Thirteen Advocacy Groups Collaborate on New Online Resource Dedicated to Patients with Advanced Breast Cancer

Today, those living with advanced breast cancer now have an online resource available specifically for them. AdvancedBreastCancerCommunity.org is the first comprehensive online resource to serve as a clearinghouse of information for those impacted by advanced breast cancer. The new web portal represents the collective thinking, expertise and resources from 13 leading cancer patient advocacy groups and also offers patients, caregivers, families and friends with a place to connect online.

Patients with advanced breast cancer have different needs and often face different challenges than newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. However, a survey commissioned by the nonprofit group, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, called "Silent Voices” (www.lbbc.org/data/news/LBBCsilentvoices.pdf) found more resources are needed for patients with advanced breast cancer.

About AdvancedBreastCancerCommunity.org

One section of the portal is educational, featuring credible and up-to-date information about advanced breast cancer, the latest treatment options and ongoing clinical trials. The second section offers online social networking for advanced breast cancer patients and their support network. Visitors to the site can become "members” and share their experiences and knowledge, as well as offer support to one another via blogs, discussion groups and surveys. Membership is free, but requires registration.

The 13 cancer patient advocacy groups that have contributed to the portal include:

• AdvancedBC.org
• Breastcancer.org
• Breast Cancer Network of Strength™
• Breast Cancer Research Foundation^®
• CancerCare^®
• Linda Creed Breast Cancer Foundation
• Living Beyond Breast Cancer
• Metastatic Breast Cancer Network
• SHARE: Self-help for Women with Breast or Ovarian Cancer
• Sisters Network^® Inc.
• Susan G. Komen for the Cure^®
• The Wellness Community^®
• Young Survival Coalition^®

The Web portal, www.AdvancedBreastCancerCommunity.org, was built by Inspire, an organization that creates high-quality online social networks dedicated to health and wellness in conjunction with leading media, health association, and health care partners. The communities, which Inspire works to create, provide supportive environments for thousands of patients and their caregivers to discuss issues and experiences around issues of health and wellness with one another.

To learn more about this important resource for advanced breast cancer, please visit www.AdvancedBreastCancerCommunity.org.

About Advanced Breast Cancer

Metastatic breast cancer is an aggressive form of breast cancer, and can occur when the disease has spread to other parts of the body – most often the liver, lungs, brain and/or bones. A woman can have advanced breast cancer when she is first diagnosed or, more commonly, as a recurrence of her cancer many years after the initial diagnosis. Advanced breast cancer is the number one cause of cancer death worldwide in women. In the United States, more than 40,000 women die each year from metastatic breast cancer.

Funding and development support for the Web portal was provided by Bristol-Myers Squibb.