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The Voice of People With Breast Cancer
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Our Campaigns
Breast Cancer 102
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are launching our Breast Cancer 102 campaign, aimed at increasing the public’s understanding of breast cancer. While October is usually associated with awareness around early detection and treatment, our campaign will explore the lesser-known aspects and far-reaching impacts of a breast cancer diagnosis that often go unnoticed.
While many are familiar with basic breast cancer facts—such as the importance of mammograms and self-exams—there is so much more to understanding this disease and its profound impact on patients, caregivers, and their families. Breast Cancer 102 goes beyond the basics, shedding light on the complexities, from the emotional toll to the financial burden, and the barriers to equitable care for marginalized groups.
Below, we provide stories, insights, and facts about breast cancer and we invite you to share our content, share your own experiences, and join the conversation on our social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X. Don’t forget to use the hashtags #BCAM2024 #BreastCancer102.
Together, let us expand the breast cancer narrative and create greater understanding and support for everyone impacted by this disease.
- Metastatic Breast Cancer
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- A diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer (mBC) can feel overwhelming for both patients and their loved ones. Knowing where to start is key to navigating this diagnosis: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1851478/episodes/11913811
- In a culture of breast cancer “survivorship”, living with metastatic breast cancer often means being in treatment for a very long time. That's why Sandra Thistle, who was diagnosed in 2019, is tired of having to educate others about her cancer status. https://www.cbcn.ca/en/blog/our-stories/why-i-hate-when-people-ask
- Metastatic breast cancer can have a profound effect on intimate relationships. In a 2022 study, up to 80% of metastatic breast cancer patients reported that their cancer had a significant impact on their sexual life. Learn more: https://www.cbcn.ca/en/mbc_intimacy
- While palliative care is often thought to mean end-of-life care, it can actually be integrated into a treatment plan at any time. Let’s remove the stigma that comes with palliative care: https://tinyurl.com/palliative-care-guide
- Metastatic breast cancer (mBC) occurs when cancer spreads to areas of the body other than the breast where the cancer first formed. Close to 1, 200 Canadian women get an initial diagnosis of mBC each year. Here's how this diagnosis affects daily life: https://cbcn.ca/en/mbc-newly-diagnosed-guide
- Clinical trials are often thought only available to individuals diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer who have gotten to their last line of treatment options. Let's explore other myths about clinical trials: https://www.cbcn.ca/en/blog/our-stories/debunking-common-myths-about-clinical-trials
- An estimated 20-30% of women who are initially diagnosed with an early-stage cancer will go on to be diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Research into metastatic breast cancer and its treatments are important to every one of us. https://www.cbcn.ca/en/blog/our-stories/mbc-day-2023
- Lived Experience
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- While a breast cancer diagnosis may initially put a pause on things such as a job, some of the multi-dimensional roles and responsibilities that women play in life continues. Here how some women deal with motherhood and breast cancer: https://tinyurl.com/motherhood-cancer
- Breast cancer and its associated treatments can deeply affect a woman's sense of self and identity. From hair loss to body changes to post surgery decisions, here’s how treatment can alter and impact physical health: https://tinyurl.com/beauty-appearance
- Telling kids about a breast cancer diagnosis is not an easy decision to make. As Bobbi Jo Beitz shares, “One of the hardest parts of being diagnosed was telling my girls. I decided I was not going to hide anything from them." Read more on her experience: https://www.cbcn.ca/en/blog/our-stories/60-to-0
- “I never really knew much about breast cancer screening or testing until after I was diagnosed. Not because I didn’t care, but because I didn’t think I was at risk.” Adriana Ermter shows us the importance of screening and writes about her diagnosis: https://www.cbcn.ca/en/blog/our-stories/breasts-are-boobs
- Being diagnosed with breast cancer can mean double duty of taking care of others while also needing care. As the main caregiver of her husband, here's how Monique Tremblay learned to cope with this conundrum when she was diagnosed during the pandemic: https://www.cbcn.ca/en/blog/our-stories/stoke-covid-cancer
- Too often, negative experiences with the healthcare system and delays in getting a diagnosis pushes individuals to become their own advocate. Here’s Karin’s experience with that: https://www.cbcn.ca/en/blog/our-stories/dense-breasts-lobular-cancer
- For some women, neither breast reconstruction nor wearing a prosthesis is an appealing option after breast cancer surgery. Instead, they choose to live flat or asymmetrical for a variety of reasons discussed here: https://www.cbcn.ca/en/living_flat
- Reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy is a personal choice and some women, like Ellyn Winters-Robinson, prefer instead to “live flat” and opt out of having reconstruction. Read about her choice here: https://www.cbcn.ca/en/blog/our-stories/AFC-reconstruction
- Age and Breast Cancer
