Recently some new online friends of mine started an exciting new “let’s-get-the-word-out-about-metastatic-breast-cancer” initiative. It’s called Stomp Out BC and utilizes the hashtags #bckills, #dontignorestageiv, #MetsMonday and a few others as well. I was pleased and honored to have #MetsMonday chosen as one tag to be used in this campaign.
About two years ago I started a campaign called Mets Monday. I knew the name wasn't that great, but I thought something simple and easy to remember was the best way to go; well, for me anyway. Of course, Monday is not the only day I (or others) think about metastatic disease, but the idea was to pick one day a week to really focus on it via social media.
Thankfully, there does seem to be more and more talk about metastatic disease these days and it's about time. Maybe at least the fear or hesitancy to talk about it has lessened.
Sure, early detection is vital, as are any actions a woman can take to lower her risk of mets or breast cancer in the first place. But the reality is that every year in the US roughly 40,000 women and men are still dying from metastatic breast cancer. This amounts to one death (in the US) every 13 minutes. We still don't know how to prevent metastasis or know which cases will metastasize. We still don't know how to halt it once it happens. Slowing it down isn't so easy either. And it seems unless you're diagnosed at stage IV at the time of initial diagnosis (which happens in 6-10% of cases), no one is even keeping close track of how many new cases of metastatic breast cancer recurrences there are in any given year. All hard to believe I know.
This is why we must get metastatic breast cancer research off the back burner and instead set it right up there front and center with the research dial set on high. Let's turn up the heat!
You might be sitting there asking yourself, what can I do?
Of course there are many ways to help, but...
What could be easier than joining the new (next event is April 6) #StompOutBC campaign, and/or my weekly #MetsMonday one?
If you have mets, I wouldn't even begin to suggest to you what to do; but if you're also a blogger or reader of blogs, I hope you'll keep on writing, reading, sharing and commenting when you can because every voice is needed, including yours.
If you do not have mets, here are some easy-to-do suggestions:
1. If you're a blog writer or blog reader, visit a metster blog (or two or three) every #MetsMonday to learn more about what living with the disease is like. My Mets page has a starting point list. I know there are many more mbc bloggers out there. (If you happen to be a metster blogger, let me know and I will add you to my list if you'd like).
2. Every #MetsMonday visit one of the informative sites that are geared specifically to mets advocacy. Again, I have a starting point list here.
3. If you have a Facebook page, why not share a post written by a metster on your page every #MetsMonday or share any mets-related article on your page, on Twitter, on Google+, or where ever you share stuff these days. Using the hashtags mentioned above will bring more views.
4. Share this post.
5. Write a post about mets. Don't blog? Just make a mets-related statement somewhere. Help spread awareness that includes the full spectrum of this disease. Share a fact about metastatic breast cancer each #MetsMonday.
6. Start talking. Ask your relative, friend, neighbor or co-worker what they know about metastatic breast cancer. It’s astounding how many people know nothing about it or have not even heard the word metastatic before. This is a BIG FAIL of many breast cancer awareness campaigns. It’s not the public’s fault; the fault is with the incomplete messaging that’s been going on for years.
7. Support (financially and other-wise) organizations such as METAvivor and Metastatic Breast Cancer Network that focus on meaningful awareness and research.
When I started# MetsMonday two years ago, I was hoping to start a social media tidal-wave-type movement. That didn’t happen, but the ladies who started the Stomp Out BC campaign are doing exactly that, starting a tidal wave of sorts. Thank you to Beth Fairchild, Christine Fields, Vanessa Anderson and Susanne Kraus-Dahlgren for spear-heading this campaign via Live from Stage IV.
Join us on #MetsMonday, or any other day for that matter.
Let’s all work together making bigger waves to help someday achieve the goal of stomping out breast cancer.
Breast cancer awareness without mets awareness, isn’t awareness at all.
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Will you be taking part in #StompOutBC and #MetsMonday?
