Archives for "News & Research"

Posted by moderator on 23rd March 2011

Taking a Global Stand Against Breast Cancer

Submitted by Kim T.

From June 7th to 11th this year, breast cancer survivors, supporters, health care professionals, researchers, scientists, government representatives, suppliers and others concerned about breast cancer will gather in Hamilton, Ontario to take a global stand against breast cancer at the 6th World Conference on Breast Cancer.

This amazing event, occurs every three years and provides participants with an opportunity to network and gather information from an international perspective.  Unlike any other conference on breast cancer, this unique conference brings together medical and science professionals with survivors, arming both with valuable insight. 

Participants will gather from around the world – many from developing and in transition nations. In many of these countries the only defence they have against breast cancer is education and awareness.  With so many other pressing heath issues, like malaria and aids, participants from these nations are introduced to others from around the globe who can guide them in the development of awareness and support programs in their own communities. These lifelong connections have and can changed the lives of many women internationally.

Past participants have talked about how this conference fills them with inspiration and hope. Many go on to participate in global initiatives through volunteer opportunities as part of the International Support Links Program (one of the initiatives developed by the World Conference on Breast Cancer foundation) or through other volunteer opportunities.  I personally got involved by participating as part of the Board of Directors for the foundation.  The personal enrichment has been amazing.

To learn more about the World Conference on Breast Cancer or to register please go to www.wcbcf.ca

~ Kim T.

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Posted by KristaLouise on 29th January 2011

Returning to Work: March 2011

Returning to Work is a  3 part education series for cancer patients taking place in the lower mainland / Vancouver area … I don’t think you need to be actively in the “treatment phase” though. If you consider yourself a cancer survivor, I’d call and see if you are eligible to participate even if your treatments are completed.

The sessions, roughly 2 hours each, are planned for March 15, 22, and 29, 2011. Depending on interest, the group will run again several more times during the year.

The sessions will be led by Maureen Parkinson, M.Ed. C.C.R.C. Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Patient and Family counseling services, BC Cancer Agency.

Sessions include:

  • Setting yourself up for success
  • Getting ready physically, mentally, & emotionally
  • Knowing your needs
  • Developing a plan
  • Dealing with insurance,employers, & co-workers

If these dates and times won’t work for you, the BC Cancer Agency’s counselling services offer alternate options. Why not phone, get some more info, put your name on the list, and if these workshops aren’t convenient, perhaps there is another approach that’s better for you!

To register, please call 1-800-877-6000 ext 2194 or 1-800-663-3333 ext 2194 , or email pfc@bccancer.bc.ca

Outside the Lower Mainland, if you are in BC and you want to travel down for this, again just phone and get some info. Outside BC? Can’t travel? Check out the vocational tips on the BC Cancer Agency website, which cover many of the same issues:

http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/PPI/copingwithcancer/emotional/Work+Related+Issues.htm

~ klc

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Posted by moderator on 19th July 2010

We did the Seek the Peak Relay – whew!

Submitted by Kim T.

Well we did the Seek the Peak and are still standing. We were not last – we were 3rd (from the last).  We all shaved 4 minutes off of our time so we did do it all in under 3 hours (so we were really excited).  We are the top fundraising team. We also donated the $2900 from our Young and the Breastless account, which Rethink has said they will direct to breastcancernowwhat.ca.  So all together we raised over $9000.

I was the top fundraiser for quite awhile and then one woman, Jennifer Matthews, who was really close to me passed me the morning of the race.  I forced my family to donate more – ha ha.  I realized how competitive I am.  For whatever reason it is really important to me to be in that top spot it is almost like a mission.

I met Jennifer at the top of the mountain and gave her a big hug and thanked her for her fundraising. It sounded from her fundraising page that she works in the medical field as she states that she has recently witnessed a number of young women go through breast cancer and recently lost someone she had got quite close to.  Many of her donors were doctors.

It is so important to advocate for younger women facing breast cancer because many doctors don’t.  Rethink asked me to write up a press statement and I said,

“Young women need a voice like Rethink to advocate on their behalf, because often when they find a lump, their doctors dismiss it saying ‘you are too young to get breast cancer, it is probably nothing’.  They are also too young to die from the disease and many do, due to the fact their cancer goes undiagnosed and it is often more aggressive.”

The really good news is that with this fundraising, Rethink will continue to fund the www.breastcancernowwhat.ca website, which I think is an amazingly valuable resource for young women across Canada and around the world.  As we know, for some, it is the only young women’s support available to them.

