What You Should Know About Screening:
If you have breast tissue, it is recommended that you be screened according to provincial guidelines, regardless of your gender identity or sexual identity. The Ontario Breast Screening Program provides high-quality breast cancer screening for two groups of people:
Average Risk: The OBSP recommends that most women ages 50 to 74 get checked every two years with mammography.
Ontario women ages 50 to 74 are eligible for average risk screening if they:
- have no breast / chest symptoms
- have no personal history of breast / chest cancer
- have no current breast implants
- have not had a mastectomy and
- have not had a screening mammogram within the last 11 months.
Ontario Health is working to implement a policy for the inclusion of trans and gender diverse people in its organized screening programs. More info here.
Talk to your family doctor or nurse practitioner about your breast screening options, check here to find a breast screening location near you, or call 1-800-668-9304.
High Risk: The OBSP recommends that women ages 30 to 69 who are confirmed to be at high risk of getting breast cancer get checked once a year with a mammogram and breast magnetic resonance imaging through the High Risk Ontario Breast Screening Program . You can be referred into this program by your healthcare provider based on your family or medical history. Check here for more information about high risk breast screening.
What Is Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is abnormal and uncontrollable growth of cells in the breast that create a mass of tissue called a tumor. Despite advances in scientific and medical research, the causes of breast cancer remain unknown.
Breast cancer doesnt usually present any signs or symptoms in its early stages, which is why regular screening is so vital to detecting the disease and improving outcomes for women.
The Impact Of Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is raising awareness about the importance of regular screening. Early detection improves the chances of survival and access to more effective treatments.
In addition, a month of events and fundraising helps fund research to improve the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of Canadians with breast cancer, including support for their family and caregivers.
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Your Support Helps Fund Innovative Research To Detect Breast Cancer Earlier
What if a bra could detect breast cancer? Through a grant awarded by CCS and partners, Dr Elijah Van Houten and his team are developing a bra that can detect small breast cancer tumours using cutting-edge technology that can sense and measure the differences between breast tumours and healthy breast tissue.
When detected early, breast cancers are more likely to be treated successfully. In addition to regular mammograms, this amazing technology could be part of the life-saving future of breast cancer screening.
We hope to transform breast cancer screening, making it a more comfortable, simple, regular and convenient way to undergo screening at home, says Dr Van Houten.
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, donate to help create a world where no Canadian fears breast cancer.
When you donate, you can also create a digital pink ribbon, a virtual badge to print or share through your social networks to honour or remember loved ones affected by breast cancer.
The Origins Of The Breast Cancer Awareness Month Start
As with most of things in life, it all started with people fighting hard to improve things. In this case, there are three persons we should thanks for the initial creation of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month:
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A Brief Critique Of Nbcam
There have been numerous critiques of NBCAM over the years. Among others, there is the reification of survivorship, the belief that screening mammograms are the ultimate answer to the breast cancer problem, the overt commercialization of the disease and more recently, the feminization of breast cancer through stereotyping, trivialization, and the objectification of women.
Survivorship
The cancer survivor is a label and an identity common in cancer culture. According to the National Cancer Institute Office of Cancer Survivorship, a person is considered a cancer survivor at the time of cancer diagnosis and remains so for the remainder of his or her life. Contrary to the everyday meaning of survival , many cancer survivors do not actually survive cancer. People with cancer that has spread to distant organs face life-long treatment and a progressive disease that is, currently, incurable.
We might not die right awaywe might suffer through treatments for a while, but eventually, nearly all of us will die of our disease, and 100% of us will die with our disease, because it is incurable. So, how can I be a survivor of cancer? How can you survive something that will eventually kill you?
Focusing on survivorship, while well-intentioned, masks the suffering and hardship of cancer and treatment on individuals, families, and communities.
Screening Hype
Commercialization
Feminization of Breast Cancer
Support Your Local Charities
Countless organizations are working together in the fight against breast cancer. Donating to highly-rated breast cancer charities will help support patients and their families throughout the treatment and recovery process and fund research to end the disease.
If youd like to be more involved, countless fundraising events are hosted across the country every year. For example, you can sign up for a 5K or buy tickets to a local dinner to raise money for breast cancer patients and research.
If donating money is out of your budget, you can still contribute by donating your time. These organizations rely on volunteers to help them raise money, particularly if theyre a nonprofit. Consider sign-up to cook a meal or sell tickets at a local fundraising event.
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Regular Screenings Can Significantly Reduce Mortality
Screening tests help find breast cancer before any symptoms develop. Early detection and diagnosis lead to better treatment outcomes.
