of the total breast cancer research investment.  

National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day is October 13, and the campaign will run the entire month to raise awareness for the disease. The new MBC Alliance microsite, KeepMeInThePicture.com, will share real stories from patients, healthcare providers and social workers who have treated or been affected by MBC, provide facts about the disease, and share how people can get involved to make a difference. The microsite site will feature stories from real people like, Lynn, who was diagnosed with MBC in 2013, and her husband Gary, who has been her caregiver and supporter every step of the way.

“There has been tremendous progress in the ongoing fight against breast cancer. More resources and research are needed specifically for metastatic breast cancer,” explains Marc Hurlbert, PhD, Chief Mission Officer, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and the current Chairman of the MBC Alliance. “Awareness for metastatic breast cancer remains low, and only 7.1% of research investments over the last dozen years have focused on the disease. My hope is that the public helps to raise awareness by joining in our ‘Help Keep Me in the Picture’ campaign to ultimately advance research that is focused on extending and enhancing the quality of life for those suffering from metastatic breast cancer.”

Three Ways the Public Can Support the “Help Keep Me in the Picture” Campaign:

  1. Share the social media campaign, a metastatic breast cancer story, or a fact to promote education on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by using the hashtag #SeeMetastaticBC.
  2. Visit the microsite KeepMeInThePicture.com
  3. Sign the petition to give cancer registries like SEER the funds needed to collect accurate statistics for those with metastatic breast cancer

The Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance was founded in 2013 to improve the lives of people living with metastatic breast cancer. The MBC Alliance’s mission is to raise awareness for this disease. Metastatic breast cancer, also referred to as Stage IV, currently has no cure and treatment is life-long, with patients switching from one treatment to the next after each fails to control the cancer. The MBC Alliance, which represents more than 40 cancer organizations across the country, advocates for progress in research that will extend life, and strives for enhanced education and easier healthcare access for metastatic breast cancer patients and their families.

Join the conversation and learn more about metastatic breast cancer on KeepMeInThePicture.com, as well as the MBC Alliance’s Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest channels.

ABOUT THE METASTATIC BREAST CANCER ALLIANCE:

The Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance was formed by 15 groups in October 2013 and today has grown to 40 of the leading cancer charities, advocacy groups and pharmaceutical industry partners. The Alliance vision is to transform and improve the lives of women and men living with metastatic breast cancer. More information about the MBC Alliance is available at http://www.MBCAlliance.org/.

Follow Us On:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mbcalliance/
Twitter: @mbcalliance #MBCA #SeeMetastaticBC
YouTube: www.youtube.com/mbcalliance
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/mbcalliance

Press Contact:
Gloria Quinn-Doyle
Kaplow Communications | (212) 221-1713 | gquinndoyle@kaplow.com