Breast cancer incidence rates have been relatively stable over the past decade; however, recent studies are revealing that breast cancer rates among Asian American women have been rapidly increasing. Since 2000, breast cancer occurrence among Asian American and Pacific Islander women under 50 years of age has increased by 50%, growing more than 2% every year since 2012, according to a 2024 report from the American Cancer Society.

As we mark Precision Medicine Awareness Month (PMAM) this #KNOWvember, it's crucial to highlight the essential need for equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in the rapidly advancing field of precision medicine.

When diagnosed with breast cancer, having a life and health insurance policy can be an important tool to help you offset the financial toll it can take on your life. But these policies can be confusing. Unless you work in the sector, all the industry-specific language, details, and different clauses and subclauses might sound like a foreign language. This guide will help you make sense of your insurance policy.

Demography refers to the social, cultural, and personal characteristics that make up an individual. Currently, the scope of demographic health data in Canada is often limited to age and sex. This limited data means that many crucial details—such as income, race, or other social elements—are not being collected.

October 13 is Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day. As of 2020, approximately 168,000 women in the U.S. were living with metastatic breast cancer (mBC), which is a projected 31% increase from 2010. This type of cancer, also called stage IV or advanced breast cancer, means it has metastasized, or spread, to other areas in the body such as the liver, lungs, brain, or bones.

If you’ve been with us for a while or if you have Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) you know that this subtype is considered more aggressive and has fewer treatment options than other subtypes of breast cancer. By now, you’re also likely aware of the risks associated with TNBC. In 2023, we launched a report that identifies the educational, informational, and support needs of Canadians diagnosed with TNBC. Since then, we’ve dedicated significant time to raising awareness about its findings, including targeted advocacy for improvements in key issues affecting TNBC patients or those who are at elevated risk of developing TNBC.

We know that facing a breast cancer diagnosis is a daunting thing to experience. But for some, the challenges, fears, and uncertainty can be compounded by a lack of access to culturally competent care and tailored supportive resources that truly understand and address the unique needs of diverse community groups. We’ve compiled a non-exhaustive list of resources we know to be helpful and can provide much-needed assurance and support to culturally diverse communities, young women, those with high familial risk and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Since 2014, May 20^th has been promoted as Clinical Trials Day by the Association of Clinical Research Professionals. It is a moment to recognize the pivotal role clinical trials play in advancing research and treatment for many diseases, including breast cancer. This day was chosen to honour Scottish surgeon James Lind, who, in May 1747, conducted what is generally acknowledged as the first clinical trial.

Advances in the screening and management of breast cancer have resulted in substantial improvements for those diagnosed with the disease. Patients are living much longer after a breast cancer diagnosis, which is a major accomplishment of modern medicine. However, since patients are living longer, the complications associated with treatment (such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy) are becoming increasingly apparent. One such complication is the development of persistent pain in the area of breast cancer resection.

In the 1960s silicone gel breast implants came into use, allowing for breast reconstruction post-mastectomy or augmentation to be possible, but at that time, there was no clear standard for the implant placement. At first, surgeons placed the prosthesis in front of the chest (pectoralis major)  muscle, but the chance of postoperative complications was high.