The Impact of MBC on Work and Career
You may wonder if you can go to doctor’s visits or participate in a clinical trial while continuing to work. Read more here about what to consider when continuing to work during treatment and trials.
The Impact of MBC on Work and Career
You may wonder if you can go to doctor’s visits or participate in a clinical trial while continuing to work. Read more here about what to consider when continuing to work during treatment and trials.
Side Effects of MBC Treatments: Sexual Health Side Effects
This month, we highlight advice from experts about how to manage sexual health side effects, as well as clinical trials that are studying these side effects. Learn more here.
Exercise and Stage 4 Breast Cancer
Research studies are finding that exercise plays an important role in the care of metastatic (stage 4) breast cancer care–including after diagnosis.
We’ve rounded up on some articles, personal stories, research studies, and videos that highlight the importance of keeping–or introducing–exercise in your life. Activities can actually help reduce fatigue. It can even help with the pain. And it can help improve your quality of life.
Learn why it’s safe and beneficial in the articles below.
About
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- Breastcancer.org: Making Exercise Part of Your Metastatic Treatment Plan
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: Exercise and MBC: Tips From a Survivor
- Oncology Nurse Advisor: Exercise Improves Quality of Life for Patients with Bone Metastases
- Unite for HER: Funding and delivering integrative and supportive therapies to help empower and restore your body, mind, and soul
Research studies
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- The ASCO Post: Exercise Counteracts Fatigue, Pain in Women with Advanced Cancer
- Journal of Pain and Symptom Management: Physical Activity for Symptom Management in Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Randomized Feasibility Trial on Physical Activity and Breast Metastases
Personal stories
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- FORCE-Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered: Personal Story: Running Marathons with MBC? Yes!
Getting Through the Holidays While Living with MBC
The holidays can be challenging if you are living with MBC. Here are some ways to help you get through the holidays.
Dragon Boat Racing
Up until the late 1990s, women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer were told not to take part in upper body exercise. The concern: it would increase their risk for lymphedema. Then, the results of a study that enrolled women in an exercise and dragon boat racing program found that upper body exercise helped reduce lymphedema risk. Since then, many women with early-stage and metastatic breast cancer have taken up the sport. There are now 225 teams in 25 countries.
Below you will find links to articles about breast cancer and dragon boat racing, the study that showed dragon boat racing improved quality of life, a documentary that aired on local PBS channels, and the International Breast Cancer Paddler’s website and Facebook page–in case you want to learn how to get involved.
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- NPR Boston: Breast Cancer and Dragon Boat Racing: The Story Behind a Movement
- CancerHealth.com: How Dragon Boat Racing Gave Breast Cancer Survivors Back Their Bodies
- US National Library of Medicine: Dragon Boat Racing and Health Related Quality of Life
- Missoulian.com: All Ages, All Stages: Cancer Thrivers Take to Dragon Boats for Therapy, Strength
- PBS: Oceans of Pink: A PBS Documentary
- International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Commission: International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Commission
- Facebook Page: International Breast Cancer Paddlers’ Commission
What to Know About Palliative Care for MBC
The goal of palliative care is to ease symptoms and support the best quality of life possible. Click to discover types of palliative care and find relevant trials.
Consider a Retreat
Whether it’s one day or week, a retreat can provide an opportunity to form important connections with others and gain skills that can help you live with metastatic breast cancer. Retreats also provide new experiences, a break from the day-to-day, great food, and more! These are some of the organizations and programs that provide retreats that may be of interest to individuals living with metastatic breast cancer.
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- Conquer Magazine: Consider Attending a Metastatic Breast Cancer Retreat
- Omega Institute: Retreat for Women with MBC
- CastingForRecovery.org: Retreats for Women with MBC
- CommonWeal.org: Cancer Help Program
- Nancy’s List: Retreats for Women and Men with Cancer
- A Fresh Chapter: Explore Life Beyond Cancer
Evidence-Based Information on Herbs and Supplements
Herbs and supplements are widely advertised as beneficial to cancer patients. But how do you know which ones are safe?
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- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: About Herbs, Botanicals and Other Products
- Cancer.Net: Dietary and Herbal Products
- Harvard Medical School and Boston Medical Library: Harvard’s Integrative Medicine Online Database
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean safer, or Better
- Unite for HER: Funding and delivering integrative and supportive therapies to help empower and restore your body, mind, and soul
Preparing for a Medical Conference
Preparing to attend a medical meeting or conference can feel overwhelming. Get tips to help you make the most of the experience.