Statement from our CEO and Founder, Jamil Rivers: Today is an important day to me. October 13 marks Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) Awareness Day, an annual initiative to raise awareness of the challenges faced by people living with advanced breast cancer. Metastatic breast cancer occurs when cancer spreads beyond the breast to distant organs such as the bones, liver, lungs, or brain. I have been living with stage IV metastatic breast cancer for seven and a half years. Half of the patients The Chrysalis Initiative supports have metastatic breast cancer. This breast cancer awareness month has been tough considering all the volatility with our patients and health system partners. And despite calling for action to the disparities in care for Black and Brown women for nearly 7 years now, a recent review of 100 patients referred to us from NCI academic centers, cancer centers considered the best of the best, 100 of those women of color were not receiving quality standard of care according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. Despite this disheartening finding, I am encouraged. These women are now connected to The Chrysalis Initiative and getting the care and support they need. Black women are more likely to be diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer than their white counterparts. Black women also die from metastatic breast cancer at a 40% higher rate. We will continue to support our patients impacted by cancer, work with cancer centers to address inequities in cancer care and bring attention to these issues. We are making sure Black women with metastatic breast cancer can access brain scans before the cancer spreads to their brain, access and remain in clinical trials, are educated about the latest innovations and treatments in cancer care and are provided with wraparound support for any barriers. We also ensure that the patients we support of all races and all ages receive quality standard of care and screenings. In honor of the women you love, get involved with us today! Donate, Volunteer, Partner, Fundraise, Spread the Word or All the Above! (fb)

Are you a Black woman with a history of stage 0-3 breast cancer? This important research survey is about a new kind of clinical trial where women may try new treatments very early in their care. Take the survey https://t.co/GabywOMP6x https://t.co/yhAfCSM1KZ (tw)