Metastatic Breast Cancer in the LGBTQI Communities
People in LGBTQI communities are believed to be at a higher risk for breast cancer. More research and better care is needed. You can help.
Metastatic Breast Cancer at a Young Age
Young women diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer often have unique experiences because of the career, family and social features of their age. Learn more.
Metastatic Breast Cancer at a Young Age
Young women diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer often have unique experiences because of the career, family and social features of their age. Learn more.
Spotlight on Metastatic Breast Cancer in Older People
Geriatric oncology is a specialty that focuses on treating and researching cancer in older people. As we age, our bodies are more likely to develop many different kinds of health issues, from high blood pressure and arthritis to heart disease.
Treating metastatic breast cancer in older patients can mean balancing the side effects of MBC treatments with other illnesses and the medicines needed to manage them.
- In this video from Cancer.Net, Cancer Care for Older Adults An Introduction, Hyman Muss, MD, gives an overview of the goals of geriatric oncology.
- SHARE: An Unheard Majority: How Older Women Experience a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Black Women Facing Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Black women. It is estimated that 6,540 Black women died from breast cancer in 2019.
Below are a list of organizations that provide support and information specifically for Black women.
- African American Breast Cancer Alliance: AABCA
- Cancer Support Community: Black or African American Peer Clinical Trials Support Program
- The Chrysalis Initiative: The Chrysalis Initiative
- For The Breast Of Us: For The Breast Of Us
- MBC Alliance: BECOME
- Sisters Network: Sisters Network
- Susan G. Komen: Stand for H.E.R. Healthy Equity Revolution
- Tigerlily Foundation: Tigerlily Foundation
- TOUCH, The Black Breast Cancer Alliance: TOUCH
- When We Tri(al): When We Tri(al)
- When We Tri(al) (Video): We Can’t Afford Not To
MBC in the Transgender Community
Breast cancer in transgender women and men has received little attention. Metastatic breast cancer has received even less. But as transgender people with breast cancer speak out about their treatments and their experiences, that is changing.
Below you can find studies on breast cancer risk in transgender patients, personal stories, and LGBT-specific resources for transgender women and men facing cancer.
Research
-
-
- British Medical Journal:
- European Journal of Surgical Oncology: Breast Cancer In Transgender Patients: A Systematic Review. Part 1: Male To Female
- Healthline: Are Transgender Women At Risk For Breast Cancer?
-
Personal stories
-
-
- LGBT Health: A Trans-Feminine Youth With A BRCA1 Mutation
- New York Times: Personal Story: Male Transgender Breast Cancer Patient Shares His Experience
-
Resources and Support
-
-
- National LGBT Cancer Network: National LGBT Cancer Network: Transgender/Gender-Nonconforming People And Cancer
- Transgender Cancer Patient Project: Transgender Cancer Patient Project
-
More Men Needed in Breast Cancer Trials
Breast cancer is rare in men. About one percent of all breast cancer diagnoses are in men. However, when men are diagnosed, their cancer tends to be at a later stage. And a recent JAMA Oncology study found that, overall, men are more likely than women to die of their disease.
Most drugs used to treat breast cancer have not been tested in men. In April, when the FDA approved Ibrance® for men with metastatic breast cancer, it used real-world data collected on off-label use, not data from a clinical trial.
The FDA wants to change this. In September, it issued draft guidelines that encourage researchers to include men with breast cancer in their clinical trials to improve drug development and access.
Below you can learn more about the FDA’s statement as well as read the FDA’s draft guidelines: “Male Breast Cancer: Developing Drugs for Treatment.”
We’ve also included links to the JAMA Oncology article on breast cancer mortality along with an article on the FDA’s approval of Ibrance® using real-world data.
You can find more information for men with metastatic breast cancer on the Male Breast Cancer Coalition‘s website.
- FDA: Men With Breast Cancer Need More Treatment Options and Access to Genetic Counseling
- FDA: FDA Encourages Inclusion of Male Patients in Breast Cancer Clinical Trials
- FDA: FDA Guidance on Male Breast Cancer: Developing Drugs for Treatment
- The New York Times: Who’s Missing from Breast Cancer Trials? Men, Says the FDA
- MedScape: FDA Wants Men in Breast Cancer Clinical Trials
- JAMA Oncology: Overall Mortality After Breast Cancer Diagnosis in Men vs. Women
- Cancer Today: A New Use for Patient Data
- The Male Breast Cancer Coalition: The Male Breast Cancer Coalition
The Lack of Diversity in Clinical Trials
The lack of diversity in clinical trials continues to draw attention and concern.
Below you will find a recent analysis by journalists that found African Americans and Native Americans are under-represented in clinical trials of new drugs in the U.S., even for types of cancers that disproportionately affects them. There is also an article that looks at the global nature of this problem.
-
-
- USA Today: Black Women Are Missing From Breast Cancer Tumor Data. And That May Be Killing Them.
- Health Central: Where Are All the Black Women in Breast Cancer Clinical Trials?
- National Cancer Institude: Oncotype DX Breast Cancer Test May Be Less Accurate for Black Patients
- MBC Alliance: BECOME Patient Survey
- Diverse Health Hub: Diversity in Clinical Trials Benefits Everyone
- ProPublica Analysis: Black Patients Miss Out on Promising Cancer Drugs
- Nature: When Will Clinical Trials Reflect Diversity?
-
Voices of Men with MBC
The American Cancer Society estimates that this year about 2,550 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and about 480 men will die from metastatic breast cancer.
This month we link to the stories of men with metastatic breast cancer who are advocating for more research, funding, and support for men and women with metastatic breast cancer.
-
- Male Breast Cancer Coalition: Mac Holmes
- Male Breast Cancer Coalition: Kirby Lewis
- Male Breast Cancer Coalition: Bob Holden
- Story Half Told: Michael Kovarik