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.
Depression & Metastatic Breast Cancer
Depression is common after a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis, whether caused by treatment or emotional stress. To learn more about depression after a metastatic diagnosis and the impact of seeking support, check out the links in this issue.
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.
Peer Support for Metastatic Breast Cancer
Peer support can be an important part of coping with major illnesses like metastatic breast cancer. Rather than talk to a professional like a counselor or therapist, you speak with one or more people who are also living with metastatic disease. Peer support can be found in-person, by phone or online.
What Types of Peer Support Are Available?
- Models of Peer Support Peers for Progress defines different kinds of peer support. Peers for Progress is not cancer specific, but the models explained apply to peer support for cancer.
Is Peer Support for Me?
- Why Peer Support is Important for People Coping with Cancer Cancer.Net interviews expert Dr. Schapira about the ways peer support helps people with cancer.
- Is an Advanced Breast Cancer Support Group for You? Everyday Health covers how peer support can help, and gives tips on what to look for as you search for group or one-on-one sessions.
Where Can I Find Support?
- Finding Support This list from our August 2018 issue of Metastatic Trial Talk provides links to organizations that offer support for people with MBC.
What is a Patient Navigator?
Patient navigators, sometimes called patient advocates, are trained to support you throughout your cancer care. Navigators offer a broad spectrum of support, from helping you sort through health insurance forms to coordinating care with your doctors. Often they’re social workers or nurses, but advocates without oncology backgrounds can also get certification. Hospitals and cancer centers have been offering patient navigation programs since the early 1990s — but their popularity is on the rise, largely due to research that shows navigation helps more patients access the care they need, when they need it.
Below you’ll find information on what patient navigators do and their value in cancer care. If you’re interested in a patient navigator supporting you throughout your care, contact your cancer care center to find out if they have navigators available. If they don’t, see the American Cancer Society link below for ways to find a patient navigator.
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- Healthline: Ask an MBC Navigator: Resources to Guide Your Journey
- ASCO Post: Patient Navigation Program Reduces Time to Treatment
- Journal of Oncology Navigation & Survivorship: Benefits of Patient Navigation
- American Cancer Society: Patient Navigators Help Cancer Patients Manage Care
Find Trials That Are Right For You
Metastatic Trial Search (MTS) is a clinical trial search tool designed specifically for patients with metastatic breast cancer. The patient-friendly trial search interface and trial summary make it easy for you to find a clinical trial and understand what researchers are studying, why, and who can take part. To make it even easier for you, we recently added a new feature to MTS that enables you to narrow your search results by different trial types. Try it now!
It is available on 23 breast cancer advocacy websites so you can use MTS on your favorite community website. This month we highlight MTS on Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance.
Our Partners
Our partner organizations share our commitment to helping metastatic breast cancer patients learn about and participate in clinical trials. They host Metastatic Trial Search on their websites, provide content for Metastatic Trial Talk, and provide valuable feedback for continuous quality improvement. We are proud to work with the following organizations:
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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
How To Get a Newly Approved Cancer Drug
You’ve likely seen news stories announcing new drug approvals and wondered: Will this drug benefit me? How can I get it?
The US FDA Drug Approval and CenterWatch websites track all newly approved drugs. They also provide information about the research studies that led to the drug’s approval. Once a drug is approved, your insurer will need to decide whether to include it in its formulary–the list of drugs it makes available to patients. If it’s not in its formulary, it will not be included in your drug co-pay or co-insurance benefits. There are some drugs that may be in the formulary but require your doctor to obtain prior authorization before your prescription can be filled.
If you read about a new trial, talk to your doctor to find out if the drug might be an option for you. That way, once it is approved, you can find out if it’s covered by your formulary or if it requires prior authorization. Also, keep in mind that some cancer drugs that are approved quickly may not show the same results in real-world settings.
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- FDA US FDA Drug Approvals
- CenterWatch: FDA Approved Drugs
- National Public Radio: Your Drug Formulary: How It Works and What to Know
- JDRF.org: How to Obtain Prior Authorization
- National Public Radio: Cancer Drugs Approved Quickly Often Fail to Measure Up Later
Cancer & PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder. Many people associate PTSD with anxiety that can be seen in soldiers, sexual assault survivors, and others who have experienced a frightening or life-threatening situation. Less well understood are the ways that cancer–its diagnosis and associated pain, long hospital stays, regular scans, and more–can trigger PTSD in cancer patients and caregivers.
In the articles collected below, you can learn more about the signs and symptoms of PTSD, how it can be treated, and where to find support.
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- Cancer.Net: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Cancer
- National Cancer Institute: Cancer-Related Post-Traumatic Stress
- National Cancer Institute: PTSD
- Lancet Psychiatry: PTSD and Cancer
- American Council on Science and Health: The PTSD of a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
- Breastcancer.org: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder After a Cancer Diagnosis
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.