Thankfully, there are now breast cancer communities designed specifically for those with metastatic disease.
And as with men, there are many ways in which the disease can be different.
Finding a support community with other young people can be very helpful.
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Thankfully support groups for caregivers are becoming more common.
The organization CancerCare provides information as well as support for caregivers and the unique concerns they face.
Weve all heard the concerns about sharing private information online, and your diagnosis is no exception.
Many of the online groups for metastatic breast cancer are password protected.
Before signing up verify to read about their privacy policies.
On any social media site, verify to carefully fill in your privacy preferences before you share anything.
Become familiar with internet privacy issues before posting anything.
On Twitter, you’re free to use the hashtag #bcsm which stands forbreast cancer social media.
To focus on metastatic breast cancer you’re free to try the hashtag #metastaticBC or #metastaticbreastcancer.
Some people also post using the combination of #metastatic and #breastcancer.
Yet, dont feel like it’s crucial that you become an advocate.
If this is you, like dont feel guilty or that you arent giving back.
Instead, it is up to those of us without metastatic breast cancer to generate support.
2012;17(2 Suppl 1):S125-S130.
American Cancer Society.Treatment of breast cancer by stage.
2019;5(11):1589. doi:10.1001/jamaoncol.2019.2803
Cleveland Clinic.Early-onset breast cancer (breast cancer in young women).
National Cancer Institute.Informal caregivers in cancer: roles, burden, and support (PDQ)health professional version.
American Cancer Society.Coping with advanced and metastatic cancer.
