The METAvivor Story

METAvivor is dedicated to the specific fight of women and men living with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer (MBC). METAvivor uses 100% of donations for stage 4 MBC research, provides support programs and works to raise awareness of MBC.

At the time of METAvivor’s founding, no organization was dedicated to funding research for the disease and no patient groups were speaking out about the dearth of stage 4 cancer research. While more and more people have taken up the cry for more stage 4 research, METAvivor remains the sole US organization dedicated to awarding annual stage 4 breast cancer research.

METAvivor exists to sustain hope for those living with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We are a volunteer-led, non-profit organization that funds vital research to help improve the longevity and quality of life for MBC patients. Passionately committed patients ourselves, we rally public attention to the urgent needs of the MBC community, help patients find strength through support and purpose, and make every dollar count as we work with researchers to extend and improve quality of life for MBC patients.

The METAvivor Story

The METAvivor non-profit was established by a small group of pro-active metastatic breast cancer patients who felt that the lack of research and support dedicated to their disease and to those suffering from it was just plain wrong. Their determination to make a difference has made METAvivor what it is today. In the years since its founding, METAvivor has become internationally recognized for raising awareness and funds explicitly for stage 4 breast cancer research. While METAvivor has suffered the loss of quite a few Board members since its founding, there has never been a lack of people stepping up to take the place of those who have gone. Indeed, with each death METAvivor’s resolve has only grown stronger METAvivor continues to push ahead until the day metastatic breast cancer is rendered a truly survivable condition.

What is Metastatic Breast Cancer?

If you know someone who has died from breast cancer, they died from metastatic breast cancer. Metastatic breast cancer, or stage 4 breast cancer, is the spread of breast cancer to non-adjacent parts of the body — most commonly to the bones, liver, lungs and/or brain. Many effective breast cancer treatments exist, but if the cancer metastasizes and spreads outside of the breast, there is no cure.