What ‘Next Year’ Means When You Have Stage 4 Breast Cancer

Last year, I said I would attend this year’s San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Instead, I’m sitting here in Michigan telling myself I’ll go next year. I’d better start making plans, because with metastatic breast cancer — also known as stage 4 breast cancer — I might start running out of “next years.” The symposium, which was initiated in 1977 and takes place in San Antonio, Texas, was developed with the mission of providing state-of-the-art information about breast cancer, as well as a collaborative forum for researchers and physicians. This year’s meeting runs December 8 – 12. I’ve been following the outcome of this symposium for the past 10 years, ever since I was first diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. It became more important to me last year when, newly diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, I eagerly awaited announcements of new discoveries in the fight against my disease. But while the symposium has become known for attracting highly qualified researchers, clinicians, and physicians who present the findings of hundreds of research studies over several days, it — like so many other efforts against the disease — has been going on for decades with still no cure for breast cancer. Who Goes to San Antonio I know of several young women living with metastatic breast cancer who will be attending the symposium. They’re most likely interested in breakthrough studies to prolong their lives, but also in the patient advocate s...
Source: Life with Breast Cancer - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Breast Cancer research Source Type: blogs