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The Voice of People With Breast Cancer
30 Years of Care: A Celebration of Breast Cancer Education and Advocacy
In 1992 the House of Commons published a report entitled Breast Cancer: Unanswered Questions, and one of its recommendations resulted in the National Forum on Breast Cancer, which was held in Montreal in November 1993. With Health Canada support under the leadership of Monique Bégin, the Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN) was facilitated, helping to coordinate a network of smaller organizations into a cohesive group focused on breast cancer advocacy and support. CBCN was officially incorporated and registered as a charitable organization in November 1994.
For the past 30 years, CBCN has been at the forefront of educating, advocating for, and supporting individuals diagnosed with breast cancer in Canada. Guided by a vision to ensure the best quality of life for people affected by breast cancer, CBCN has implemented a wide range of initiatives aimed at amplifying patient voices, enhancing patient education, and influencing health policy and research. Additionally, having a volunteer board of directors led by those with personal and familial experience with breast cancer ensures that the leadership and direction of CBCN are guided by individuals who have a personal understanding of the challenges faced by those affected by breast cancer.
Shortly after CBCN was founded, a unique symbol emerged, representing both the organization and all the women, past and present, affected by breast cancer. Our Dancing Lady, lovingly designed by a founding member and breast cancer patient, illustrates a woman in motion while subtly forming the side profile of a breast. This image embodies the hope and shared connection of everyone impacted by the disease, uniting us in the common goal of a better future in breast cancer care for all.
From foundational support from Health Canada to leadership driven by those with direct experience with breast cancer, CBCN is an organization that remains deeply connected to its roots and mission. In commemoration of our 30-year anniversary, we highlight just some of the programs and initiatives we have accomplished throughout the years, including those we presently offer. These achievements reflect CBCN’s dedication to its mission of voicing the views and concerns of breast cancer patients by promoting information sharing, education, and advocacy.
- 30 Years of Patient Education
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CBCN offers comprehensive guides and navigation tools designed to educate newly diagnosed individuals on their breast cancer diagnosis and help them make informed decisions about their care. Our newly diagnosed guides and educational navigation tools are:
- Breast Cancer and You – Breast Cancer and You: A guide for people living with breast cancer – Provides vital information and support for individuals navigating the complexities of a breast cancer diagnosis and its treatment.
- Metastatic Breast Cancer Handbook – Metastatic Breast Cancer Handbook: A guide for individuals living with stage IV breast cancer offers comprehensive resources and guidance for navigating the complexities of living with mBC.
- Never Too Young: Practical and Emotional Support for Young Women with Breast Cancer – Is our tailored support guide for young women with breast cancer, addressing the specific challenges and concerns of this demographic.
- Designed for older adults diagnosed with breast cancer, Considerations of Care: A guide for older adults with breast cancer and their caregivers provides information and checklists on how to navigate the unique challenges and considerations that come with a cancer diagnosis at an older age. This guide also contains a special section for caregivers of older breast cancer patients, as this type of caregiving provides its own challenges.
- Surgery Guide – A decision aid for the various surgery and post-surgery options following a breast cancer diagnosis, helping patients make informed choices about their treatment paths.
- PatientPath – Creates personalized navigation and education pathways for newly diagnosed patients and offers tailored guidance and support from diagnosis through treatment.
Tags: patient education
Through educational resources as well as virtual and in-person events, CBCN fosters a well-informed community equipped to make breast cancer treatment and care decisions with the up-to-date and credible information we provide. Some of these resources include:
- Patient magazines – Developed from post shared to our online blog, these themed digital magazines focus on topics of interest for individuals diagnosed with breast cancer.
- Network News: Before the accessibility and popularity of digital resources, our patient magazines were printed in the form of Network News. This popular magazine provided relevant information on breast cancer at a time when access to credible breast cancer information was challenging to find.
- Network News: Before the accessibility and popularity of digital resources, our patient magazines were printed in the form of Network News. This popular magazine provided relevant information on breast cancer at a time when access to credible breast cancer information was challenging to find.
- E-Newsletters – CBCN produces a variety of newsletters and reaches out regularly to our community to provide up-to-date and relevant breast cancer information.
- CBCN Connected
- mBC Connected
- HCP Connected
- Clinical Trials Connected
- Virtual educational sessions – Through webinars and our Q&E: Questions and Expert series, CBCN offers regular opportunities for patients to learn from and ask questions to experts on various topics relevant to understanding and navigating their diagnosis.
- Breast Cancer Connection podcast – An informative, conversation-based podcast designed for patients and caregivers alike, Breast Cancer Connection breaks down complex terms and topics through meaningful discussions with expert voices.
- Breast cancer factsheets and infographics – Easily digestible resources on important topics related to expanding breast cancer awareness.
- Young Women's Conference and other in person events – Hosted in 2007 and 2010, our Young Women’s Conferences brought together young women across Canada to learn, support, and connect with others sharing similar lived experiences and to address needs unique to young women diagnosed with breast cancer. CBCN has also held various advocacy training sessions, educational events, and retreats, such as Educate and Rejuvenate, and Retreat, Renew, Refresh, to give individuals diagnosed with breast cancer the chance to connect with other patients and to learn important skills to navigate their breast cancer diagnosis and advocate for their needs.
- Precision oncology toolkit – A Breast Cancer Patient’s Guide to Precision Oncology in Canada, is a comprehensive guide that helps breast cancer patients understand precision oncology in relation to breast cancer and provides them with tools to advocate for better access to precision medicine.
- Digital Advocacy and Storytelling Toolkit – An interactive manual designed to equip patients with the right tools to use their voice to advocate for change.
- Advocacy Guides – Short booklets that take a deep dive into specific topics to provide the knowledge and tools to properly self-advocate and strengthen shared decision-making between patients and their healthcare team.
Tags: patient education, patient advocacy, networking
- Breast Cancer and You – Breast Cancer and You: A guide for people living with breast cancer – Provides vital information and support for individuals navigating the complexities of a breast cancer diagnosis and its treatment.
- 30 Years of Patient Advocacy
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CBCN's work on metastatic breast cancer (mBC) initiatives and advocacy are aimed at improving awareness, policy, and access to treatments, emphasizing the urgency and specific needs of individuals living with mBC. Some of these advocacy initiatives have included:
- Launching Metastatic Breast Cancer Day – Established October 13th as a day to promote awareness and support for metastatic breast cancer.
- Parliamentary engagement on metastatic breast cancer – Calls to federal and provincial ministers and provincial Ministries of Health to raise awareness of the needs of individuals living with mBC and to commit to listing new treatments for metastatic breast cancer within defined deadlines.
- Metastatic Public Awareness Campaigns - Living Legacy, mBC Access Matters, and mBCNoTime2Wait campaigns – These campaigns raised awareness of mBC through powerful personal stories of those living with this illness and advocated for timely and equitable access to vital therapies for mBC, regardless of where individuals live in Canada.
- Waiting for Treatment report – Released in 2015, Waiting for Treatment: Timely equitable access to drugs for metastatic breast cancer 2015, identifies systemic delays in metastatic treatment access, highlights the critical need for timely access to these treatments, and advocates for expedited access to essential drugs for metastatic breast cancer patients.
- Metastatic Breast Cancer in Canada report – Published in 2013, Metastatic Breast Cancer in Canada: The lived experience of patients and caregivers 2013, provides an in-depth look at the lives and experiences of individuals living with mBC.
Tags: patient advocacy
Recognizing the substantial financial burden that breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and care can place on individuals, CBCN has been instrumental in conducting and disseminating research, providing support services, and advocating for policies that alleviate these financial pressures on patients and their families. Highlights of these initiatives include:
- FinancialNavigator – A database that assists patients in navigating the complex landscape of financial aid, ensuring that they have access to necessary support services during and beyond their treatment journey.
- Reports on the financial impacts of a breast cancer diagnosis – Breast Cancer: Economic Impact and Labour Force Re-Entry 2010 Report and Economic Impact of Breast Cancer: An update to the 2010 Economic Impact and Labour Force Re-Entry Report are pivotal reports that offer a comprehensive analysis of the financial implications of breast cancer, highlighting the significant challenges faced by patients in maintaining their employment and managing financial health during treatment and care. These reports keep stakeholders informed about the evolving economic challenges faced by breast cancer patients, advocating for ongoing policy adjustments and support mechanisms.
- Breast Cancer Survivor to Financial Survivor: Rural and Remote 2011 – A report on the unique financial challenges faced by rural and remote breast cancer survivors and provides valuable insights and practical solutions to help these individuals overcome financial obstacles.
Tags: patient advocacy
CBCN is committed to amplifying the patient voice, ensuring that the experiences, challenges, and needs of breast cancer patients are recognized and addressed. Through various campaigns and reports, CBCN provides a platform that fosters a deeper understanding of, and insights to, the unique experiences and perspectives of breast cancer patients across Canada. The reports and resources include:
- Our Voices blog – Offers a unique space for breast cancer patients and their caregivers to share their stories in their own words and to inspire others who may be facing similar situations.
- TNBC Project – Through a combination of key informant interviews, focus groups discussions, and a nationwide survey, this project aims to better understand and share the unique needs of Canadian’s diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC).
- Breast Cancer: The Lived Experience – This 2018 report showcases the needs and experiences of women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer alongside those of women living with metastatic breast cancer. It identifies five key areas to improve health outcomes and quality of life for Canadians diagnosed and living with breast cancer.
- Nothing Fit Me – “Nothing Fit Me”: The Information and Support Needs of Canadian Young Women with Breast Cancer 2003 highlights the unique issues associated with being young and having breast cancer, from diagnosis, to treatment, care, and beyond.
- Perspectives of Rural Women with Breast Cancer 2001 – In 2001, 17 consultations were held with women living with breast cancer in remote and rural areas across Canada in order to develop a national strategy to reach rural women with breast cancer and to extend information, programs and services to them. This report summarizes findings from the consultations and shares the perspectives of rural breast cancer patients.
Tags: patient advocacy
In support of our efforts to address timely and equitable access to breast cancer treatments, CBCN has developed reports and a practical navigational tool. Our advocacy work has also focused on helping patients understand the treatment reimbursement landscape in Canada. These efforts have included and continue to focus on some of the following initiatives:
- MedSearch – Our navigation tool that was developed to aid patients in understanding and navigating the fragmented landscape of drug funding across provinces. It also directs patients to information about additional funding sources for drugs that aren’t currently listed on public formularies.
- Who Pays for Drugs in Canada? – Published in 2013, Who Pays for Drugs in Canada? Private Insurance Brochure 2013, serves as a crucial guide for patients navigating the complexities of the Canadian public and private insurance landscape and provides steps on what to do for treatments not covered.
- Breast Cancer Wait Times in Canada - The 2008 Report Card on Breast Cancer Wait Times in Canada report provides an overview of wait times for diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer in Canada, looking at factors affecting wait times, best practices and strengths, gaps in information and weaknesses in performance. In addition, the report reviews wait times for drug approvals and access to affordable drugs and suggests options for an action strategy to improve wait times.
Tags: patient advocacy
CBCN has consistently championed for improved access to essential breast cancer treatment, leveraging its influence to shape policy. Through submissions to the Canadian Drug Agency (CDA), L’Institut national d’excellence en sante et en service sociaux (INESSS), Health Canada, PMPRB, pCODR and other healthcare and government stakeholders, CBCN has effectively influenced policy reforms and decisions, advocating for timely and equitable drug access and enhanced patient care across Canada. Over the years, CBCN has held lobby days with members of parliament to facilitate direct dialogue with policymakers to address drug access challenges, influencing legislative changes and promoting systemic improvements in cancer care. CBCN also engages government officials through virtual meetings and letter writing campaigns.
