PENNSYLVANIA – The PA Breast Cancer Coalition (PBCC) this week announced a new care package program for Pennsylvania women facing metastatic breast cancer called Friends Like Me2. Each Friends Like Me2 care package is FREE and customized with resources, small gifts and cosmetics specific to a Stage IV breast cancer diagnosis. The new program serves as an expansion of the PBCC’s existing Friends Like Me care package program, which sent more than 1,200 care packages to newly diagnosed women in 2021.
“It became clear to us as an organization that women and families facing stage IV need more,” said PBCC President and Founder Pat Halpin-Murphy. “The PBCC’s free metastatic breast cancer care package program, Friends Like Me2, will address the needs of metastatic breast cancer patients as they navigate their diagnosis and treatment. We are proud to offer this free resource to women at a time when they need it most.”
To ensure each Friends Like Me2 care package includes useful items for women facing Stage IV breast cancer, the PA Breast Cancer Coalition formed the Metastatic Breast Cancer Care Package Committee, which includes survivors, thrivers, medical professionals, PBCC Board members and PBCC staff. The group works together to determine Friends Like Me2 care package contents.
“Our metastatic breast cancer care packages include a lot of things to educate your mind and to warm up your soul,” said PBCC Board Member and Senior Director of the Office of Community Outreach at Fox Chase Cancer Center Evelyn Gonzalez. “With items like a planner, self-affirmation books, lotion, cooling socks, safe cosmetics and metastatic breast cancer resources, these free Friends Like Me2 boxes offer personal, customized support to women across our state.”
“I had just found out about my own metastatic diagnosis, and I wanted to be able to help others in the same situation,” Metastatic Breast Cancer Care Package Committee Member Marge Angello said. “It was a great experience learning what the other women were going through and we had a great deal of discussion as to what the care packages should contain. We were able to share our needs and items that could help breast cancer survivors on their journey.”
Friends Like Me2 care packages are available FREE of charge to women and men in Pennsylvania diagnosed with stage IV metastatic breast cancer. To request a Friends Like Me2 care package for yourself or a loved one, visit pbcc.me/FriendsLikeMe2 or call 800-377-8828.
The PA Breast Cancer Coalition is a 501(c)3 organization that represents, supports and serves breast cancer survivors and their families in Pennsylvania through educational programming, legislative advocacy and breast cancer research grants. The PBCC is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to finding a cure now…so our daughters don’t have to. For more information, please call 800-377-8828 or visit www.PABreastCancer.org.
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