The most reliable way to detect breast cancer early in women is with a mammogram, a low-dose breast x-ray that identifies if cancer is developing in tissue. Depending on your age, the frequency of mammograms changes. Most women are advised to begin getting mammograms at age 50. Be sure to talk to your doctor about your breast cancer risk and determine if having a mammogram is right for you.
You can also perform self-examinations at home. A self-examination involves checking your breasts for lumps or changes. Many breast problems are first discovered by women themselves. Learn how to perform a breast self-exam at least once a month from the comfort of your home and communicate any concerns or abnormalities to your family doctor.
Changes In The Breast Are Not Always Signs Of Cancer
Regardless of your age, if you notice any changes with your breasts or have concerns, see your family doctor or nurse practitioner. Most changes are not cancer, but they should be checked right away.
Be breast aware and talk to your doctor if you notice:
- A lump or dimpling on the breast
- Changes in the nipple or fluid coming from the nipple
- Redness or skin changes that do not go away, and
- Any other changes in the breasts.
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, visit My CancerIQ to learn more about your breast cancer risk, and speak to your family doctor or nurse practitioner about your breast screening options. For more information, visit www.cancercareontario.ca/bcam
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Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2020
Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2020 is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease. The campaign offers information and support to those affected by breast cancer.
Help us educate people on the importance of early screening, and promote mammography as the most effective weapon in the fight against breast cancer.
- What is Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2020?
- When is it?
- Who organizes Breast Cancer Awareness Month?
- How did all start?
- Why do we wear pink?
- What is the official Breast Cancer Day?
- Quotes
- What is the theme for Breast Cancer Awareness Month?
- Why is October called pink?
- Why do you wear pink?
- Ideas for the Pink Month
- What is next?
- Breast cancer awareness month events
We Celebrate You 2020 Heros Champion Survivors And Loved Ones Despite Covid
This weekly event is to recognize everybody: the survivor, all involved in the life of a survivor, doctors, staff and family members, to celebrate another year of survivorship, to remember loved ones to appreciate all involved before, during and after cancer journey. An opportunity to stop by and share their story by finishing several statements.
Date:
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About Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual campaign held each October to raise awareness of this complex disease. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a time when many individuals, businesses, and communities come together to show their support for those impacted by the disease. It can be a time to reflect, celebrate, and give back.
However, for many people, it is also a difficult reminder of their personal experience with breast cancer and the many lives we have lost.
- This year, more than 44,000 American lives and more than 685,000 lives globally will be lost to metastatic breast cancer.
- About 1 in 8 U.S. women and 1 in 833 U.S. men will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lives.
- In 2021, an estimated 284,200 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in the U.S., along with 49,290 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer*.
*American Cancer Society, Cancer Facts and Figures, 2021
The Primary Types Of Breast Cancer
Ductal carcinoma: It is the most common type of breast cancer and begins in the lining of the milk ducts . Ductal carcinoma may be either ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive ductal carcinoma .
Lobular carcinoma: This cancer begins in the lobules of the breast and may be either lobular carcinoma in situ or invasive lobular carcinoma . LCIS rarely becomes invasive, but having it in one breast increases the risk of developing invasive cancer in either breast.
Inflammatory breast cancer: A type of breast cancer in which the breast looks red and swollen and feel warm. The redness and warmth occur because the cancer cells block the lymph vessels in the skin.
Triple-negative breast cancer: This describes breast cancer cells that do not have estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors or large numbers of HER2/neu protein. It is also called ER-negative PR-negative HER2/neu-negative breast cancer.
Recurrent breast cancer: Breast cancer can recur when treatment doesnt fully remove or destroy all the cancer cells.
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Breast Cancer Risk Factors
The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are sex and age. As women get older, breast cancer rates increase. 83% of the cases of breast cancer occur in women over 50 years of age.
Simply being a woman is a risk factor for breast cancer. Women develop breast cancer at a much higher rate than men because their breast cells are exposed to the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. These hormones, especially estrogen, are linked with breast cancer and boost the growth of some breast cancers.
Family history can also increase your risk of developing breast cancer over your lifetime. Having one first-degree relative with breast cancer can double a womans risk of breast cancer, however, it is not clear whether a familys pattern of cancer is due to chance, shared lifestyle factors, genes, or a combination of these factors.
Though family history is out of your power, some risk factors are in your control. These include alcohol consumption, obesity, and physical inactivity. It is essential to eat a balanced diet and maintain an active lifestyle to decrease these risk factors as you age.
