Giving Tuesday is coming up on November 27th and we wanted to take this opportunity to highlight some of the amazing work Canadians have done to support the Canadian Breast Cancer Network. The Annual Pink Ribbons Project Gala hosted by the Full Circle Foundation for Wellness is a perfect example of community involvement shaping CBCN’s valuable resources.
Each year, in a small community southeast of Calgary, Brooks residents come together to support breast cancer education, advocacy and research, with a specific focus on metastatic breast cancer. To date, PRP has raised over 30,000 dollars for CBCN.
Funds raised from events like the Pink Ribbon’s Project has provided support for education and advocacy to patients with metastatic breast cancer. We’ve highlighted some of the work we’ve accomplished thanks to support from the Full Circle Foundation for Wellness.
1. Drug Access Advocacy and Patient Navigation:
As a patient led advocacy group we work to advocate for timely and equitable access to metastatic breast cancer drugs through meetings with decision makers, patient submissions to drug approval bodies and awareness campaigns. We also work individually with patients to ensure they have covered all avenues available to access their treatments.
2. Financial Resources Navigation:
Time and again we see the acute financial impact a breast cancer diagnosis has on a person and their family. With help from multiple grants, including PRP, we are in the process of developing a Financial Resources Navigation Tool for metastatic breast cancer patients and families. This will help direct people to various financial supports within their communities and provinces, but also federally. It will also list resources that may not directly offer monetary support but that will help offset some of the additional cost that come with having a metastatic breast cancer diagnosis.
3. Breast Cancer: The Lived Experience Report:
Earlier this fall we launched a special report focusing on the unique needs of women diagnosed with breast cancer. Through results from a 2017 patient-focused national survey, we heard from a total of 458 women, 180 of whom had metastatic breast cancer and 278 with early staged breast cancer. This survey and report has allowed us to capture the experiences of women across the country. It highlights the differences faced by women who are early stage and women who have metastatic disease. This report is crucial in helping to move the metastatic breast cancer agenda forward as it identifies the gaps and priorities indicated by patients. This not only helps inform the work that we will undertake moving forward but will also help other organizations and government identify where to focus their efforts to address the needs of people living with metastatic breast cancer.
This Giving Tuesday consider making a contribution to the Canadian Breast Cancer Network and you will be helping to support these and many more important initiatives. There are lots of ways to help support us from a simple donation to hosting an event.
To see more of what we accomplished this past year, check out our Annual Report!
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