This post is an installment of our profile series featuring participants, loved ones, advocates, and team members of the MBCproject. Thank you to all who have shared their voice and stories.

Today's profile features Amy Towne.

Q1. In your own words, can you share with us your reasons for joining the Metastatic Breast Cancer project (MBCproject)?

A little over two years ago I was diagnosed with Stage 4 de novo breast cancer. My first oncologist treated me with what I perceived as pity as she broke the news to me and my family, patting me on the shoulder and talking about quality of life. Instead of feeling comforted, I felt angry and motivated. I was 38 years old. I had a good marriage, two young children, and a thriving career. In short, I had everything to live for. After that first experience, I vowed to do whatever I could do to educate myself about and support research for MBC patients. Like all MBC patients, I want to see a cure to this disease in my lifetime.

This post is an installment of our profile series featuring participants, loved ones, advocates, and team members of the MBCproject. Thank you to all who have shared their voice and stories.

Today's profile features Katherine O'Brien.

Q1. In your own words, can you share with us your reasons for joining the Metastatic Breast Cancer project (MBCproject)?

Because they asked me to and it made sense. I wanted to help...not only the researchers but my family and ALL families impacted by metastatic breast cancer. I am a board member for the Metastatic Breast Cancer Network. We were the first to participate. It's amazing to see how the MBC Project has evolved.

This post is an installment of our profile series featuring participants, loved ones, advocates, and team members of the MBCproject. Thank you to all who have shared their voice and stories.

Today's profile features Emily Garnett.

Q1. In your own words, can you share with us your reasons for joining the Metastatic Breast Cancer project (MBCproject)?

 After I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, I needed to know that this diagnosis which had rocked my world was able to provide some good, and do something helpful for others. Providing samples for research felt like such an easy way to really contribute and make a difference in research that could potentially save my life.

This post is an installment of our profile series featuring participants, loved ones, advocates, and team members of the MBCproject. Thank you to all who have shared their voice and stories.

Today's profile features Susan Melia.

Q1. In your own words, can you share with us your reasons for joining the Metastatic Breast Cancer project (MBCproject)?

Knowing I would be less isolated as part of a social media group for groundbreaking research by simply clicking “count me in”. That the MBCproject was asking for my tumor sample, DNA and liquid biopsy when no one else was, and I could be a small part of this amazed me.

This post is an installment of our profile series featuring participants, loved ones, advocates, and team members of the MBCproject. Thank you to all who have shared their voice and stories.

Today's profile features Michael Kovarik.

Q1. In your own words, can you share with us your reasons for joining the Metastatic Breast Cancer project (MBCproject)?

My reasons for joining the Metastatic Breast Cancer project are centered on the strong belief that those of us living with Metastatic Breast Cancer must be counted. Only then will our voices (backed by the numbers) be able to affect those individuals who are able to infuse more money into research of MBC. It is research that will bring about change in our disease. First by striving to make this illness a chronic illness through research discoveries, be able to truly see the difference research makes on our community by knowing the number of women and men who are living with MBC and the effects of research on our longevity and quality of life and finally on the discovery of a cure.

This post is an installment of our profile series featuring participants, loved ones, advocates, and team members of the MBCproject. Thank you to all who have shared their voice and stories.

Today's profile features Abigail Johnston.

Q1. In your own words, can you share with us your reasons for joining the Metastatic Breast Cancer project (MBCproject)? 

It bothers me that those of us with metastatic breast cancer are not counted or included in traditional tallies. I believe it is important for this to be rectified and only if we work together can we fix that. I also very much appreciate the fact that the data is shared with everyone rather than staying or becoming proprietary. I prefer to assist when I know that my participation will help a variety of people.

This post is an installment of our profile series featuring participants, loved ones, advocates, and team members of the MBCproject. Thank you to all who have shared their voice and stories.

Today's profile features Judy Erdahl.

Q1. In your own words, can you share with us your reasons for joining the Metastatic Breast Cancer project (MBCproject)? 

I was thrilled to join the MBC Project. Cancer attacked me and I wanted to do something, anything to change how this disease affected me, my family and so many others. But, there really wasn’t much I could do. That is, not until the MBC Project came around. I was so excited to finally have the opportunity to contribute! To help! It felt wonderful to be proactive and aid in meaningful research. Research which was going to be openly available to others. If I have to die from this disease I at least want my experience and death to have some meaning. The MBC Project gives me that.