You may know October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but what you might not know is that October 13th is National Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day.
Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is cancer that has left the breast and traveled to other parts of the body.
"I thought, 'I don't need my boobs, I don't need my hair. Let me have surgery and just get it out,'" says Tami Eagles Bowling, a MBC advocate and warrior herself.
Bowling tells NY1 she was diagnosed with the disease five years ago, after her second-ever mammogram. MBC is incurable and has a life expectancy of two to three years.
And while 98 percent of all breast cancer-related deaths are related to MBC, less than five percent of overall breast cancer research funding goes to Stage 4 MBC Stage.
"There's nothing pink and rosey about this terminal illness," Bowling says, adding that the goal is to turn MBC from a terminal illness to a chronic one.
And in that spirit, more than 100 landmarks across all 50 states will light up Tuesday, not just in pink, but in teal and blue too. The campaign is called "Light Up MBC." Tuesday's Facebook Live event will feature these displays, musical performance and more. Bowling is one of the co-producers.
Bowling, who has personally raised more than $150,000 to fund grants for research organizations and is championing bills in Washington would improve quality of life for MBC patients, tells us just 230 Park Avenue shined last year.
But this Tuesday, nine other landmarks join the list:
- Morgan Stanley @ 1585 Broadway and 522 5th Avenue
- One World Trade Center
- One Bryant Park
- One Five One West 42
- 230 Park Avenue
- Park Avenue Tower
- Gotham Hall
- Pier 17 @South St. Seaport (Blue)
- The Shops at Columbus Circle (Green only)
- Vessel at Hudson Yards (Green only)
- Bronx Terminal Market (Green only)
For more information on #LightUpMBC, visit metavivor.org.