October 13 is Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. As of 2020, approximately 168,000 women in the U.S. were living with metastatic breast cancer (mBC), which is a projected 31% increase from 2010. This type of cancer, also called stage IV or advanced breast cancer, means it has metastasized, or spread, to other areas in the body such as the liver, lungs, brain, or bones.

Breast cancer treatment affects more than just your body. It can take an incredible toll on your emotional well-being as well. You likely have a ton of anxiety about your treatments, and how it will affect your life moving forward. If you’re a mom, you’ve got to worry about how this will affect your kids and your family. A demanding job or the needed income is another added level of stress that can make a huge impact. Add all of this to the physical symptoms of treatment, like joint pain, it’s an understatement to say that it’s hard.