October 1, 2026
This month you will see a lot of pink. Everywhere. In the metastatic breast cancer (MBC) community we refer to this month as Pinktober.
Breast cancer is more than pink. Every person (woman and man) diagnosed with breast cancer has their life permanently altered, and not for the better.
An MBC diagnosis is devastating. MBC has no cure, it is a terminal illness. An early-stage diagnosis (Stages I-III) are considered “curable”. (That is a topic for a whole other post.)
MBC has it’s own ribbon of green, teal, and pink. Green represents the triumph of spring over winter, life over death, and renewal, hope, and immortality. Teal symbolizes healing and spirituality. The pink overlay signifies that the metastatic cancer originated in the breast.
MBC is the only breast cancer that kills. Yet, it receives the least amount of research funding. If we cured MBC, we’d cure breast cancer for everyone.
Research is critical to both understand the underlying biology of metastasis as well as research drugs and treatments. Only ~13% of all funding for breast cancer research goes toward MBC.
You will be provided multiple opportunities to “support” breast cancer this month. I urge you to “Think before you Pink.” Ask where your donation is going. If they can’t tell you, find another opportunity. Not all donations go to research either.
Here are my top organizations. Any donation to each of them is tax deductible.
- METAvivor: Through the #LightUpMBC campaign we aim to raise at least $600,000. My Colorado team page is here.
- Sikora Research Lab: This University of Colorado research lab conducts fundamental research into lobular breast cancer. Donations are used to support proof-of-concept hypothesis that are they submitted for multi-million dollar grants.
- Breast Cancer Research Foundation: Dedicates around one-third ($24.8 million) of its annual research investment to MBC research.
I recognize not everyone is in a position to donate money. Here are a few items of information you can share with a friend, family or stranger!
- Let people know that an estimated 155,000 Americans are currently living with metastatic breast cancer.
- At least 40,000 Americans die annually from MBC; thats roughly 110 people per day.
- 30% of people “cured” with early-stage breast cancer will go on to develop stage IV MBC.
- The prognosis for MBC varies greatly with some people living only 1-2 years and a few living a decade.
- There are a finite number of medications for MBC. Cancer mutates and outsmarts each drug.
- Let your elected federal representatives know that funding for scientific research (especially the NIH) is critical.
- Anyone can get breast cancer – regardless of lifestyle. People diagnosed with breast cancer didn’t do anything wrong. It’s simply terrible luck.
I thank you for reading this in its entirety. I appreciate you all.
