Advocating for equitable access in women’s health – mybreastscreening.ca

I first met the dynamic team of volunteers at densebreastscanada.ca in 2019 and was impressed by all they had accomplished advocating on behalf of the estimated 3+ million women impacted in Canada. Dense Breasts Canada has been advocating for changes to the breast cancer screening guidelines since they were released. Over 83,000 have signed their change.org petition and many provinces now ensure women are notified directly of their mammogram results and if they have dense breasts.  Like many women, I only found out I had dense breasts when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in my 30’s.

In 2021 new conversations highlighted that they knew Canadian women were often confused by when they should ask for preventative breast screening (age 40, 45, 50, 55…?) and that this was further exacerbated as there were many (not just age) differences between provincial screening programs. They felt all provinces should follow best practices for preventative screening, and that easy access to screening should not depend on your postal code.

These early discussions were further validated when the team conducted a nationwide survey of over 2,500 women about their breast cancer screening knowledge and experiences.  Comments from women highlighted that health care providers can also be unaware of the gaps between the National Guidelines, their Province’s screening program, and the latest research by experts in the field.

Ensuring that everyone receives appropriate healthcare screening and prevention information isn’t as easy as you might think. From government officials and agencies to regulatory bodies; healthcare service providers to the vendors whose products and services support the delivery of health care, a number of individuals and organizations all have to work together. What is clear is that EVERYONE who plays a role in organized screening programs will agree – screening leads to better health outcomes. Cancer screening can detect cancer at an early stage when there is a better chance of treating it successfully. Screening is for people who do not have any cancer symptoms!

• 75% of women diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a family history or risk factors. I fell into that stat pool.
• While all experts agree screening and early diagnosis often lead to better cancer outcomes, women under 50 years of age or from diverse ethnic backgrounds were often not actively targeted for historical research trials. Breast cancer screening, clinical trials, and research across the country need to ensure inclusivity so that science and medicine translate into better prognoses for marginalized patients.

In 2021 a team of incredible volunteers worked to build a new website and short quiz to help all women in Canada understand their breast screening options. Being a woman means you are at risk.  It is estimated that about 1 in 8 Canadian women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime and 1 in 33 will die from it.

Launched on Sept. 27, 2021, MyBreastScreening.ca was founded to help Canadian women access the best possible information so that they can # Be Breast Informed.  The website helps women connect with current evidence-based research and supports so they can make the best decisions for their breast health.

Help us this month (October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month) by sharing the site with all the women you love.

Press Release: https://densebreastscanada.ca/media-release/