19 December 2017

During the last chat of the year, we remembered and honored those who are no longer with us. In addition, #BCSM co-founder @stales reviewed the top breast cancer stories, from January through December.

January: Third of Breast Cancer Patients Treated Unnecessarily

February: Dense Breasts Eclipse All Other Known Breast Cancer Risk Factors

March: 9 Deaths are Linked to Rare Breast Cancer From Implants

April: Doctors Divided on When to Start Mammograms

May: Just One Alcoholic Drink per Day Increases Breast Cancer Risk, Exercise Lowers Risk

June: Women With Aggressive Breast Cancer are Living Longer

July: Study Sheds Light on the “Other” Breast Cancer Genes

August: Sequenced Treatment Making Inroads in Her2 Positive Early Breast Cancer

September: 6 Surprising Things that can Improve Breast Cancer Treatment

October: Global Study Finds 72 New Breast Cancer Genes

November: Breast Cancer May Return Even 20 Years Later

December: Birth Control May Increase Breast Cancer Risk

Medical oncologist Dr. Stephanie Graff tweeted out a great summary:

So a theme among these is the over-sensationalized headline from relative risk. A 20% increase isn’t from your risk of 8% to a risk of 28%, it is 20% of 8%–bringing your risk to 9.6% #statistics #bcsm

— Stephanie Graff (@DrSGraff) December 19, 2017

Some of the lessons learned in 2017:

Biggest Lesson of 2017 from #BCSM? The value of shared information among the patient/physician community on #SoMe!

— Terri Coutee (@6state) December 19, 2017

T2: Biggest lesson from #bcsm 2017? Love is all around.

— Dennis Keim (@denniskeim) December 19, 2017

T2. Same as every year: ” Breast cancer is a crapshoot”. #bcsm

— Rod Ritchie (@malefitness) December 19, 2017

T2: how much the individual stories and the collective data both mean so much at once. #bcsm https://t.co/POfpxOGu1B

— Shanna Marzilli (@Shanna_Marzilli) December 19, 2017

T2. Biggest lesson is a bit of a constant: these online friendships are only too real, and they often lead to IRL friendships too. #bcsm has led me to some of the most important people in my life.

— Liza Bernstein (@itsthebunk) December 19, 2017

#bcsm we are much tougher than we look and supportive friends make us tougher

— Mary L Gorden (@marylgorden) December 19, 2017

we, the patent community, are often the best and quickest source of information, outreach and support for newly dx’d and caregivers. Regardless of income, insurance or status. #bcsm T2

— FollowHeidi (@FollowHeidi) December 19, 2017

T2: Lesson learned from #bcsm: Take the time to meet online friends in person. Such great friendships started right here on a monday night #bcsm.

— Jamie Holloway, PhD (@jamienholloway) December 19, 2017

T2: I’ve learned resilience. Going through treatment with BFF early in 2017 was made easier by the support and love from this group. And the continued camaraderie each week have given me hope. ❤️ #bcsm

— Hillary Stires, PhD (@HillStirSci) December 19, 2017

Amazing support – and that really 5 years – 10 years – no one really knows. Just keep keeping on #bcsm

— Alexis S (@Lex_in_CO) December 19, 2017

T2:
📌 #bcsm = excellent peer-to-peer source of support, camaraderie, & information
📌Early detection doesn’t mean cure
📌More funding needed for metastatic disease
📌Including #patients & #carepartners at conferences is essential

— Enlightening Results (@GraceCordovano) December 19, 2017

And finally, hopes for 2018:

T3: More understanding of MBC, more research, more drugs, fewer SE. And dare I say…a cure? #bcsm

— Danielle Karber (@danielle_dk) December 19, 2017

T3: Real strides to end #breastcancer instead of continued incremental advances….plus access to quality healthcare for all (a big worry right now) #bcsm

— IBC Research Fdn (@IBCResearch) December 19, 2017

Happy Holidays to the entire #BCSM Community! Please join us in 2018 – chats resume Monday 1/8/2018 at 9pm ET.