It’s About Time Campaign Aims to Raise Awareness of Metastatic Breast Cancer

Patients, Families, Organizations To Engage in National Dialogue Focused on those Living with Incurable Disease

September 21, 2015 – Metastatic breast cancer, also known as Stage IV breast cancer, is treatable, but not curable. For these patients, it’s about time. Time to spend with their families, time to cross something off their bucket list, time to simply drive the carpool or cook a meal, to enjoy an everyday task. It’s also about time to increase awareness of this devastating disease, time more resources are devoted to developing treatments to help metastatic patients live longer, and time there is more recognition and support of those managing this disease.

Led by Gilda’s Club Chicago, organizations across the country today launched an initiative to raise awareness of metastatic breast cancer through the It’s About Time campaign.

“No one should have to face cancer alone,” said LauraJane Hyde, CEO, Gilda’s Club Chicago  “It is our hope that the It’s About Time campaign will help inform the public about metastatic breast cancer and metastatic disease in general, while giving those diagnosed, their families and friends a greater voice. ”

An estimated quarter of a million women and men are living with the disease in the United States. But, metastatic breast cancer is still largely misunderstood. A recent national survey revealed that 60 percent of respondents said they knew little to nothing about metastatic breast cancer and 72 percent believed that breast cancer in the advanced stages is curable if diagnosed early. These patients face challenges different from those with early stage disease, for whom there is a lot more hope and options.

It’s About Time encourages metastatic breast cancer patients, their families, caretakers and advocacy organizations to engage in a national conversation over the next six weeks about metastatic breast cancer facts, what time means to them, opportunities for increased advocacy and research supporting metastatic breast cancer, and, most importantly, to create a platform for those battling metastatic breast cancer to share their stories. To join the conversation, participants are encouraged to use the hashtag #itsabouttimeMBC on Twitter or submit a story via the website.

The campaign will culminate in a Twitter chat on the day when Daylight Savings ends and we gain an hour Sunday, November 1. From 5:30-6:30 p.m. CST, the chat will focus on information about metastatic breast cancer and why that extra hour is a good reminder of how much time matters when you face an incurable disease.

Campaign partners joining Gilda’s Club Chicago include:

Chicago, IL

Metropolitan Chicago Breast Cancer Task Force

Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University

A Silver Lining Foundation

Sisters Network Chicago

Rush University Cancer Center

Kansas City, MO/KS

Black Health Care Coalition

Gilda’s Club Kansas City

Turning Point

The University of Kansas Hospital

Michigan

Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit

Pittsburgh, PA

A Glimmer of Hope Foundation

Philadelphia, PA

Black Women’s Health Alliance

Providence, RI

Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation

National

FORCE (Facing our Risk of Cancer Empowered)

Living Beyond Breast Cancer

Metastatic Breast Cancer Network

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