87 Webinars are another important source of information and often cover new research and treatments. Organizations such as Living Beyond Breast Cancer and SHARE (Self-Help for Women with Breast or Ovarian Cancer) have webinars on results of MBC studies from major symposia, such as the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting and the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. Programs on practical matters in living with MBC, such as financial issues, are also available in this format, which allows for replay. Nearly half of Alliance member organizations provide telephone support services, all of which assist MBC patients in some capacity, even if just to refer them to other telephone helplines. Few telephone support services focus specifically on MBC patients; the ones that do include those by the Cancer Support Community, Living Beyond Breast Cancer, Susan G. Komen, and SHARE. Data collected on the use of helpline services by MBC patients is very limited. Most have live counselors during business hours and, at other times, callbacks within 24 hours. Nearly half the services use professional counselors; the rest use breast cancer survivors as counselors. Some helplines provide follow-up calls and/or matched mentors. All the helplines have Spanish-speaking counselors; several have counselors and/or translators available in other languages. Challenges for helplines include how to broaden awareness and utilization of services, how to retain well-trained counselors (especially for MBC patients), and how to manage technological problems with the telephone system. Information for HCPs Alliance members provide information and support to educate patients about their cancer and treatment options, which helps to empower patients in their conversation with health care professionals. However, oncologists and general practitioners often face their own obstacles in their communication with MBC patients. Information developed by Alliance members could be very helpful to providers, so both parties have a shared basis on which to discuss diagnosis and treatment. Web and print materials of members are not currently geared toward assisting providers in these tasks. Helplines to assist MBC patients: CancerSuportCommunity 1-888-793-9355 Living Beyond Breast Cancer 888-753-LBBC (5222) Susan G. Komen 1-877 GO KOMEN SHARE 866-891-2392 Photo: Living Beyond Breast Cancer’s 2014 Eighth Annual Conference for Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer