Every year on February 4th, World Cancer Day, we get the opportunity to reflect on the work we’re doing to help reduce the impact of cancer. World Cancer Day, led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), has an action packed slogan: I Am and I Will. They’ve developed a set of key issues that affects us all. Here’s how CBCN is working to reduce the affects of cancer for Canadians based on these key issues:
Awareness, Understanding, Myths and Misinformation: Access to information and knowledge about cancer can empower us all
With this blog, our CBCN Connected and mBC Connected newsletters, and SurgeryGuide we’re providing important information to the breast cancer community so that each person living with this disease can make informed decisions about their health.
Equity in access to cancer services: Life-saving cancer diagnosis, treatment and care should be equal for all – no matter where you live, what your income, your ethnicity or gender
Last fall, we launched our mBC Access Matters campaign that advocates for equal access to treatments regardless of where you live in Canada. Access to metastatic breast cancer drugs varies by province in this country and we believe that everyone should have the same access. Hear from patients affected by these disparities and sign the petition! https://mbcaccessmatters.ca/
Government action and accountability: Governments can influence many of the levers to reduce and prevent cancer.
Each year, we work closely with government at the federal and provincial levels, as well as health care review bodies (like the pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review) to ensure that access to necessary treatments for breast cancer are approved and publicly funded for the people who need them.
Beyond physical: mental and emotional impact: The impact of cancer goes far beyond physical health, impacting the mental and emotional wellbeing of patients and their caregivers.
Breast cancer can affect every aspect of a person’s life. The financial toll a breast cancer diagnosis can take on a person and their family can have damaging effects on their emotional wellbeing. That’s why we created our FinancialNavigator tool. The FinancialNavigator arms Canadians and their families with the information needed to prepare for the financial strains of cancer as well as a comprehensive database of programs, grants and resources to help offset this burden.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram today and share your I Am and I Will’s using the hashtags: #WorldCancerDay #IAmAndIWill
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