Since COVID-19 made landfall in the United States in early 2020, many states have enacted quarantines and social distancing to help flatten the curve of the outbreak and help keep people safe from the disease. The social distancing and the disease itself can cause anxiety and stress within individuals as well as feelings of loneliness and isolation. METAvivor aims to provide all those involved in our organization with reputable websites and resources to reference if you have questions about COVID-19 and/or if you are needing help.
METAvivor is continuing to abide by the guidelines set forth by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and has postponed upcoming in-person events that were planned in March and April as well as some events in May. Our priority is always the health and safety of our patient advocates as well as other attendees of our events. We promise to keep you informed as the new event dates are determined or if other events are being postponed. Some volunteers have expressed an interest in holding “Virtual Events” as fundraisers for METvivor during this time. We will let you know if and when these events are scheduled. If you are interested in holding a virtual event, please let us know!
Our goal at METAvivor is always the health and safety of all Metavivors. The METAvivor team is continuing to diligently work behind the scenes focusing on women and men living with stage IV metastatic breast cancer. Our research team is working on our 2020 research program, reviewing grant proposals focused on Stage IV MBC research. The team is also actively recruiting and training new volunteers and Peer to Peer Support Group Leaders throughout the country. We have also reserved the date for the 2020 Stage IV Stampede to be held in Washington DC on September 24th and 25th. Please see our events page for more information and how you can volunteer and/or attend this amazing event. Our Sea to Sea for MBC RV Tour was one of the events that has been postponed, but the RV is packed and ready to go when it is deemed safe for our patient advocates and event locations to host. The Peer to Peer Support Groups run by our patient advocate volunteers throughout the country have been offered online platforms, such as Zoom, to be able to continue meeting in a safe manner to continue the vital MBC patient support.
Though much of the nation is under a quarantine, METAvivor is dedicated to continuing virtual services to those living with Stage IV MBC. We will keep you informed of updates.
We have curated a list of resources for you and welcome your suggestions for those resources not listed. Email us at [email protected].
There is a lot of information circulating about COVID-19. The best thing to do in order to help ease stress is to get reliable information and do not listen to random gossip regarding the disease. The following are some great websites to check if you have questions regarding COVID-19.
https://www.fema.gov/Coronavirus-Rumor-Control
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html
https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/03.16.20_coronavirus-guidance_8.5x11_315PM.pdf
#PAGC19 www.patientviewblog.com
You can also reference your state health department websites to see how your state is responding to COVID-19 as well as to find testing centers near you.
https://www.cdc.gov/publichealthgateway/healthdirectories/healthdepartments.html
In order to help stop the further spread of COVID-19 and to keep yourself and others safe, people have been asked to limit their interactions with others. Many cities and states have enacted quarantines, shutting down businesses and requiring that people stay at home and only leave for emergency purposes. Not only can the fear become overwhelming, but the social distancing can feel especially lonely. If you need to talk to someone, the following are available 24/7 for free:
Text HOME to 741741 to connect to a crisis counselor through the Crisis Text Hotline
Call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66-746 for the Disaster Distress Hotline
Live Virtual Sessions on COVID-19 for cancer patients being held on Saturdays at noon EST / 11:00 am CST / 9:00 am PST
http://grythealth.com/coronavirus
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html
https://www.henryford.com/blog/2020/03/fostering-wellness-during-covid-19
http://www.211.org/services/covid19
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) Overivew:
https://www.natlawreview.com/article/hr-6201-families-first-coronavirus-response-act
Summary of COVID-19 Bills:
Bristol Myers Squibb
BMS and the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation are committed to meeting the needs of patients during crises and have a record of doing so. Our expansion of existing U.S. patient support programs is representative of our aspiration to ‘leave no patients behind.’
For more information please contact: Bristol Myers Squibb