Tags: patient advocacy, networking
Over the course of our history, CBCN has and continues to work with partner organizations across Canada and globally whose missions align with ours. We have also built up a strong network of patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers, industry partners, and other stakeholders to improve knowledge translation and promote optimal health outcomes for Canadians diagnosed with breast cancer.
Tags: patient advocacy, networking
Through educational resources as well as virtual and in-person events, CBCN fosters a well-informed community equipped to make breast cancer treatment and care decisions with the up-to-date and credible information we provide. Some of these resources include:
- Patient magazines – Developed from posts shared to our online blog, these themed digital magazines focus on topics of interest for individuals diagnosed with breast cancer.
- Network News: Before the accessibility and popularity of digital resources, our patient magazines were printed in the form of Network News. This popular magazine provided relevant information on breast cancer at a time when access to credible breast cancer information was challenging to find.
- Network News: Before the accessibility and popularity of digital resources, our patient magazines were printed in the form of Network News. This popular magazine provided relevant information on breast cancer at a time when access to credible breast cancer information was challenging to find.
- E-Newsletters – CBCN produces a variety of newsletters and reaches out regularly to our community to provide up-to-date and relevant breast cancer information.
- CBCN Connected
- mBC Connected
- HCP Connected
- Clinical Trials Connected
- Virtual educational sessions – Through webinars and our Q&E: Questions and Expert series, CBCN offers regular opportunities for patients to learn from and ask questions to experts on various topics relevant to understanding and navigating their diagnosis.
- Breast Cancer Connection podcast – An informative, conversation-based podcast designed for patients and caregivers alike, Breast Cancer Connection breaks down complex terms and topics through meaningful discussions with expert voices.
- Breast cancer factsheets and infographics – Easily digestible resources on important topics relating to expanding breast cancer awareness.
- Young Women's Conference and other in person events – Hosted in 2007 and 2010, our Young Women’s Conferences brought together young women across Canada to learn, support, and connect with others sharing similar lived experiences and to address needs unique to young women diagnosed with breast cancer. CBCN has also held various advocacy training sessions, educational events, and retreats, such as Educate and Rejuvenate, and Retreat, Renew, Refresh, to give individuals diagnosed with breast cancer the chance to connect with other patients and to learn important skills to navigate their breast cancer diagnosis and advocate for their needs.
- Precision oncology toolkit – A Breast Cancer Patient’s Guide to Precision Oncology in Canada, is a comprehensive guide that helps breast cancer patients understand precision oncology in relation to breast cancer and provides them with tools to advocate for better access to precision medicine.
- Digital Advocacy and Storytelling Toolkit – An interactive manual designed to equip patients with the right tools to use their voice to advocate for change.
- Advocacy Guides – Short booklets that take a deep dive into specific topics to provide the knowledge and tools to properly self-advocate and strengthen shared decision-making between patients and their healthcare team.
Tags: patient education, patient advocacy, networking
- Launching Metastatic Breast Cancer Day – Established October 13th as a day to promote awareness and support for metastatic breast cancer.
- 30 Years of Networking
-
CBCN has dedicated its efforts to expand its knowledge base on breast cancer through active engagement in national and international meetings and conferences and community events. These activities have fostered national and global discussions, increased awareness of the various needs of the breast cancer community, and contributed significantly to understanding the multifaceted challenges and advancements in breast cancer research and care. By engaging in community events, CBCN has played a crucial role in spreading awareness and supporting individuals affected by breast cancer, ensuring that community ties are strengthened, and educational messages reach the grassroots level. Attending these conferences and events have also enabled CBCN to showcase our work through poster presentations and networking.
