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KEVIN GIANOTTO (773) 230-4420

HUNDREDS EXPECTED AT METASTATIC BREAST CANCER DIE IN

GROUP TO PRESENT DEMANDS FOR EQUITABLE FUNDING OCTOBER 13 IN WASHINGTON, DC

[SEATTLE, WA, SEPTEMBER 30]--On Tuesday October 13, people from across the country diagnosed with stage IV
breast cancer and their supporters will stage a Die In on the west lawn of the US Capitol Building. The Die In is
meant to symbolize the 1,430 people worldwide who die every day from advanced breast cancer. Organized by
advocacy group Metastatic Breast Cancer Exchange To Unleash Power (MET-UP), the event will serve as a way to
demand that additional funding be invested in the research necessary to help prolong and save the lives of the
women and men living with the disease.
Metastatic breast cancer, also referred to as stage IV or advanced disease, is breast cancer that has spread beyond
the breast(s) and lymph nodes to another part of the body, most commonly the brain, bones, liver and lungs.
Statistics demonstrate that more than 30% of those diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer will eventually
develop metastasis. Once diagnosed, a person with stage IV breast cancer will remain in treatment for the rest of
their life, or until a time may come when they elect to end treatment. Metastatic breast cancer claims the lives of
more than 40,000 Americans and 522,000 people worldwide each and every year.
On October 13, 2014, the Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance (MBCA), an advocate-led alliance of organizations and
individuals working together to transform and improve the lives of people living with metastatic breast cancer,
released a groundbreaking report on the state of stage IV disease. According to the report, research on metastatic
breast cancer accounted for only 7% of the $15 billion spent on breast cancer research from 2000 to 2013 by
major government and nonprofit funders in North America and the United Kingdom.
MET-UP was co-founded when Jennie Grimes, 34, of Los Angeles, and Beth Caldwell, 38, a resident of Seattle, met
during a training they both attended as Hear My Voice advocates for Living Beyond Breast Cancer (LBBC). The
national nonprofit organization, which provides resources and services for women and men diagnosed with
breast cancer, implemented the HMV program after conducting research that demonstrated that people
diagnosed with metastatic disease experienced greater feelings of isolation and anxiety than those diagnosed
with an earlier stage of the disease. The goals of MET-UP include the demand that more funding be designated
specifically to help better understand and treat stage IV breast cancer and to end a growing trend that sexualizes
the disease.
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GROUP TO PRESENT DEMANDS FOR EQUITABLE FUNDING OCTOBER 13 IN WASHINGTON, DC
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The organization is inspired by AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power (ACT UP), formed in 1987 by gay men and their
supporters in direct response to the AIDS crisis. The group was known for conducting peaceful protests and civil
disobedience to heighten awareness of the disease and demand that greater numbers of people be allowed to
enter clinical trials as emerging drug treatments were being investigated. Caldwell states that MET UP received
both encouragement and advice from ACT UP's New York chapter.
Caldwell, a wife and mother of two young children she affectionately
refers to as The Boy and The Girl, talks about the breast cancer she
was diagnosed with in 2014 without any attempt to use ambiguous
phrases or carefully consult an inner thesaurus to find what she calls
mainstream, acceptable or pretty words about stage IV breast cancer.
I have metastatic breast cancer, which means the cancer that
originated in my breast has spread throughout my body, she says
matter-of-factly. And it is going to kill me along with many, many
others. I want people to remember
that when they go to some
ridiculous Save Your Boobies
fundraiser. How about we change
Beth Caldwell, 38, MET UP co-founder and
that to a Save the 110 People Who
author of the popular blog The Cult of
Will Die Today From MBC
Perfect Motherhood.
fundraiser? MET-UP wants to
present the real facts about what
this disease actually means for the thousands of us who it will kill. I
completely understand that the pink ribbon has relevance and significance,
especially by people who mean to do well. But, no pink ribbon or lovely
speech about early-detection is going to change anything for me until we
have a better understanding that not all of us have the same future.
Jennie Grimes being treated at UCLA.

Grimes learned of her own advanced condition after fracturing a leg bone
shortly after completing treatment for what she had been led to believe was stage II breast cancer at the age of
29. Grimes echoes Caldwells attitude with an unwillingness, as she says, to dumb down the magnitude of her
condition with pink ribbons and ridiculous awareness campaigns like that one a few months back calling for
women to hold a beer can between their breasts. Newsflash. Were aware. Grimes is also quick to point out that
while breast self-examination and mammography are important, there is a misconception thats out there that
if you find that lump early enough, everything is going to be alright. Thats not the truth. We need to understand
why. Thats the billion dollar question, she concludes, well aware of the statements ironic tone in relation to her
organizations mission and the purpose for its scheduled Die In.
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GROUP TO PRESENT DEMANDS FOR EQUITABLE FUNDING OCTOBER 13 IN WASHINGTON, DC
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Caldwell is calling on everyone able to attend. We all know someone this disease has killed, she comments.
Lets show the world were fed up with awareness and change it to action and demand a distribution of research
funding that is more fair and equitable.
Speakers at the event will include Grimes, Caldwell and CJ Cornelius, interim president of METAvivor. Those
interested in participating should plan to meet on the Capitols west lawn at 11 a.m. The program is scheduled
to start promptly at noon. In addition, those attending are encouraged to wear black or grey to the event. For
those who can't attend in Washington, there will be companion die-ins in Madison, Wisconsin and Astoria,
Oregon. Details are available on Facebook.
###
MET UP IS diverse, non-partisan group committed to direct action for a viable cure for breast cancer. We protest and demonstrate; we meet with
government and health officials and researchers; we support research into metastatic disease; and we speak out against the sexualizing of breast
cancer. We are convinced that the deaths of women and men from metastatic breast cancer are a paramount issue, and we pledge ourselves to oppose
all who deny the reality of the 530,000 people who will die from metastatic breast cancer globally every year while waiting for a cure to be found.