Article by: Megan-Claire Chase and Steph Poland
Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) may spread to any part of the body. The most common areas tend to be the bones, liver, lungs, and brain. Even after cancer spreads, it is still named for the area where it began.
Breast cancer metastasizes (spreads) to the brain in about 15-20% of women with metastatic disease. The rate is as high as 25-50% for those with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), 30-50% in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2+) disease, and 14% in hormone receptor-positive (HR+) disease.
In 2022, a website focused on Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis and Leptomeningeal disease was launched to provide information and resources to anyone with one of these diagnoses. The website is called MBCBrainMets.org and is the brainchild of a group of patient advocates, all members of the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance who teamed up with SHARE to make it a valuable resource for patients. It was curated by patients, for patients as a one-stop resource hub for MBC patients with brain metastasis to learn about cutting-edge information and find community and support. A Medical Advisory board reviews and approves the scientific content.
The Breast Cancer Brain Mets Core Committee is currently working on Phase 2 of the website. Some items that have been completed or are in the final stages include the following:
- Added over 50 new vetted articles to the research site in chronological order
- Transcriptions added to the following for accessibility to all
- patient videos
- expert interviews
- brain mets podcasts
- Added a page for educational programs/podcast
- In the final stages of producing a quarterly MBCBrainMets.org newsletter to which people can subscribe and keep up to date on the latest information
Another part of Phase 2 allows MBC with brain metastasis patients to share their stories by blogging or creating a video. You can read or listen to their stories on ways they advocate and empower themselves to take an active role in their treatments while also giving hope to others – you are not alone.
Learn more about the risk factors, treatment options, and current clinical trials to better empower patients to advocate for themselves and to take an active role in the development of their treatment plans at MBCBrainMets.org.