Regardless of family history or lifestyle, it is vital that all women consider their risk for breast cancer and get regular checkups and screenings. Regular breast cancer screenings are one of the best prevention measures you can take against the disease.
After A Breast Cancer Diagnosis Many Black Women Face Barriers That Delay Their Care
Dont just be aware of the disease. Be aware of us. In the midst of the pink madness, it can be easy to forget what breast cancer really is: an ugly disease that takes the lives of far too many people each year. In the U.S. alone, nearly 4 million people mostly women, but men can develop breast cancer, too have a history of breast cancer. Dont get me wrong: We want as many people as possible to be aware of this cause. But we are more than pink ribbons, more than the statistics you see adorning the October campaigns.
If someone in your life is affected by breast cancer, check in on them this month. See how they are faring with the constant reminders. If they want to participate in BCAM activities, thats great but follow their lead.
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What Is The Goal
The early goal of Breast Cancer Awareness Month was to educate women about breast cancer and early detection tests so that they could take charge of their breast health. One of their key goals that they wanted to achieve was to promote mammograms as an important tool to be used in the fight against breast cancer.
During the month of October, breast cancer survivors and those with breast cancer are celebrated and encouraged to share their stories. The month is also dedicated to raising funds for breast cancer research and other related causes.
The Mission Behind Breast Cancer Awareness Month
The purpose of Breast Cancer Awareness Month is to save thousands of lives from a deadly disease. By increasing the communitys knowledge of breast health and sharing the importance of regular screenings, we can improve the breast cancer survival rate.
Through measures like monthly breast self-exams, regular clinical exams and mammograms, early detection significantly impacts patient outcomes. When localized breast cancer is detected early, the 5-year survival rate is 99%.
The efforts during Breast Cancer Awareness Month are aimed towards:
- Encouraging diagnostic screenings
- Raising awareness about the impact of the disease
- Funding mammograms for women with low income
- Reaching vulnerable women in the community
- Distributing breast health education to underserved communities
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The Origin Of Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It serves as an annual reminder of the importance of breast self-care. The question is, what does breast cancer awareness really mean? Up until the 1970s, breast cancer was a topic no one talked about. Women got the diagnosis, went through treatment and/or surgery, but kept quiet about it. There was virtually no awareness. This changed in 1978 when Betty Ford broke the silence.
In 1978, while she was First Lady, Betty Ford had finished a successful treatment for breast cancer. Across America, people were shocked and saddened by her news of breast cancer and having a mastectomy. They called her brave. They praised her honesty. But one person was touched more deeply than anyone could understand. Her name was Suzy. She was in her early thirties. The world would come to know her as Susan G. Komen.
After three years, in 1980 Susan died at age 36. But her legacy was just beginning.
Countway Cares … about honoring National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Who Organizes Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities all over the world.
In the USA, BCAM is officially called National Breast Cancer Awareness Month . NBCAM was created in 1985 as a collaborative effort between the American Academy of Family Physicians, AstraZeneca Healthcare Foundation, the American Cancer Society CancerCare, Inc., and different sponsors. Actually it was not AstraZeneca, but Imperial Chemical Industries which is now part of AstraZeneca, producer of several anti-breast cancer drugs.
The aim of the NBCAM from the start has been to promote mammography as the most effective weapon in the fight against breast cancer. The objective then, and today, was to raise awareness and obtain funding for research for a cure.
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Help Support Canadians With Breast Cancer
One of the best ways to help those impacted by breast cancer is to donate to its research. Make a donation to honour a loved one affected by the disease and help improve the outcomes of someone diagnosed with breast cancer in the future.
If breast cancer is a cause that is close to your heart, we offer life insurance plans that can allow you to leave a legacy donation by financially supporting the cause. Organizations that work hard towards finding a cure, like The Breast Cancer Society of Canada, can be named as a beneficiary of your life insurance policy, helping to bring them closer to their mission. To explore your life insurance options, contact us today, and we can help you get started.
Did you know that if you have a family history of breast cancer, have been previously diagnosed with the disease, or are a breast cancer survivor, you can still qualify for affordable life insurance coverage? Talk to a Canada Protection Plan advisor to learn more about our No Medical & Simplified Issue Life Insurance. Get a no-obligation quote today and discover the difference of peace of mind.
Canada Protection Plan and its employees and Advisors do not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. This material has been prepared for informational purposes only, and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal or accounting advice. You should consult your own tax, legal and accounting advisors before engaging in any transaction.
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