"Lights. Camera. Action." These words have taken on a whole new meaning since I was diagnosed with Stage 4, metastatic breast cancer (MBC). I’ve been on a mission to find light despite the darkness of this diagnosis, capture as many meaningful moments as possible on camera, and take action to do everything in my power to help find a cure.

I first met Matt DeAngelis when he and his wife, Christine Dwyer, agreed to record a segment for #LightUpMBC Live, a virtual benefit that showcases inspiring MBC patient stories live from illuminated landmarks around the world to raise funds for MBC research. Without hesitation, Matt and Christine agreed to be part of it because they had a deep personal connection to the cause and wanted to help amplify the call to action. Matt appeared on The Today Show with me to help raise awareness about metastatic breast cancer and also spoke about his own project, The Janice Jam, created in memory of his mother, Janice.

A Life-Changing Phone Call

I spoke with Matt, who vividly remembers the phone call that changed everything. “I was at the dog park with my wife and my dog, and I got a crying phone call from my mom saying that she had breast cancer. At the time, I knew it was bad, but very quickly after learning about that, I got optimistic again because some of the preliminary numbers were telling me that maybe this wasn't as bad as I thought.”

At the time, Matt was performing in the Tony-nominated Broadway show Waitress, when there was a serendipitous announcement. For the first time, the uniforms of the three leading waitresses would change from the traditional blue to pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This, along with a pie contest, would raise awareness and funding for breast cancer research. Waitress was unique because it was the first Broadway show with an all-female creative team—written by a woman, composed by a woman, choreographed by a woman, and directed by a woman. It made complete sense to make a bold statement for breast cancer awareness.

Matt recalled, “They had announced that we were going to do it, and I remember when the woman from the organization we were working with showed up. The news about my mom was very fresh. And I remember I sort of broke down and told her what was going on. She provided me with a lot of resources and information. Every time I saw the pink uniforms, I thought of my mom and what she was going through, and how other members of my family had also been affected by breast cancer.”

Generations Affected by Breast Cancer

Matt’s grandmother had a mastectomy in 1974 and was a breast cancer survivor. “She always told me these stories about how different it was and how horrible she felt on the meds.”

Since 1974, breast cancer treatments have advanced significantly:

• 1970s: Mastectomy was the primary treatment. Chemotherapy was introduced as an adjuvant therapy.
• 1980s: The introduction of lumpectomy and radiation therapy as alternatives to mastectomy.
• 1990s: Tamoxifen became widely used as a hormone therapy for estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer.
• 2000s: Targeted therapies emerged, including trastuzumab (Herceptin) for HER2-positive breast cancer.
• 2010s: The rise of immunotherapy and CDK4/6 inhibitors, improving survival rates for metastatic patients.
• 2020s: Development of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) and more personalized medicine approaches, significantly improving treatment efficacy and quality of life.

Matt’s mom did well for several years on her breast cancer treatments until it seemed like suddenly she was not doing well. She was very private throughout her journey. Matt shared that he did not realize her breast cancer had metastasized throughout her body until he saw it on her death certificate. The reality is that approximately 30% of early-stage breast cancer patients, like Janice, will have a recurrence as Stage 4, even after undergoing a mastectomy and/or chemotherapy. That’s exactly why The Janice Jam donates 100% of net proceeds to fund metastatic breast cancer research through the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).

The Power of Research

Founded by Evelyn H. Lauder in 1993, BCRF funds investigators who have been deeply involved in every major breakthrough in breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and metastasis. This year, BCRF is supporting more than 260 investigators across 16 countries at leading medical and academic institutions with scientific grants.

“As we continue seeing an alarming increase in breast cancer incidence, especially in younger women, the need to accelerate breast cancer research is growing ever more acute,” said BCRF Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Dorraya El-Ashry. “Metastatic breast cancer remains our most urgent priority and comprises nearly half of our annual grant funding. We remain steadfast in our commitment to end breast cancer by advancing the world’s most promising, innovative research.”

A Broadway Community United

Janice was so genuinely kind and interested in Matt’s friends—not just in what they were working on but in their lives. The message felt every year at The Janice Jam isn’t about the glitz and glam of show business, it’s about the Broadway community coming together to make a difference.

“We want it to be a celebration of the people who are fighting who are still here,” Matt emphasized. “And we want to be raising money to help people have more time with their families. And through that, we can laugh and we can do burlesque and tap dance and Broadway and comedy and magic and all the things that we have at The Janice Jam. It reminds us that the reason we want to keep people here is because being alive is pretty fun. You can go to big events, bring people together, cry a little, laugh a little, drink a little, and party a little. My mother was about all of that.”

Honoring a Mother’s Legacy

I spoke to Matt about what he misses most about his mom. “I'm an independent guy, but I'm missing the loudest voice of saying… ‘You're doing great.’ I just opened my first original Broadway cast in Swept Away, and my wife was the best on the red carpet with me. It was great. But my mom would have thought it was so cool.”

“I'm on the original Broadway cast album for the first time after 20 years in show business. I'd like to think that she's proud. I'd like to think that there's something in her death and loss that has changed me for the better. I think I've always been a person who brings people together, but I think that this loss has helped me use those things for a very specific purpose. It's given me a place to put all my feelings. It's allowing me to feel like I'm using my pain and grief to honor her and help other people.”

How to Support The Janice Jam

To attend this year’s The Janice Jam event in NYC or support the cause, please visit Give.BCRF.org/TheJaniceJam. It will be an evening of celebration, remembrance, and breast cancer awareness with 100% of net proceeds benefiting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation to help fund breast cancer research. This is sure to be one of the most power-packed benefit concert events of the year and a very meaningful evening. Performers include Matt DeAngelis (Waitress), Tony Award-winner John Gallagher Jr. (Swept Away), Christine Dwyer (Wicked), Omar Jose Cardona (NBC’s The Voice), and many more! Film, television, and Broadway star Krysta Rodriguez is also scheduled to perform and share her inspiring breast cancer journey. Diagnosed at 30, she had a double mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation. She is proud to be a survivor and currently starring on Broadway in the new musical Smash, inspired by the hit NBC show. Broadway performer Sarrah Strimel Bentley will also take the stage. She is a breast cancer survivor, mother through surrogacy and yoga instructor who helps others find joy in every moment.

Let’s come together to celebrate the thrivers, remember those lost from the disease, and support groundbreaking research to make a difference for future generations.

This article was first published in Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine. To read more articles filled with inspiring stories and valuable resources about breast cancer, order your complimentary subscription of Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine at https://breastcancerwellness.org/subscribe/

Visit Playbill.com/TheJaniceJam for more.