Tags: networking
Over the course of our history, CBCN has and continues to work with partner organizations across Canada and globally whose missions align with ours. We have also built up a strong network of patients, caregivers, healthcare professionals, researchers, industry partners, and other stakeholders to improve knowledge translation and promote optimal health outcomes for Canadians diagnosed with breast cancer.
Tags: patient advocacy, networking
CBCN has consistently championed for improved access to essential breast cancer treatment, leveraging its influence to shape policy. Through submissions to the Canadian Drug Agency (CDA), L’Institut national d’excellence en sante et en service sociaux (INESSS), Health Canada, PMPRB, pCODR and other healthcare and government stakeholders, CBCN has effectively influenced policy reforms and decisions, advocating for timely and equitable drug access and enhanced patient care across Canada. Over the years, CBCN has held lobby days with members of parliament to facilitate direct dialogue with policymakers to address drug access challenges, influencing legislative changes and promoting systemic improvements in cancer care. CBCN also engages government officials through virtual meetings and letter writing campaigns.
Tags: patient advocacy, networking
Through educational resources as well as virtual and in-person events, CBCN fosters a well-informed community equipped to make breast cancer treatment and care decisions with the up-to-date and credible information we provide. Some of these resources include:
- Patient magazines – Developed from post shared to our online blog, these themed digital magazines focus on topics of interest for individuals diagnosed with breast cancer.
- Network News: Before the accessibility and popularity of digital resources, our patient magazines were printed in the form of Network News. This popular magazine provided relevant information on breast cancer at a time when access to credible breast cancer information was challenging to find.
- Network News: Before the accessibility and popularity of digital resources, our patient magazines were printed in the form of Network News. This popular magazine provided relevant information on breast cancer at a time when access to credible breast cancer information was challenging to find.
- E-Newsletters – CBCN produces a variety of newsletters and reaches out regularly to our community to provide up-to-date and relevant breast cancer information.
- CBCN Connected
- mBC Connected
- HCP Connected
- Clinical Trials Connected
- Virtual educational sessions – Through webinars and our Q&E: Questions and Expert series, CBCN offers regular opportunities for patients to learn from and ask questions to experts on various topics relevant to understanding and navigating their diagnosis.
- Breast Cancer Connection podcast – An informative, conversation-based podcast designed for patients and caregivers alike, Breast Cancer Connection breaks down complex terms and topics through meaningful discussions with expert voices.
- Breast cancer factsheets and infographics – Easily digestible resources on important topics relating to expanding breast cancer awareness.
- Young Women's Conference and other in person events – Hosted in 2007 and 2010, our Young Women’s Conferences brought together young women across Canada to learn, support, and connect with others sharing similar lived experiences and to address needs unique to young women diagnosed with breast cancer. CBCN has also held various advocacy training sessions, educational events, and retreats, such as Educate and Rejuvenate, and Retreat, Renew, Refresh, to give individuals diagnosed with breast cancer the chance to connect with other patients and to learn important skills to navigate their breast cancer diagnosis and advocate for their needs.
- Precision oncology toolkit – A Breast Cancer Patient’s Guide to Precision Oncology in Canada, is a comprehensive guide that helps breast cancer patients understand precision oncology in relation to breast cancer and provides them with tools to advocate for better access to precision medicine.
- Digital Advocacy and Storytelling Toolkit – An interactive manual designed to equip patients with the right tools to use their voice to advocate for change.
- Advocacy Guides – Short booklets that take a deep dive into specific topics to provide the knowledge and tools to properly self-advocate and strengthen shared decision-making between patients and their healthcare team.
Tags: patient education, patient advocacy, networking
- Patient magazines – Developed from post shared to our online blog, these themed digital magazines focus on topics of interest for individuals diagnosed with breast 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
185 Somerset St. West Suite 318, Ottawa, ON Canada K2P 0J2
Tel: 613-230-3044
Toll-free: 1-800-685-8820
Email Us