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- Being diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age brings unique challenges like fertility concerns, caregiving for young children, or putting a career on hold. Here are other unique experiences younger women may face: https://www.cbcn.ca/never_too_young
- Treatment and care plans for older breast cancer patients require different considerations than those for younger patients. Here are just some of those considerations: https://www.cbcn.ca/en/considerations-of-care-older-adults
- “I feel like every day I have a new emotion that I am faced with. Emotionally, physically, and mentally, it’s draining.” – Tirzah Cooper, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at 36 years old, speaks about being diagnosed with a young age: https://www.cbcn.ca/en/blog/our-stories/breast-cancer-at-36
- Equity, Diversity, Inclusion
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- Negative experiences within the healthcare system and lack of awareness that non-cis women can get breast cancer may be why trans Canadians are 70% less likely to get screened. Here's what else we know about trans individuals and breast cancer: https://tinyurl.com/trans-nonbinary-breast-cancer
- “Cancer doesn’t discriminate” is a myth, as certain demographic are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer. Here are some ways that breast cancer does in fact discriminate: https://www.cbcn.ca/en/blog/our-stories/myth-that-cancer-does-not-discriminate
- Each year in Canada, approximately 220 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 60 men will die from the disease. Here’s what breast cancer can look like for men: https://cbcn.ca/en/blog/our-stories/male-breast-cancer
- A breast cancer diagnosis is daunting to experience, but for some, the challenges and uncertainty can be compounded by a lack of access to culturally competent care. Finding supportive resources tailored to a person’s unique journey can help: https://www.cbcn.ca/en/blog/our-stories/community-based-resources
- Triple negative breast cancer impacts Black and Hispanic women at higher rates, but this finding is based on US data. Collecting demographic health data can help us understand breast cancer in the Canadian context. Find out how: https://tinyurl.com/TNBC-barriers
- In Canada, who you are and where you live can greatly impact your access to breast cancer treatment and care. Because of this, patients and their caregivers often have to advocate for themselves: https://www.cbcn.ca/en/DAST
- Impacts Beyond Physical Health
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- The impact of a breast cancer diagnosis goes far beyond physical health, impacting the mental and emotional wellbeing of those diagnosed and living with breast cancer. Here are some things patients have experienced: https://tinyurl.com/cancer-mental-health
- After treatment, many individuals diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer fear it coming back. Acknowledging and addressing these fears is an important step in managing anxiety: https://www.cbcn.ca/en/fear_of_recurrence
- “Life continued on for everyone around me while mine came to a complete stop.” Sherri Pierman, who was diagnosed at 45, shows how lonely being diagnosed with breast cancer can be. Here’s why she shares her story: https://www.cbcn.ca/en/blog/our-stories/sherri-embracing-a-new-normal
- Chemo brain is one of the most well-known side effects of cancer treatment. However, many patients face a number of side effects, including neuropathy, lymphedema, and nail and skin changes. Here are other side effects of cancer treatment: https://cbcn.ca/en/side-effects
- The end of breast cancer treatment doesn't mean things go back to normal. Dr. Alexandra Ginty writes, "The psychological impact was massive. I was exhausted, and my brain was never the same again." Here's how art therapy helped her cope: https://www.cbcn.ca/en/blog/our-stories/more-than-a-tattoo
- The financial burden associated with a breast cancer diagnosis is a lesser-known consequence of the disease. Additionally, not all costs are covered by the healthcare system. That’s why it’s important for patients to have tools to address it: https://www.cbcn.ca/en/Facing_Financial_Issues
- Understanding Risk Factors
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- About 41-50% of women have dense tissue. Women with dense breasts are at twice the risk of developing breast cancer than women with non-dense breasts. Find out if you have dense breasts and the steps to take: https://tinyurl.com/dense-breast
- Breast density is an important risk factor of developing breast cancer. You cannot determine breast density by size, firmness, look, or feel of the breast. Here’s how to determine it and why it’s important to know if you have dense breasts: https://tinyurl.com/dense-breast
- Genetic testing is just one way individuals can assess their personal risk of breast cancer. For Quinn Obrigewitch, whose mother was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer at age 30, genetic testing was not a matter of if, but when. Here’s her story: https://www.cbcn.ca/en/blog/our-stories/navigating-stop-signs-genetic-testing
- Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer that is considered more aggressive and has fewer treatment options than other subtypes of breast cancer. Here’s who’s at risk: https://www.cbcn.ca/en/blog/our-stories/tnbc-who-at-risk
- About 5-10% of breast cancer cases are believed to be hereditary, but this number is possibly higher for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cases. Genetic testing can help in assessing personal risk factors of developing breast cancer: https://tinyurl.com/hereditary-cancer
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About CBCN
CBCN strives to voice the views and concerns of breast cancer patients through education, advocacy activities, and the promotion of information sharing.
Canadian Breast Cancer Network
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