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October is Breast Cancer Awareness month
10-27-2017
October 13, 2017 – KIRKLAND, QC – Despite significant advances in early stage breast cancer awareness, a recent Canadian survey reveals 50% of Canadians don’t know what metastatic breast cancer (mBC) is.[i],[ii] Metastatic breast cancer is often misunderstood and many women living with the disease feel isolated and excluded from the greater breast cancer narrative. The disease remains incurable and women living with mBC face unique challenges including lack of research and awareness, as well as the need for resources, funding and access to innovative treatment options.[iii]
“One of the biggest things I’ve learned living with mBC is that there is a huge perception gap in society, and even within the cancer community itself, between breast cancer and metastatic breast cancer,” says Nalie Agustin, a 28-year-old blogger living with mBC from Montreal. “Metastatic breast cancer is a completely different experience and more needs to be done for women living with this disease.”
To mark Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day 2017, the Canadian Breast Cancer Network, Rethink Breast Cancer, the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation and Pfizer Canada have partnered to launch the National Metastatic Breast Cancer Survey which explores public knowledge, behaviours and opinions relating to mBC. The survey has identified gaps in Canadians’ knowledge as it relates to mBC and presents an unexpected contrast between our beliefs and the realities of mBC.
Survey Findings Reveal Significant Gaps in Knowledge
· Most Canadians believe there is a lot of knowledge and information available about breast cancer, yet 50% of Canadians don’t know what metastatic breast cancer is – the most advanced stage of the disease.2
· While more than half of Canadians (53%) believe mBC is curable if caught early enough, this is not the case.2 Metastatic breast cancer remains an incurable disease in need of further research and support.3
· Canadians perceive that funding for breast cancer is split nearly in half between early stage breast cancer and mBC.2 In reality, mBC-focused research makes up only 7% of the $15 billion invested in breast cancer research in North America and the United Kingdom.[iv]
· Many Canadians underestimate the impact of mBC on the lives of Canadians each day. While mBC takes the life of one woman every two hours in Canada, close to half (44%) of Canadians believed that number would be lower. 2,[v],[vi],[vii]
“Metastatic breast cancer remains an incurable disease and women living with it face significant unmet needs,” says Dr. Christine Brezden-Masley, MD, PhD, Medical Oncologist and the Division Head of Oncology, St. Michael’s Hospital. “It’s time we collaborate to increase efforts to ensure that Canadians with mBC have access to supportive resources, clinical research, and funding for innovative treatments as quickly as possible.”
Recognizing the importance of raising public awareness of the unique challenges that women with mBC face, CBCN, Rethink, QBCF and Pfizer Canada have partnered for a second year to launch It’s About mBC Time.
Launching today, Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, the It’s About mBC Time campaign will shed light on the stories of those affected by mBC. Brought to life through an emotional video capturing authentic face-to-face interactions, the campaign’s focus is on time – the powerful differentiator between early stage breast cancer and metastatic disease. Visit www.mbctime.ca to watch the video and learn more about mBC. Show your support and help raise awareness for the women living with this incurable disease by sharing the video using #mbctime. It’s time to give mBC the attention it deserves. Let’s collaborate and do more to support the unique needs of women living with metastatic breast cancer.
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About Metastatic Breast Cancer
Metastatic breast cancer is the most advanced stage of breast cancer. It occurs when cancer spreads to other parts of the body such as the lungs, liver, brain or bones.[viii] Despite improvements made with early detection and treatment, there is currently no cure for mBC.[ix]
About the Canadian Breast Cancer Network
The Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN) is Canada's leading survivor-directed, national network of organizations and individuals concerned about breast cancer. The Canadian Breast Cancer Network is committed to ensuring the best quality of care for all Canadians affected by breast cancer and strives to voice the views and concerns of breast cancer survivors and patients through the promotion of information sharing, education and advocacy activities. To learn more about CBCN, visit www.cbcn.ca.
About Rethink Breast Cancer™
Rethink Breast Cancer’s mission is to empower young people worldwide who are concerned about and affected by breast cancer. Rethink is the first-ever Canadian charity to bring bold, relevant awareness to the 40s and under crowd; foster a new generation of young and influential breast cancer supporters; infuse sass and style into the cause; and, most importantly, respond to the unique needs of young women going through it. By taking a breakthrough approach to all aspects of breast cancer – education, resources, advocacy, community building, and fundraising – Rethink is thinking differently about breast cancer. To find out more about Rethink Breast Cancer, visit rethinkbreastcancer.com.
About the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation
The Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation is the only charitable organization in Quebec dedicated entirely to the fight against breast cancer. The Foundation has focused its mission on promoting the well-being of affected people and their loved ones through research and innovation, support and raising awareness. To learn more about the Foundation, visit rubanrose.org.
About Pfizer Canada Inc.
Pfizer Canada Inc. is the Canadian operation of Pfizer Inc., one of the world’s leading biopharmaceutical companies. Our diversified health care portfolio includes some of the world’s best-known and most prescribed medicines and vaccines. Historically, Pfizer Inc. has invested more than US $7 billion toward developing safe and effective medicines. At Pfizer, we’re working together for a healthier world. To learn more about Pfizer Canada, visit pfizer.ca or you can follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/PfizerCA) or Facebook (facebook.com/PfizerCanada).
References:
[1] Pfizer. Breast Cancer: A Story Half Told Whitepaper. Available at: http://www.pfizer.com/files/news/Statement_ofNeed.pdf. Accessed August 16, 2017.
[1] Leger. Metastatic Breast Cancer Survey. August 2017. A survey of 1617 Canadians was completed online between July 24 to 31, 2017 using Leger’s online panel, LegerWeb. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of +/-2.5%, 19 times out of 20.
[1] Canadian Cancer Society. Treatments For Stage IV Breast Cancer. Available at: http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/breast/treatment/stage-iv/?region=on. Accessed August 10, 2017.
[1] Metastatic Breast Cancer Alliance. Changing the Landscape for People Living With Metastatic Breast Cancer. Available at: http://mbcalliance.org/docs/MBCA_Exec_Summ_Landscape%20Analysis.pdf. Accessed August 10, 2017.
[1] Canadian Cancer Society. Breast Cancer Statistics. Available at: http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/breast/statistics/?region=on. Accessed August 16, 2017.
[1] American Association for Cancer Research. Abstract IA04: Cancer-associated systemic inflammation facilitates breast cancer metastasis. Available at: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/76/7_Supplement/IA04.abstract. Accessed August 16, 2017
[1] Based on 2010 breast cancer deaths of which 90% were presumed to be caused by metastases.
[1] Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. Metastatic Breast Cancer. Available at: http://www.cbcf.org/central/AboutBreastCancerMain/MetastaticBreastCancer/Pages/Metastatic-Breast-Cancer.aspx. Accessed June 13, 2017.
[1] Canadian Breast Cancer Network. Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer. Available at: https://www.cbcn.ca/en/mbc_treatment. Accessed August 24, 2017.
[ii] Leger. Metastatic Breast Cancer Survey. August 2017. A survey of 1617 Canadians was completed online between July 24 to 31, 2017 using Leger’s online panel, LegerWeb. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of +/-2.5%, 19 times out of 20.
[vii] Based on 2010 breast cancer deaths of which 90% were presumed to be caused by metastases.
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