Lavonne looked like a million bucks!  She is taking very good care of herself (what else is new?).  They got clear margins with her lumpectomy and the lymphs where clear.  She is opting for a full mastectomy and thinks it will be scheduled for August.  As she says, “I am getting rid of this stupid boob”.

What was an interesting factoid that neither of us knew, is that if you are going to get a reoccurrence in the breast with the primary breast cancer it is likely going to happen within the first year.  That in fact a reoccurrence is usually a metastases which will more likely appear in the bone, brain or liver. Who knew?  I would love to hear more about this on our site, because I suspect many women think the reoccurrence is going to appear as a new lump in the offending breast.

~ Kim T.

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Posted by moderator on 11th June 2010

Breast Cancer Hits You in the Bank Account

submitted by Jen B

I was interested to see a new research report, released by the Canadian Breast Cancer Network last week, that discussed the financial and workplace impact of a breast cancer diagnosis. This is something that we have always known is an important issue for many Canadian women with breast cancer, sometimes becoming as stressful as the diagnosis itself, but we don’t often see a lot of information written about this.

If you have not yet seen the report, here are some facts contained in the report:

  •  *     80 percent of women experienced a financial impact, often with long-term financial consequences for both breast cancer patients and their families. 
  •  *     On average, the patient household experienced a 10 per cent drop in annual income
  •  *     44 per cent of respondents depleted their savings and retirement funds, while 27 percent took on debt to cover treatment costs. 
  •  *     Employment Insurance benefits covered only 15 weeks of the average treatment length of 38 weeks, thus adding to the financial burden.
  •  *     16 percent had their jobs terminated while undergoing treatment and 17 per cent were unable to return to their previous job with the same title and salary.
  •  *     Over one-fifth (21 per cent) of respondents reported returning to work before they were fully able due to financial pressure.
  •  *     There are large inconsistencies in health coverage across provinces and territories, especially in the areas of cancer drug coverage, supplies and prosthetics
  •  *     Attitudes of employers and co-workers had a major effect on ease of re-entry, with gradually increasing workload being the most important factor in accommodating post-treatment needs.

 The full report, titled Breast Cancer: Economic Impact and Labour Force Re-Entry, can be found at:   <http://cts.vresp.com/c/?CBCN/8dd72f122a/7b84d838d3/07f68a40d1> .

 It is based on a 2009 national survey of 446 Canadians with a recent breast cancer diagnosis.

 I hope this report helps all Canadians, including employers, health care professionals and government, understand the financial burdens of a breast cancer diagnosis and inspires more financial support for women coping with a breast cancer diagnosis.

 For those of you currently dealing with financial and/or workplace impact of a breast cancer diagnosis, a social worker at your local cancer centre or hospital is a good person to speak with. In addition, the Canadian Cancer Society’s Cancer Information Service may be of help – you can reach them by phone, toll free in Canada, at 1-888-939-3333.

~ Jen B.

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Posted by KristaLouise on 23rd May 2010

News article: Mastectomy options

Breast Cancer Now What recently linked to an op-ed news article called, “Lots of options available after mastectomy.” (Dr. Arianna Dal Cin The Hamilton Spectator 25 Apr 2010)

That article gives a brief summary of some of the current options available to women after a mastectomy.  As the author says, different people have different preferences. She also points out that there are other factors.  Some factors might be whether a particular type of reconstruction is available or affordable where you live, and what a surgeon recommends as offering the best results for you.

If you are given choices about reconstruction, you might be wanting more information before making your decision. Check local public library catalogues online to find out what books and videos they have. Hint: “mammaplasty” is the subject word to search for (not exactly the obvious). You can also try “breast reconstruction” or “breast cancer surgery” to find more. Also check with your local cancer clinic; many have patient libraries with specialized books or videos on reconstruction options.

The Breast Reconstruction Program at UBC in Vancouver has a website with helpful information online: http://breastreconstruction.vch.ca/

Another Canadian medical site, with a couple of photographic examples, comes from the University of Toronto:  http://www.breastreconstruction.ca/index.htm

BreastCancer.org also has a page with the personal stories of several ladies who chose different post-mastectomy options (warning, photos) : http://www.breastcancer.org/pictures/reconstruction/

Of course, none of these resources can replace an honest conversation with your healthcare team.

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