As with so many other people, my family has been directly impacted by a diagnosis of breast cancer.

About 10 years ago my much loved, and very much missed, Auntie Kathy lost her battle to a secondary cancer, after having lost both of her breasts before the age of 30 to breast cancer.  This prompted my family to have genetic testing done and we found that many of us are carriers of the CHEK14 gene which increases our risks of both breast and colon cancers. Because of this testing we began regular mammograms and MRIs literally a decade or more before current Canadian guidelines would indicate.  

Through yearly MRIs and mammograms my Mom found out she had breast cancer in one breast 3 years ago. Based on her sister's history with breast cancer, she chose to treat it seriously and had a double mastectomy whereupon through the subsequent biopsy of removed tissue, they found cancer in her other breast as well.

My youngest sister was diagnosed last fall, at barely 41yo, with very aggressive breast cancer. Within the 6 months between her mammogram and MRI it went from "this isn't anything to worry about" to a twoonie sized mass and into her lymph nodes, resulting in not only a double mastectomy, but also months of chemo and radiation.

And lastly, as some of you may already know, I was diagnosed with very early stage cancer in my right breast this past summer and will be having a double mastectomy in November/early December. 

I cannot stress enough the importance of early detection and treatment in saving lives and changing outcomes. Our Canadian mammogram guidelines are outdated and would have resulted in drastically different outcomes for my sister and myself had they been followed. It is unacceptable that I am waiting 6 months for treatment, especially given my family history. But change doesn't just happen because we wish it into existance; we need to be be vocal and we need to take what steps we can to advocate for ourselves and our health. 

So. If anyone in your family has had breast cancer, please get genetic testing done, as it goes so far beyond just the BRCA genes. Get to know your own body and do your monthly breast checks. And  if something doesn't feel right, don't wait to make an appointment. Be heard. Be safe. Be healthy. 

 

To show my support for the thousands of Canadians diagnosed with breast cancer every year, I am participating and fundraising for this year’s Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run for the Cure. 

 

With your help, I can reach my fundraising goal and make a life-changing difference for so many people. Every dollar I raise will fund groundbreaking breast cancer research and support programs and services for those impacted by this disease. 

 

Please donate today. I believe better treatment options and survival outcomes are possible. Together, we can give Canadians impacted by breast cancer a reason to have hope. And we can help change the future for all. 

 

Thank you! I appreciate your generous support.