South Shore fundraiser for metastatic breast cancer

If you know someone who has died from breast cancer, they died from metastatic breast cancer.

“Metastatic” means the cancer has escaped the breast and traveled to distant sites, like bones, lungs, liver, or brain. Cancer that stays in the breast does not kill.

Approximately 6 percent of initial breast cancer diagnosis are metastatic, and approximately 28 percent of women and men with early stage breast cancer will become metastatic; the median life expectancy after a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer is 36 months, and in 2018 more than 41,000 Americans will die due to metastatic breast cancer.

Despite this reality, the large breast cancer fundraisers only give a small percentage of their research funds to studying ways to help the already metastasized patient. Many experts believe we are on the cusp of making metastatic breast cancer a chronic disease, if only there were more money to do the research needed to develop effective treatments.

METAvivor, a nonprofit organization with a volunteer board (the majority of whom have metastatic breast cancer themselves), directs 100 percent of donations to such metastatic research, through a vigorous scientific peer-review process.

There will be a fundraising concert at Kahle Community Park in Stateline on June 25 from 6-9pm. Ike and Martin will provide the music. There will be food available. Bring your own beverage that is not in a glass container. No dogs allowed.

Minimum donation is $20.