Six Support and Information Resources for Metastatic Breast Cancer
Six organizations offer metastatic breast cancer education, peer support, counseling, and practical help. Their services can help people find support that fits.
A metastatic breast cancer diagnosis can bring questions about treatment, daily life, and how to talk with people close to you. Six organizations described here offer different kinds of help, from peer conversations and educational programs to counseling and assistance with some costs. Their services vary, so the right fit may depend on what kind of support a person is looking for and how they prefer to connect.
Research, care planning, and community
The Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance works to extend and enhance the lives of people with metastatic breast cancer by supporting research, raising awareness, expanding access to clinical trials, and sharing education about the disease. Its projects include the BCBM Initiative: The Marina Kaplan Project, which aims to speed research on breast cancer that has spread to the brain. The Alliance also hosts educational webinars, including Black Wo(men) Speak, which centers voices serving Black communities.
For people weighing care options, the Alliance offers guidance on finding a care team and considering a treatment plan. Its blog features personal accounts and updates about metastatic breast cancer research and news. These materials can provide background for conversations with a care team; individual treatment decisions still depend on a person’s circumstances and medical advice.
METAvivor focuses specifically on metastatic breast cancer. Its resources for people who are newly diagnosed include suggestions for coping with the news and discussing the diagnosis with friends and family. The organization also connects people through in-person peer support groups across the country. People who cannot find a group nearby can apply to lead one.
METAvivor says it is the only organization in the country that funds research exclusively on metastatic breast cancer. It also holds fundraisers, including the annual Stage IV Stampede in Washington, DC. Its site shares event information and personal stories about living with the disease, from diagnosis to conversations with loved ones.
One-to-one support and shared experience
Living Beyond Breast Cancer serves people with all types of breast cancer. Its online information covers metastatic breast cancer types, symptoms, and treatment options. For a personal conversation, its Breast Cancer Helpline, at 888-753-5222, matches callers with a trained volunteer who has also received a breast cancer diagnosis.
The organization’s online community and support group, Flourish, offers another way to connect. Its events include the annual Thriving Together conference, which can be attended virtually, and the Butterfly Ball, a fundraiser honoring people living with breast cancer. Past events have included a pickleball fundraiser and a masquerade ball. Visitors can also browse personal stories by cancer stage, type, treatment, and other topics, and read news about research and available treatments.
SHARE Cancer Support serves people with breast and gynecologic cancers. Its metastatic breast cancer support groups meet online several times a month, and its webinars address subjects such as “chemo brain” and exercise for people living with metastatic disease.
People seeking a peer conversation can call the Metastatic Breast Cancer Mentoring Match Line at 844-ASK-SHARE (844-275-7427) and press 5 to be connected with someone who shares their diagnosis and experience. SHARE also runs an online forum where volunteers and others with the disease exchange information and personal stories. Its podcast, Our MBC Life, covers topics including travel with metastatic breast cancer, gratitude, and accounts from people who have lost a loved one to the disease.
Resources for younger adults and practical needs
The Young Survival Coalition, founded in 1998 by a group of young women diagnosed with breast cancer, provides information for adolescents and young adults. Its metastatic breast cancer materials include current statistics, guidance on finding clinical trials, and explanations of commonly used terms.
The Coalition’s peer matchmaking connects young people with breast cancer to young survivors with similar experiences. People can also meet others through virtual metastatic breast cancer hangouts or local Face2Face support groups. These options may help younger adults find peers who understand the particular concerns that can come with facing cancer earlier in life.
CancerCare offers free support services to people with cancer, including metastatic breast cancer. Depending on eligibility and available programs, financial assistance may help with medical costs, transportation, or childcare. Oncology social workers provide counseling, and free telephone resource navigation can help people make sense of the treatment process. Counseling and telephone services are available in English and Spanish.
CancerCare also offers two support groups for people receiving treatment for metastatic breast cancer. Each group is led by an oncology social worker, and members can share experiences, practical suggestions, and resources. Its Connect Education Workshops cover treatment advances, managing side effects, and quality of life. A library of publications includes information about questions to raise with a doctor and understanding treatment options.
Finding a useful starting point
These organizations offer distinct entry points: research and care-planning information, support from people with shared experience, age-focused connections, or help with emotional and practical needs. A person can explore the format and services that feel most relevant, then bring questions about treatment or clinical trials to a doctor or pharmacist. Peer support can offer understanding and company, while a medical care team can help interpret how information applies to an individual’s care.
