History
The National Cancer Institute defines a cancer survivor (survivorship) as; "In cancer, survivorship focuses on the health and well-being of a person with cancer from the time of diagnosis until the end of life." Health and well-being include the physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and financial effects of cancer that begin at diagnosis and continue through treatment and beyond.
The survivorship experience also includes follow-up care issues (including regular health and wellness checkups), late effects of treatment, cancer recurrence, second cancers, and quality of life. Family members, friends, and caregivers are also considered part of the survivorship experience.
However, the survivorship needs in stage IV metastatic breast cancer have been overlooked and understudied. We are unsure just how many women AND men are currently living with MBC, as the SEER database now counts those diagnosed with denovo stage IV but does not count those who have recurrent disease.
A recent study has shown that those living with MBC now live longer yet do not receive the same survivorship resources offered to early stagers. Those of us with MBC would like to be included in all survivorship investments as "we are not dead yet," our quality of life matters too.
About Us
Getting a diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer can feel like getting written off. Because MBC
is considered incurable, achieving official status as a “cancer survivor” remains just out of
reach. So do most survivorship programs designed to support cancer patients post-treatment.
But people can live with MBC for years, and they need and deserve this kind of holistic support
to live their best life.
Project Life was created by people living with MBC to bridge that gap. As an online home for
metastatic breast cancer patients and their loved ones, Project Life is designed to
support all facets of wellness: from financial and social, to spiritual, physical and
emotional. Its virtual “wellness house” is a space where members can find mentors and meet
other MBC thrivers, join survivorship conversations and classes, and explore skills and
knowledge that empower them to make every day the best that it can be.
