(BPT) – Kimberly Jewett was shocked and scared when, after nearly four years cancer free, she learned her breast cancer had returned as metastatic breast cancer (MBC), meaning it had spread outside of the breast tissue. Facing uncertainty and unsure of what her next step should be, Kimberly, like many patients, turned to the internet to explore her options and find support. While she discovered a wealth of information, it quickly became overwhelming.
“I had every emotion a cancer patient feels when they are diagnosed – speechless, uncertain, lack of control and fearful,” Kimberly says of her MBC diagnosis. “The last thing I wanted to worry about was searching the internet for hours, trying to make sense out of dozens of links and figuring out what to believe. I discovered that websites that could provide more centralized access to helpful information were extremely important to people like me.”
Kimberly wasn’t alone in her desire. Sixty-nine percent of women with MBC perceive access to information as a priority during their journey with the disease, and nearly 75 percent of patients report seeking information on either a daily or weekly basis. Additionally, 69 percent of women with MBC find it helpful to listen to or read about other people’s experiences with breast cancer.
With these thoughts in mind, a new online resource was created to help women with MBC find credible information and outreach and support networks. mbcInfoCenter.com was designed with the patient’s needs in mind. By consolidating resources from across the internet, patients, caregivers and loved ones can obtain a robust perspective on their diagnosis, as well as important topics such as understanding side effects and pain management, tips for living healthier lifestyles and a patient friendly guide to understanding clinical trials. In addition, mbcInfoCenter.com guides patients to communities where they can share information and experiences with others who have experienced the struggle of navigating the MBC treatment journey.
“Support, empowering information and a positive outlook were essential parts of my treatment plan and are what every woman fighting MBC needs,” Jewett says. “Online resources, such as mbcInfoCenter.com, can offer women with MBC access to information that can help them as they navigate their unique journeys with the disease.”
While public awareness about the early detection, prevention and treatment of breast cancer has improved, there is still a need for more information regarding management of the disease, especially the metastatic kind. For more information, please visit mbcInfoCenter.com.
