If you’ve ever wondered what role the federal government plays in your healthcare (especially after a breast cancer diagnosis), you’re not alone. Many people may be surprised to learn that while the federal government helps fund healthcare, it doesn’t directly provide hospital or doctor services. Still, it plays several important roles that can affect your treatment and care. Here’s a breakdown of what the federal government does do, how it can matter to you, and some ways you can get involved in advocacy.

Are you ready to lace up your running shoes for a great cause? On October 18 and 19, 2025, thousands of participants will hit the streets for the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, and this year, you can make every step count by fundraising for the Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN)!

About 5% to 10% of breast cancer cases are passed down through families. Sometimes, several people in a family may have breast or other types of cancer, even if no specific gene mutation is found. This is called familial breast cancer. Having a family history can raise your risk, but it doesn’t always mean the cancer is genetic.

When going through breast cancer, you often hear about different kinds of tests like scans, biopsies, and blood work. One new kind of test that’s starting to gain attention uses ctDNA or circulating tumour DNA. You may also hear it called a liquid biopsy. But what is it? And how could it help in breast cancer care?

Radiation therapy: two words that sounded surreal when I heard them attached to my cancer treatment plan. I knew what radiation was, technically, but I was clueless about what the actual experience would be like or how it would affect me. Mostly because my oncology team had described it and its potential side effects in vague terms. Apparently, this isn’t unusual for women like me who’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer.

There was a total of three oncologists from different areas of care that I would meet along the way. Then there is my plastic surgeon! The beginnings of a joke. Three oncologists and a plastic surgeon go into a bar... If you have a good joke for this scenario, I would love to hear it. But this is the thought that keeps popping into my head every time I am told about my surgical team.

As my towel brushed past the bottom of my right breast, I couldn’t help noticing that something didn’t feel right. Broken glass? It felt like broken glass. Is that possible? Could I have broken my boob? Can you break a boob? My mind began to swirl toward real questions then to ones that were clearly insane and made no sense... and yet, I asked them out loud... to myself... in the mirror.

In recent years, cannabis has become a potentially valuable tool to help manage symptoms caused by cancer and its treatment. While the plant has been used medicinally for centuries, modern scientific interest has focused on its potential to lessen pain or nausea, and to improve appetite or anxiety—common challenges faced by people living with cancer. Although cannabis is not a cure for the disease, its role in improving quality of life is increasingly being studied by researchers.

I vividly remember the first night, after I found out I had breast cancer. I was lying in bed, wide awake with my eyes closed, listening to Trixie the cat purring beside me. My body was heavy, but my mind was wild, racing with thoughts of nothing and everything all mashed together. That was the beginning of a new kind of insomnia. Not the kind where you just can’t fall asleep, but the kind where sleep feels like something you used to do in a different lifetime but can’t access any more.

Breast cancer remains one of the most common cancers worldwide. While progress in early detection and treatment has significantly improved survival rates over the past few decades, continued advancement depends on clinical trials. These research studies are the foundation of medical progress, playing a vital role in finding better ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat breast cancer.