Researchers are also rapidly decoding different types of breast cancer and how to specifically target each.
Most breast cancers arehormone-receptor positive, meaning they feed off of the hormones estrogen or progesterone.
Thus, therapies that inhibit the production of estrogen can prevent cancer cells from growing and multiplying.
A tricolor ribbon metastatic breast cancerribbonaims to raise awareness for the need to direct funding toward the development of life-extending treatments. In it, green represents the triumph of spring over winter, life over death; teal symbolizes healing and spirituality; and a thin pink-ribbon overlay signifies metastatic cancer that originated in the breast.
For others, MBC is the first cancer diagnosis theyve ever gotten; they feel completely blindsided.
And in most cases, there is actually no family history.
(Not sure about your own risk?
The National Cancer Institute has an onlinebreast-cancer risk assessmenttool.)
The most important takeaway: Self-exams and mammograms are crucial, no matter your health and family history.
More on metastatic breast cancer:
