Network News - Winter 2009/2010 (PDF 3.7Mb - Canadian Breast ...

Canadian Breast Cancer Network
Winter 2009-10
Vol. 13, N° 3
Network News
esseNtIAL NeWs For CANADIANs AFFeCteD BY BreAst CANCer
Canadian Breast Cancer Network
Celebrates 15 th Anniversary
Canadian Breast Cancer Network Board of Directors
at the CBCN National Conference for Young Women Living with
Breast Cancer, November 2007

Network News
Volume 13, Number 3, Winter 2009-10
ISSN: 1481-0999 Circulation: 6,500
PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40028655
RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO
CANADIAN BREAST CANCER NETWORK
602-331 COOPER ST
OTTAWA ON K2P 0G5
E-mail: cbcn@cbcn.ca
Network News is published by the Canadian
Breast Cancer Network (CBCN) to provide
the breast cancer community with up-to-date
and understandable information on issues at
the national level, to promote education and
awareness, and to highlight the concerns of
Canadians affected by breast cancer.
We would like to thank the individuals who
wrote articles and the breast cancer support
groups that provided information. We welcome
your ideas, contributions and letters, subject
to editing and available space. The articles
in this issue do not necessarily represent the
views of CBCN but are the opinions of the
authors. CBCN gives permission to copy with
attribution.
Canadian Breast Cancer Network,
331 Cooper Street, Suite 300,
Ottawa, ON K2P 0G5. Tel.: (613) 230-3044.
1-800-685-8820. Fax: (613) 230-4424.
E-mail: cbcn@cbcn.ca. Website: www.cbcn.ca.
Editor: Jackie Manthorne
Editorial Committee: Mona Forrest,
Jackie Manthorne
Contributors: Diana Ermel; Jackie Manthorne;
Mona Forrest; Carol Ann Cole; Liz Whamond;
Eleanor Nielsen; Nina Burford
Translation: Martin Dufresne; Julian Zapata
Rojas; Reine Daas; Véronique Lacroix
Cover Photo: The Canadian Breast Cancer
Network Board of Directors at the CBCN
National Conference for Young Women Living
with Breast Cancer, November 2007
President’s Report
By Diana Ermel, Past President
This issue of Network News is dedicated to
celebrating the 15 th anniversary of the Canadian
Breast Cancer Network and remembering
its history. It also marks the last opportunity to
share my thoughts and reflections with you. At the
October Annual General Meeting of the CBCN, Cathy
Ammendolea became president of CBCN. I want to
thank her for taking over this responsibility and I
know she will be an amazing President.
Diana Ermel
President of the Canadian Breast
Cancer Network
As you read this newsletter you will hear the history of CBCN from many different
perspectives. My memories are of events and people. I remember the names of some
and of others, only faces or impressions. So this message will be about some of the
people I remember and my perceptions of the beginnings of CBCN.
In the Fall 2007 Network News, I wrote about the 1993 Montreal National Forum
on Breast Cancer. It was a watershed event that resulted in the commitment of the
various breast cancer stakeholders, including people diagnosed with breast cancer,
to work in collaboration and partnership to deal with the many issues related to
breast cancer. I recall a very exuberant scientist explaining that we were “this” close
to identifying the gene involved in breast cancer. I remember a woman sharing that
this was the first time she had talked to a physician as an equal, with her clothes
on. I don’t remember there being any focus on the particular issues of men, young
women or lesbians who were diagnosed with breast cancer. We have come a long
way in understanding the science and diversity of breast cancer.
One theme of the Montreal Forum was Support Advocacy and Networking (SAN).
Pat Kelly and Sharon Batt co-chaired those sessions. I remember two incredibly
articulate and strong women who today continue to work in their very different
ways and directions with the same goal: to see the end to this disease and its
debilitating effects. I met many strong women at the Forum. Liz Whamond and
Ninon Bourque, both future leaders of CBCN, were there. Liz and I had met
on-line prior to the Forum, not a common occurrence 16 years ago. Liz continues
to advocate for the patient voice as the co-chair of the Canadian Cancer Action
Network. Ninon and I bonded over the Bernie Seigel books – books that taught us
we weren’t victims. I met wonderful women from across Saskatchewan and we went
home and founded the Breast Cancer Action Saskatchewan. We wanted to carry on
the momentum we experienced at the Forum.
Photos: Jackie Manthorne; Mona Forrest;
Soesi Atantri
Layout: MoreInTypo Ltd & Design
Printing: Bonanza Printing
Staff: Jackie Manthorne, Executive Director,
jmanthorne@cbcn.ca; Mona Forrest, Director
of Development, mforrest@cbcn.ca; Jenn
McNeil, Project Coordinator, jmcneil@cbcn.
ca; Colleen Lyle, Communications Manager,
clyle@cbcn.ca; Maureen Kelly, Receptionist,
maureen@cbcnc.ca; Judy Proulx, Receptionist,
jproulx@cbcn.ca; Sandie Lessard, Bookkeeper,
sandie@cbcn.ca and Sparrow McGowan, Web
Site Coordinator, smcgowan@cbcn.ca
In this issue:
Executive Director’s Report................ 4
Class of 1993 and Birth of the Canadian
Breast Cancer Network .................. 6
Christmas Appeal...................... 7
Memories of CBCN..................... 7
The Friendships that CBCN Helps to Create,
Carol Ann Cole........................ 8
Profile of a Director, Nina Burford.......... 10
Recurrence #1 Concern for Women with
Breast Cancer. ...................... 11
Bust a Move for Breast Health in Nova Scotia . 12
CBCN Photo Gallery ................... 14
CBCN Honor Roll of Friends Remembered.... 16
Richard Robinson :”Bringing Sexy Back ..... 21
Early CBCN Media. ................... 22
Mammography Controversy …Again. ...... 23
Thank you 2009 Auction Donors.......... 25
Breast Cancer Survivor to Financial Survivor .. 26
Members, Friends, Corporate Support....... 27
CBCN Network Partners................. 28
2 Network News Winter 2009-10

The people involved in the SAN
extended an invitation to anyone
interested in seeing the formation
of a national network of breast
cancer survivors to meet for coffee
and doughnuts. The meeting
wasn’t an official part of the
agenda. It had been organized
during the only available time,
somewhere around 7 AM on
the second or third day of the
conference. I remember someone
telling me they had hoped for at
least 30 people to attend, 60 at the
maximum. There was standing
room only. I think every woman
diagnosed with breast cancer at
the Forum was in attendance.
The energy and enthusiasm was
contagious; a national network
would give us a national voice
and connect us across the country.
Participants volunteered to represent
different parts of the country. Mary
Drover represented Saskatchewan and
was one of the first co-chairs of CBCN.
This was the initial conception of the
Canadian Breast Cancer Network,
and with the support of the amazing
people who worked at Health Canada’s
Canadian Breast Cancer Initiative, the
Network was officially launched the
following November in Toronto.
I was also privileged to attend the
founding meeting of CBCN and to be
inspired by the very committed women
who knew that this disease was far
too common to be kept hidden and
discussed in hushed tones. It was a
visioning workshop dedicated to setting
goals and determining future direction.
What would CBCN be? How would it
link people across Canada who were
affected by breast cancer? Once again
the energy was amazing. CBCN would
be advocacy at its best, giving legitimate
voice to people diagnosed with breast
cancer. The CBCN logo was officially
adopted at that meeting. The “dancing
lady” logo had been designed by the
nephew of one of the Health Canada
staff. One of my strongest memories
from those two days is hearing Carol
Spiro, the president of Breast Cancer
Action Ottawa, speak. She told her
story and powerfully expressed her
CBCN Board of Directors, November 2007
vision of the change that was needed. I
met Dianna Schreuer, immediate past
president of CBCN and Eva Bereti, a
past Board member, at the founding
meeting. Finally, I remember towards
the end of the founding workshop
noticing two women sitting on the
sidelines who, for years, had lobbied for
a national movement of breast cancer
survivors. They were just soaking it all
in. And so the CBCN journey began.
Through the years I remained attuned
to CBCN. I continued to meet up with
Eva Bereti at other breast cancer events,
and my admiration for her commitment
to her values and principles grew every
time I was in her presence. Eva is the
embodiment of strength and humility.
Today she remains a strong voice
for Aboriginal women and women
diagnosed with breast cancer. I met
Dianna Schreuer again when I joined
the Board of CBCN in 2005 and was
able to witness the growth of CBCN
under her leadership. Another CBCN
past president with whom I had the
honour of working was Karen DeKonig.
We were on a committee to ensure
the ongoing federal funding for the
Canadian Breast Cancer Initiative and
breast cancer research in particular.
Advocating on behalf of breast
cancer research remains one of my
passions. We need the highest quality
research based on a collaborative and
comprehensive national breast cancer
research framework that eliminates
redundancies and is collaboratively
funded.
As President of the Breast Cancer
Action Saskatchewan, I was invited
to participate in a number of national
meetings. At a meeting ten years ago, I
met Jackie Manthorne, the brand new
Executive Director of CBCN. Over the
past ten years Jackie has shepherded the
Network through many ups and downs
and brought many inspirational ideas to
fruition. During my tenure as President
of CBCN, the three contributions
(among hundreds) that stand out have
been her diligence in almost single
handedly keeping CBCN afloat during
times of financial drought, the highly
successful launch of the Breast Cancer
Wait Times report card, and bringing to
life the vision from the Young Women’s
Consultation of having a conference
dedicated to the issues faced by young
women diagnosed with breast cancer.
Those of us who have been lucky
enough to work with Jackie know how
much she has given to CBCN. We
know that CBCN would not be where
it is today without her. We honour
Jackie and thank her most sincerely
for her commitment and compassion.
We are not only celebrating 15 years of
CBCN, we are celebrating Jackie’s 10 th
anniversary as Executive Director of
CBCN. •
Network News Winter 2009-10 3

Executive Director’s Report
By Jackie Manthorne
CBCN’s 15 th Anniversary
CBCN’s 15 th Anniversary is
also my 10 th Anniversary
as executive director of
the Network. It has been a busy,
exhilarating and sometimes hectic
time for me. There have been many
remarkable accomplishments as well
as some setbacks. Over the years,
CBCN has been able to provide more
information to more people affected
by breast cancer, and a variety of
networking opportunities have
enabled people to have their voices
heard, to become informed
consumers, and to develop
skills in advocacy.
Since 1994, CBCN has
worked on policy issues to
improve access to services,
conducted research, produced
publications, advised sector
policy makers and supported
the development of over
225 provincial and community
level networks of support
for breast cancer survivors
in Canada. CBCN provides
programming in the areas of
capacity building, networking,
information sourcing,
psychosocial research and
education.
Some of the highlights have been:
CBCN’s Work with Young Women
Living with Breast Cancer
In 2002, CBCN held nation-wide focus
groups with 70 young women with
breast cancer about their information
and support needs. This psychosocial
research resulted in the “Nothing
Fit Me:” The Information and Support
Needs of Canadian Young Women with
Breast Cancer report which has been
instrumental in stimulating the growth
of support groups and services for
young survivors. The following year,
CBCN published the National Strategy
and Action Plan for Young Women with
Breast Cancer, which identified ways
of increasing access to information
and support. CBCN then held a
national consultation for young
women with breast cancer in Ottawa
on March 12-13, 2005. 27 young
women with breast cancer as well as
10 community representatives working
in the area attended this consultation,
representing nearly every province and
territory in Canada.
Past president Diana Ermel presents 10th anniversary plaque to executive
director Jackie Manthorne at October 2009 Annual General Meeting
In November 2007, we organized
the National Conference for Young
Women Living with Breast Cancer.
This three-day conference, held
in Toronto, was attended by over
325 young survivors. Dozens of
concurrent workshops and several
plenary sessions were rounded out by
networking and community-building
opportunities.
Our one-day Intimacy and Sexuality
Workshop for young survivors
has been developed this year in
Jackie Manthorne
Executive Director of the
Canadian Breast Cancer Network
collaboration with Dr. Sally Kydd,
co-author of Intimacy after Cancer: A
Woman’s Guide. A printed facilitator’s
manual and a CD containing the
PowerPoint are available in English
and French to organizations across
Canada. Due to the nature of the
material, workshops must
be facilitated by qualified
professionals. Please contact me
at jmanthorne@cbcn.ca to receive
an application form.
Photo: Brian Jackson
Our Work to Ensure that
Breast Cancer is Recognized
as a Financial Issue
CBCN conducted a national
survey on the financial cost of
having breast cancer in early
2004. Nearly 500 Canadian
survivors responded to the
survey. The results of this
survey appear in the National
Survey on the Financial Cost of
Having Breast Cancer report, which
provided shocking information on the
cost of homecare, child care, travel
for treatment, access to treatment,
specifically medication and treatment
for lymphedema, and the impact of
having breast cancer on one’s work
life. This was the first study of its kind
to show that 15 weeks of Employment
Insurance Sickness Benefits is not long
enough for those going through cancer
treatment.
In 2009, CBCN conducted a survey
of breast cancer survivors across
4 Network News Winter 2009-10

Canada on the Economic Impact
of a Breast Cancer Diagnosis and
Treatment on Labour Force Re-Entry
as well as a general population survey
to determine understanding of the
issue. Survey results will be used to
contribute to our knowledge of the
current issues Canadian women are
facing, will help us provide both
national and provincial/territorial
guidance on issues related to labour
force reentry and will give us the
information we need to work for
change. The report will be published
early in 2010.
During 2009 we also began
implementation of a project entitled
Breast Cancer Survivor to Financial
Survivor, which will result in a
new resource to help breast cancer
survivors cope with diminishing
financial resources at a time of critical
illness. This resource will include many
alternative solutions to the financial
difficulties breast cancer survivors
encounter. It will be published in 2010.
Breast Cancer Wait Times in
Canada 2008 Report Card
One of our most successful initiatives
was the Breast Cancer Wait Times
in Canada 2008 Report Card on the
diagnosis and treatment of breast
cancer in Canada. The Report Card
provides an overview of wait times
for diagnosis and treatment of
breast cancer in Canada. It looks
at guidelines, benchmarks and
data provided by the provinces
and territories as well as at factors
affecting wait times, best practices and
strengths, gaps in information and
weaknesses in performance. The report
also reviews drug approval timelines
and access to affordable drugs,
and suggests options for an action
strategy on improving timely access to
treatment.
Key issues identified by the Report
Card include:
• There are no national
benchmarks for wait times
associated with surgery or
chemotherapy
• Only half of the jurisdictions
reporting achieved or bettered
the national benchmark of four
weeks wait time for radiation
therapy
• Some jurisdictions have no wait
time reporting systems with little
or no data to share
• The approval process for new
treatments is lengthy, currently
taking up to five years from
the initial application by the
manufacturer until listing on a
provincial or territorial formulary
• Canada lags behind other
countries in the adoption of
electronic health records, a
technology which could expedite
procedures
The Report Card proposes a call to
action for concerned organizations and
individuals that includes:
• Working with provincial and
territorial jurisdictions to provide
accessible and comparable
information
• Identifying and disseminating
best practices
• Supporting research and
innovation to improve access and
quality of care
• Encouraging health care systems
to listen to and learn from the
experiences of breast cancer
survivors
The Wait Times Report Card is
available at our office at 1-800-685-8820.
Other CBCN Advocacy Work
CBCN has been actively involved in
many advocacy issues, including:
• Support of screening
mammography from age 40 in all
jurisdictions in Canada
• Support of Breast Self-Exam
(BSE) as the best way for women
to know their breasts
• Strongly advocated for
transparency, accountability
and inclusion of breast cancer
survivors in decision-making in
response to the Cameron Report
in Newfoundland and a similar
situation in Quebec of systemic
failure in breast cancer testing
procedures
• Acted to assure inclusion of
trained breast cancer survivors
on research panels
• Asked questions and received
responses from the five political
parties during the last three
federal election campaigns.
Questions were about breast
cancer wait times; national
standards for the diagnostic
testing of breast cancer, funding
for breast cancer networks in
Canada, Employment Insurance
Sickness Benefits and others
Our four main priority areas continue
to be:
• Young women living with breast
cancer (watch for the next issue
of Network News on the BR CA
genes)
• Rural, remote and Northern
women living with breast cancer
• Women living with metastatic
breast cancer
• Breast cancer as a financial issue •
Advertise in Network News!
For more information contact Jackie Manthorne
at 1-800-685-8820 ext. 222 or
e-mail jmanthorne@cbcn.ca.
Network News Winter 2009-10 5

The Class of 1993 and the Birth of the
Canadian Breast Cancer Network
In March of 1993, I commenced my
own personal journey with breast
cancer. Like others who have
undergone this diagnosis, it was a huge
initial shock. Next was my path to
recovery, both physical and emotional,
but that would take some time.
Here’s where the stars (or fate)
aligned. Also in 1993 the National
Forum on Breast Cancer was being
held in Montreal. I was visiting my
dermatologist about a lesion on my
finger and he asked me if I had
heard of the Forum. He gave
me the pre-conference material.
I reviewed the information,
made some phone calls and, as a
result, was invited to the Forum.
It became a burning passion to
learn more about the disease. A
room full of women were meeting
during the Forum to discuss the
formation of a national network of
survivors. I was too sick to attend
the meeting; I was undergoing
chemotherapy but I certainly was
interested. Upon my return to
Fredericton, I again made some
phone calls and was invited to planning
meetings to develop this network. I felt
fortunate to be the New Brunswicker at
the table.
There were many organizing
committee meetings held in various
parts of the country. I remember
being in Toronto, Vancouver, and
Halifax. If passion could eradicate
breast cancer, the brave women at
the core of the organization would do
so. Some of these women were either
very ill or would later succumb to the
disease. Many are still alive and well.
The Chair of the network was Mary
Drover, a writer from Saskatchewan.
Mary was a wonderful woman;
bright and funny yet unassuming,
and already suffering from advanced
disease. She was diagnosed at 35 and
at 45 she was quoted in Survivor’s in
Search of a Voice: The Art of Courage as
saying “Cancer made me an activist. I
was given my diagnosis in a crowded
emergency room – then left in the
dark.” Mary died in the late 1990s.
By 1996, it was clear that Mary
needed to forgo the leadership of
the organization. Several women
suggested that I take on the role and,
rather naively albeit reluctantly, I
agreed to do so. Our first Executive
Director (hired on a part-time basis
in 1996) noted that our articles of
incorporation stated that the leadership
position be that of President and that
was the title I assumed. What can I
tell you about those beginning years?
There was virtually no money for
operations. Health Canada gave us
a $70,000 grant and this was used to
fund meetings from coast to coast
to grow our Network. I spent what
seemed like hundreds of hours on
the phone, often very late at night,
discussing our burgeoning network
with our Board. It was tough work;
there was laughter and tears.
Over the next couple of years, there
were three meetings with Federal
Ministers of Health. At our meetings
we requested funding support for the
breast cancer survivor network (CBCN),
inclusion of survivors in the Canadian
Breast Cancer Research Initiative (now
the Canadian Breast Cancer Research
Alliance), a postage stamp and inclusion
of lay participation on National Cancer
Institute of Canada (NCIC) scientific
review panels. Over the course of two
Liz Whamond,
Past President, CBCN
Vice Chair, Canadian
Cancer Action Network
Several members of CBCN’s Board of Directors circa 1998, including Karen DeKoning,
Catherine Tolton, Iona Crawley, Mary Rogers, Eva Bereti, Robin Moore-Orr
years these goals were achieved except
for the issue of a postage stamp and an
actual vote as participants to the NCIC
review panels. To this date, no progress
has been made on either front and I feel
it’s important to revisit those two items.
Advocates in the United States have
voting rights at
the table of the
Department of
Defence Breast
Cancer Research
Project (BCRP)
Review panels,
and the United
States has had at
least two breast
cancer stamps
issued.
During the
intervening
years, we have
seen some improvement in survival
rates but no fewer diagnosed with the
disease. New and novel treatments
bring the hope of a disease that is at
least controllable as a chronic disease,
if not curable. Early diagnosis has
seen me raise all of my children to
adulthood. Perhaps my granddaughter
will some day benefit from the global
work in the breast cancer arena.
Really this article is meant to be a
tribute to the women who founded
the Network and those who struggled
to fight to keep the dream alive and
relevant. There are simply too many
to be individually named here. All
did outstanding work. Under the very
capable leadership of other President’s
and the CBCN Executive Director
(Jackie Manthorne), the organization
has grown and flourished.
But there is no less need for the network
today than there was back in 1993. •
6 Network News Winter 2009-10

Christmas Appeal
By Mona Forrest
Donors are important partners at CBCN, in
good times and in bad times.
In good times, individual donors enable us to pool funds
to develop services or resources directly requested
by survivors and patients. You know these are not
always the same projects that are favoured by priorities of
government and foundation funders.
In bad times caring donors stretch to keep funds flowing
to keep services flowing to breast cancer patients and
survivors.
If you attended the National Conference for Young Women
Living with Breast Cancer, called the office after a diagnosis
looking for resources in your area, researched our website
for groups or resources of all kinds (60,000 people a month
do!) or receive our newsletter Network News, you know the
importance of these projects.
If you are on our Outreach list for breaking news and
participate in advocacy or project advisory committees, if
you have participated in one of our Webinars on the latest
in research, you know the importance of these services!
Be a partner in funding them now!
Join our caring, compassionate and smart donors who
continue to invest in support and advocacy for breast cancer
patients and survivors.
By cheque, credit card, or monthly automatic donations,
CBCN makes it easy to give:
• Cheques: Make out to CBCN and send to 300 Cooper
Street, Suite 331, Ottawa ON K2P 0G5
• Credit card: Call us at 613-230-3044 Extension 225 or
toll free at 1-800-685-8820
• Credit card or monthly automatic donations can also
be made through the secure website CanadaHelps.org
CanadaHelps.org allows options to give in memory of a
loved one, to send a gift card in your name, or to chose
which services you want to fund, and your receipt for
income tax purposes immediately comes electronically.
Thank you from Executive Director Jackie Manthorne and
breast cancer survivors in Canada! •
Memories of CBCN
By Eleanor Nielsen
The Canadian Breast Cancer
Network is a symbol of the
determination and persistence
of the breast cancer community – no
obstacle is too great, once a goal is
set! I had the good fortune to start
my job at the National office of the
Canadian Cancer Society in the early
‘90’s around the time the Canadian
Breast Cancer Initiative was launched.
Part of the launch was the first
national conference that included
survivors in equal proportions to
researchers, clinicians and voluntary
organizations. It was a landmark
event – setting the stage for various
components of phase I and II of the
Initiative.
A high
priority for
survivors was
improved
information
sharing and networking across
the country. A role the CBCN, in
cooperation with the early Breast
Cancer Information Exchange Projects
and other cancer organizations,
has played ever since. CBCN has
influenced many positive changes we
currently consider routine in cancer
care. This often involved lengthy
consultation meetings where it was
always important to hear from a
range of voices. Sometimes there were
celebrations; one in particular that
was memorable to me, was held in
The Imperial Room of the Royal York
Hotel. I walked in the door and broke
out in goose bumps. The only other
time I had been in that room was the
night before my mastectomy when
my husband took me there for dinner
and dancing. And I had completely
forgotten the whole thing!
The road to 15 years hasn’t always
been easy. Some years funding
uncertainties made sustainability a
challenge. But those involved with
the Network didn’t give up. As the
saying says “When the going gets
tough, the tough get going,” and the
Network responded with creativity
and imagination.
So the CBCN’s 15 th anniversary
deserves to be celebrated. The many
Continued on Page 9
Network News Winter 2009-10 7

The Friendships that CBCN Helps to Create
By Carol Ann Cole
The song says, “How do you thank
someone who has taken you from
crayons to perfume? It isn’t easy
but I’ll try.” In my case the words
could be, “How do you thank someone
who has taken you from solitude to
sisterhood? It isn’t easy but I’ll try.”
My initial exposure to other breast
cancer survivors came when I
joined CBCN over a decade ago.
Breast cancer is such a frightening
diagnosis and having others to
speak with who know, in detail,
what you are going through, how
your body may be reacting to
surgery and drugs and where you
may be in your emotional journey is
valuable beyond measure.
The picture on the cover of my
new book speaks volumes. Every
breast cancer survivor can relate to
how I was feeling in October 2007
when this picture was taken. I was
speaking at an event in Thunder
Bay and had just announced that
I was very close to celebrating my
16 years of being cancer free. As
the audience stood to show their
support I raised my arm in the air –
victory! It was not to be.
As October turned to the New Year I
found myself in the turmoil of an ugly
recurrence of breast cancer and much
of 2008 was spent facing surgery and
recovering one more time. I battled
depression for the first time – a new
experience. Many survivors came
to my aid and offered everything
they had to help me get through my
journey. They understood. Often what
I needed was the quality of quiet. They
understood. I needed information.
They understood. Many of these
women were strangers to me until I
met them through CBCN.
CBCN has come a long way since those
very early days. Women reach out
to the Network and more important
women from all over the country know
CBCN is there to listen and to help.
Because every breast cancer
survivor can relate to how I felt post
mastectomy when I went for my first
prosthetic fitting I thought I would
share one Chapter from If I Knew Then
What I Know Now with you. I welcome
your feedback www.carolanncole.com
The Fitting
Three weeks post-surgery I decided it
was time for the fitting – the dreaded
fitting that would make the entire
experience even more real. For sixteen
years I had escaped this but now could
put it off no longer.
The Toronto sky was clear except for
a bit of fog as I opened my eyes and
enjoyed my east-facing view. Maybe if
we didn’t have so much fog I could see
east all the way to home. The weather
report said it would be 20 degrees
later, a good day to be outside. I made
the call and the appointment for that
same day.
I did what I do so well when there
is something on my to-do list that
I am dreading. I dance around it. I
went to the post office. I checked out
a printing place where I could have
a book proposal copied closer to my
new home. I picked up a few groceries
(marshmallows for Jalen because he
remained hopeful that we could light
a fire and roast marshmallows on my
little balcony on the twenty-first floor).
I shopped for a new top to wear when
I went home to Nova Scotia in a couple
of weeks (maybe) and then I sat and
replied to every single e-mail in my
in-basket. I did all of this knowing
there would be one thing left on my
list – the fitting. It wouldn’t go away.
Eventually I would take the subway
to reach my destination but first I
needed to walk and bask in the warm
weather. And walk. And walk. My
plan was to visit a few shops north of
where I live. I poked in a few, bought
a birthday gift for my friend Clare
and a few things for my gift stash in
another, but as I exited the quaint
little shop I realized I hadn’t really
seen half of what I had looked at. My
mind was all over the map yet again. I
had no further interest in shopping. I
wanted only to get this over with. Not
the most positive attitude, I realize,
but I am being honest.
I tried very hard and finally was able
to totally focus on my mission – with
one exception. I saw walking towards
me a man I had once gone out with. I
can’t ever really say we dated because
our few times together were sporadic
and strange to say the least. I will call
him Bob. He was dressed in his casual
business attire with his trademark long
blond hair (I love the look of long hair
on a man) and cigarette dangling (not
such a good look on anyone). He wore
a crisp white dress shirt with the top
few buttons undone. I’m not sure I had
ever seen him in anything else. His
chosen uniform looked good on him
as always. I made an instant decision
that I did not feel well enough to stop
and do that dance that says, “My God,
how are you? It’s been so long. You
haven’t changed a bit. We must catch
up. I will call you.” Seems he made the
same decision because we passed each
8 Network News Winter 2009-10

other with only the slightest glance.
He didn’t even break his conversation
with the man walking with him. I
could learn from him. He ignores
better than I do. Note to self – work on
that skill in case you see him again.
I arrived at my destination early of
course; I am early for everything. I
found a little coffee shop where I could
escape with my thoughts until my
appointed time. I thought of all the
women I know who have been in my
shoes and how they have dealt with
this and moved on. Why was it all such
an emotional issue for me? I purchased
a bottle of water and a morning glory.
A muffin morning glory, not the liquid
kind, albeit I could have used the
fortification of the liquid refreshment.
I checked for any new e-mails, read
a bit and people- watched. I watched
a very elderly lady pushing her cart
through the intersection. The light had
long turned red as she manoeuvred
her cart companion forward. The smile
on her face suggested that all was
well with her world. The temperature
had reached 20 degrees and she was
dressed for the summer sunshine in
a long-sleeved sundress in a bright,
bold print and a wide-brimmed hat
that covered all but her radiant smile.
If she was a breast cancer survivor you
certainly could not tell by looking at
her. Lesson learned.
My mind wandered and I could not
focus on the present. For sixteen years
I had been cancer free. When I had a
lumpectomy, they called it a simple
lumpectomy. At the time I suggested
that had been yet another oxymoron –
no such thing as a simple lumpectomy.
Now I realized how simple that
earlier surgery had been. I didn’t
even have an indentation where the
scar had been and often when I went
for my yearly mammogram I would
have to point out to the technologist
where the incision had been. The scar
was completely gone and my breast
revealed no signs of what once was.
No signs on the outside anyway.
Back to the present – showtime. I
walked slowly, with my head down
and my heart pounding, to the
Melmira Bra & Swimsuits door.
For a second I thought, “I can’t open
the door – too heavy. Maybe this
is a sign – go home and come back
another time.” I had been having
trouble opening doors since my special
birthday experience and this was no
exception. I tried a bit harder – the
door opened.
Clearly, this is not a store for breast
cancer survivors only. I immediately
liked that. When I am at the hospital,
during breast cancer Thursday clinic
for example, I am surrounded by
survivors and that can be both good
and bad. That’s another story. At
Melmira I saw women both young
and old leave the store with their
purchase, their chin in the air and their
confidence intact. Maybe it wouldn’t
be so bad after all. Melanie greeted
me immediately. We had met some
years ago when I spoke at the Amoena
conference and again more recently
when I consulted with her a few days
prior to surgery to get a very general
understanding of what was in store
for me – or in her store for me in this
case. With some trepidation I revealed
my scar to Melanie – a scar from centre
chest to deep in the underarm. Healing
well but an ugly scar none the less
in my opinion. A scar where a breast
is supposed to be. A scar where a
breast once was. I cried. Melanie stood
quietly beside me – exactly what I
needed her to do.
Melanie took the time to fit me for the
proper breast prosthesis and to help
me to choose new bras that would
be modified to hold my breast form.
I spent a very long time looking at
bras before making my selection.
I wondered if I would ever enjoy
shopping for a bra again. For now I
had made my selection and would
return a few days later to pick up my
modified bras. I felt confident that
returning would not be as difficult as
today had been. I had taken a very
large step towards recovery but I still
had miles to go.
I walked for over two hours on the
way home. I cried. I tried to visualize
myself being positive about wearing a
prosthesis as I live my daily life. I tried
telling myself to get over it. There are
people far worse off – didn’t work. I
was knee-deep in a pity party and that
was where I needed to be.
I vowed to get over it – later. •
Carol Ann Cole is an author, a professional
speaker and the founder of the Comfort
Heart Initiative.
If I Knew Then What I Know Now, Carol
Ann’s third book has just been released.
Comfort Heart, her best-selling memoir
was published in 2001 followed by Lessons
Learned upside the head in 2006.
Carol Ann is a Member of the Order
of Canada. She has received numerous
additional awards including the Golden
Jubilee Medal, Maclean’s Honor Role
and the Terry Fox Citation of Honor to
name a few. She is profiled in ‘Canadian
Who’s Who’ and in the 2005 edition of
‘1000 Great Women of the 21 st Century’
published by the American Biographical
Institute in Raleigh North Carolina. •
Continued from Page 7
Memories of CBCN
ways in which the network serves
its members and advocates for
those touched by breast cancer are a
tribute to the volunteers and staff.
Eleanor Nielsen, Reg. N., M.H.Sc.
retired from the National Office of
the Canadian Cancer Society, where
she was Director of Programs from
1991 – 2001. She was responsible for
program development, implementation
and evaluation of Public Education
and Patient Services programs across
Canada. In this position, she participated
with many breast cancer organizations,
including the Canadian Breast Cancer
Network. Eleanor co-founded the
Toronto breast cancer dragon boat team,
Dragons Abreast in 1997. She has been
an active paddler since then. She is a
member of the Steering Committee of the
International Breast Cancer Paddlers
Commission. She coordinated the
International Support Links project for
the World Conference on Breast Cancer
Foundation in Victoria and Winnipeg. •
Network News Winter 2009-10 9

Profile of a Director
I
became a Director on the National
Board of CBCN, representing
Labrador, in 2006. Looking back, am
I glad I did! It has been one of the best
experiences of my life. I did not know
much about CBCN or its mandate.
Having joined it, I had a lot to learn
and learn fast I did. What helped me
the most were the very caring friendly
Board members. The Executive Director,
the President, the past President and
every other Member representing a
province or a territory had so much to
offer. At the very first AGM I felt like I
was part of a group of dedicated friends.
Our regular monthly teleconferences
have been a place for me to learn
about what was going on in the breast
cancer world and how I could be of
help. CBCN’s October online yearly
auction has taken me to various
organizations in my area to request
them to donate items for the auction.
These organizations, through my
approach, learned what CBCN has
been doing for the breast cancer world
in every province and territory. When
they understood CBCN’s mission, they
gladly supported the on-line auction.
On my part, I got a lot of pleasure
spreading the word.
I had the opportunity to go to San
Diego, California and graduate
from the Project LEAD Program in
2007. This program taught me about
leadership, education, advocacy and
development. There were fifty students
in the session I attended. Forty-seven
came from all parts of the US, one from
the UK, one from Australia and I was
the only Canadian. Everyone in that
group worked very hard for almost 12
hours a day for a complete week that
we spent together. We were taught by
excellent scientists who imparted the
science of breast cancer to us. We were
also fortunate to be able to go to the
lab and see firsthand how breast cancer
cells were dissected and tested.
After my return home to Canada,
I had the privilege of working as a
Scientific Peer Review Community
Representative on two of our national
research organizations, where I
have been able to learn more and
to share my views on behalf of the
breast cancer community. As you can
imagine, this involves a lot of reading,
studying and research in order to be
able to participate on a panel with
Research Scientists.
Last June I was a peer reviewer with
the Breast Cancer Research Project of
the US Department of Defence Reston,
Virginia. That in itself was a very
positive learning experience where I
was able to play an important role in
decision making. Even though it was
a very demanding task, I learned how
to prepare comments on the impact of
the research on issues such as disease,
prevention, screening, diagnosis,
treatment and quality of life after
treatment.
I was also a volunteer with the World
Conference on Breast Cancer that was
held in Winnipeg, MB in June 2008.
I have committed to work with the
Executive of the World Conference
on Breast Cancer 2011, which is being
held in Hamilton, ON.
Being a Director on the CBCN Board
has taught me a lot, and I strongly
advise breast cancer survivors to get
involved in one way or another. It
is a real enrichment therapy. If not
for CBCN, I would not have done
or learned all that I have, and I can
proudly say has given me a lot of
pleasure to be a part of. •
Nina Burford is passionate in learning all
she can about breast cancer. Soon after
her retirement as a school teacher came
her diagnosis in 1997. It was a total shock
and a blow as she had never smoked in
her life and eaten healthily. Born in Goa,
Nina Burford
Member of CBCN’s Board of Directors
representing Labrador
she migrated to Manitoba 39 years ago.
Her major is English but she also speaks
Portuguese and some French. She is
well travelled on every continent. Her
second marriage in 1981 brought her to
Labrador City, NL where she now lives.
She can be contacted at nina.burford@
nf.sympatico.ca
Board of Directors
Cathy Ammendolea, President, Quebec
Alwyn Anderson, Alberta
Nina Burford, Labrador,
Member-at-Large
Linda Dias, Greater Toronto Area (GTA)
Diana Ermel, Past President,
Saskatchewan
Dianne Hartling, Treasurer,
Ottawa-Gatineau
Suzanne LeBlanc, New Brunswick
Lorna Marshall, British Columbia
Meeka Mearns, Nunavut
Dianne Moore, Ontario
Janis Murray, Secretary,
British Columbia
Pam Patten, Northwest Territories
Mercedes Sellars, Newfoundland
Pam Smith, Prince Edward Island
Diane Spencer, Vice-President,
Nova Scotia
Sharon Young, Manitoba
10 Network News Winter 2009-10

NEW SURVEY FINDS
RECURRENCE IS THE
#1 CONCERN FOR WOMEN
WITH BREAST CANCER
Practical tips on how survivors can help
reduce their risk
A
recent survey of breast cancer
survivors conducted on behalf
of The Canadian Breast Cancer
Network (CBCN) found that four out
of five say that having their cancer
return is their number one concern. 1
While most survivors surveyed
believe that exercise and diet can help
reduce the risk, less than half (45 per
cent) noted adherence to therapy as
something they do to reduce their risk
of breast cancer returning. 1 In reality,
it can have a great impact on reducing
the risk of breast cancer recurrence. 2
One of the first things they should do
is speak with their physician about
their chance of recurrence and factors
that can reduce it.
“Unfortunately, what women don’t
realize is that there are a number
of options within their control that
can help,” says Linda Dias, CBCN
Board member and breast cancer
survivor. “While it is no guarantee,
the more risk factors you can limit,
the better. Also, accessing resources
in your community can help you to
stay informed and allow you to be an
empowered participant in your overall
care.”
Some effective ways to help reduce the
risk of breast cancer include:
o Limiting alcohol to no more than
one drink per day 3
o Avoiding smoking 3
o Exercising, maintaining a low fat
diet and healthy weight 4
In addition to lifestyle changes,
commencing treatment with the most
appropriate therapy from the outset
and taking medications as directed can
help reduce the chance of breast cancer
recurrence. 5,2
“Preventing recurrence is extremely
important among breast cancer
survivors, as it can help women live
cancer-free, for longer. Women need
to understand their risk and take the
necessary steps to help prevent it,”
says Dr. Dominique Synnott, General
Surgeon and Surgery in Oncology
1 Leger Marketing Survey: Breast Cancer Recurrence Study, June 2009. Sponsored by CBCN.
2 Partridge, A.H., et al. «Adherence to Initial Adjuvant Anastrozole Therapy Among Women
with Early-Stage Breast Cancer.» Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2008. 26(4): p. 1-7.
3 The Canadian Cancer Society. Canadian Cancer Encyclopedia: Risk factors for breast
cancer. Accessed July 2009 at http://info.cancer.ca/E/CCE/CCEDetails.asp?redirect=1&id
=185&site=Breast%20Cancer&lang=E&name=/CIS/E/CCE/HTML/10_185.html
4 Chlebowski RT, Blackburn GL, Thomson CA, Nixon DW, Shapiro A, Hoy MK, et al.
Dietary fat reduction and breast cancer outcome: interim efficacy results from the
Women’s Intervention Nutrition Study (WINS). J Natl Cancer Inst 2006; Vol. 98, No. 24,
pp 1767-1776.
5 The ATAC Trialist Group - Effect of anastrozole and tamoxifen as adjuvant treatment for
early-stage breast cancer: 100 month analysis of the ATAC trial. Lancet Oncol 2008; 9 :
pp 45-53.
and Head of Breast Clinic in Sacred-
Heart Hospital. “Studies show that
treatment options are available that
can significantly reduce the risk of the
cancer returning, even after therapy
is completed. Continuing to take
medication as directed is essential
because skipping treatments or
stopping early reduces its effectiveness
in preventing recurrence.”
To learn more about the recurrence
of breast cancer and how to reduce
the risk, speak to your doctor or visit
www.cbcn.ca. •
Recently
diagnosed with
breast cancer?
Remember
these four key
questions to ask
your doctor:
o What is my risk
of breast cancer
recurrence?
o How can I reduce the
risk of recurrence?
o What kind of side
effects can I expect
from medications in
the short and long
term?
o Are there any lifestyle
changes that will
help?
Network News Winter 2009-10 11

Bust a Move for Breast Health
Breast cancer – two small words
that instantly strike fear in the
hearts of patients everywhere. In
Nova Scotia, the statistics are sobering.
Breast cancer is the most common
cancer and the most common cause
of death among females aged 20-49,
accounting for 40% of cancer diagnoses
and 25% of cancer-related deaths in
this province. Every second day, the
disease claims a victim and a family is
shattered.
Mammography is the best tool for the
early detection of breast cancer. Studies
show that after screening 70% of a
total population the death rate from
breast cancer will decrease by 30%.
Mammography screening services
in this province are provided by the
Nova Scotia Breast Screening Program
(NSBSP) through 11 fixed sites and
three mobile units.
In order to make further progress
against the disease in Nova Scotia,
more women need to be aware of the
benefits of screening mammography
and the NSBSP needs to increase its
capacity to provide this service.
The Canadian Breast Cancer
Foundation is currently sponsoring the
“Tour for the Cure” bus campaign. The
campaign focuses on educating women
on the benefits of early breast cancer
screening with mammography, and is
being conducted throughout Atlantic
Canada. It provides an unprecedented
recruitment strategy.
The NSBSP is addressing the capacity
issue through a program, currently
underway but as of yet only partially
completed, to provide digital
mammography services to all women
in Nova Scotia. The completion of the
conversion to digital mammography
from analog will provide the needed
capacity. With this new digital
equipment, technologists are able
to increase the volume of studies
done by 75% as compared to the old
film technology. In addition, digital
mammography provides improved
image quality with 40% less radiation
and all the benefits of the digital world
(computer aided diagnosis being only
one). It’s a win-win scenario.
Present data shows that with the
new technology in play, already 88
more cancers were found in 2008 as
compared to 2007 and the rollout of
digital mammography in the province
is only half complete. Young women
in particular have derived the most
benefit. The data to date shows that the
program has found 50% more cancers
in women 40-49, and 30% more in
women 50-59.
Although Nova Scotia has many
leading health services and care
providers, parts of the breast health
system are disconnected and services
are dispersed throughout several
buildings at the QEII and IWK Health
Centre. As a result, patients are
experiencing gaps in care. But the
journey through breast cancer can be
made easier and mortality rates can be
reduced. An integrated, world-class
breast health system in Nova Scotia
would achieve both. That is why it is a
vision the QEII and IWK Health Centre
are both committed to achieving.
Completion of the rollout of digital
mammography in the Capital District
will provide all of the above benefits
to the women of this area and decrease
wait times in the district. For this
reason completing the rollout of digital
mammography has become the goal
of the region’s two leading hospital
charities, the IWK Foundation and the
QE II Foundation. These foundations
are teaming up to organize a
fundraising event to complete the
digital mammography rollout in
the Capital District. Bust a Move for
Breast Health, a unique home-grown
event, will make its debut in Halifax,
Nova Scotia, on January 30, 2010 at
the Halifax Metro Centre. Participants
will raise pledges to support breast
cancer digital mammography, and
attempt to break a pair of Guinness
World Records. This one day fitness
extravaganza is guaranteed to
challenge the body and uplift the
spirit.
“Six hours of physical activity from
aerobics to yoga and zumba, world
record-setting activities, ambitious
fundraising goals, and the energy
of up to 1,000 participants will
combine to create a completely unique
experience,” said the event’s volunteer
chairperson, Marie Mullally. “We are
so excited about the positive impact
Bust a Move will make. It is a costeffective
and exciting concept that will
deliver much-needed funds.”
Bust a Move participants will follow a
six-hour exercise routine led by local
and celebrity fitness instructors and
designed for every fitness level – from
beginners to fitness gurus. The event
will be divided up into six one-hour
sessions followed by a cool down.
Throughout the day hourly prizes will
be distributed and inspiring patient
testimonials will be heard. Healthy
snacks and refreshments, attentive
volunteers, and essential services
such as first aid and massage therapy
will be on site to ensure participants’
comfort, safety and enjoyment.
Delivering fully integrated patient
services through a breast health
12 Network News Winter 2009-10

program will be a multi-year process.
But by enhancing the quality of each
function - then proceeding with
connecting those functions and adding
new resources – we will begin to make
a difference right now. The purchase
of leading-edge digital mammography
equipment is one such enhancement,
which is why it is the primary focus
for this year’s Bust a Move For Breast
Health proceeds.
Whether you’ve been touched by
breast cancer, are a survivor yourself,
have a passion for fitness, love tackling
new challenges, or just want to be part
of a unique experience – this event
is for you! Register as an individual,
team, or volunteer. Please visit our
event website www.bustamove.ca for
more information.
In honour of the women whose lives
are changed forever by this disease, or
worse, taken away, we’re asking you
to help us make an integrated, worldclass
breast health program a reality in
Nova Scotia. •
Subscribe to our
e-letter, Outreach!
Outreach is the Canadian
Breast Cancer Network’s free
e-letter, which contains action
alerts, info about our activities,
programs and projects. You can
find out about opportunities to
join panels, do surveys, order
reports, and much more! It is
only available by e-mail. To
subscribe, send an e-mail to
cbcn@cbcn.ca or call Maureen
at 1-800-685-8820 to sign up.
View CBCN Webinars Online
CBCN has hosted 3 Webinars in
the past couple of months that
are currently available online.
Breast Cancer Surgery and
Lymphedema: Are You at Risk?
This Webinar is now available at the
following link: http://w.on24.com/r.htm
?e=181413&s=1&k=961019BAF48A29C
4ED1474B941CFEB07
Breast cancer surgery can leave
you vulnerable for developing
lymphedema up to 30 years after
treatment. The Webinar was presented
by Judy Bedell, Breast Cancer Action
Ottawa’s Lymphedema Educator
Leader.
Contents include:
• The facts about lymphedema
• How to self-monitor
• Important lifestyle
recommendations
• When / where to go for help
• Exercises to delay the onset / or
manage lymphedema,
• Where to get a set of Lymphedema
Alert Bracelets
Program Evaluation:
Where do we start?
This Webinar is now available at the
following link:
http://w.on24.com/r.htm?e=181405&s=
1&k=A6E8CF5086619900FB65F316E26
5F6C4
Contents include:
• How to decide whether to evaluate
or not
• Different evaluation approaches
and methods
• How to design an evaluation
• How to analyze the information
• How to report the evaluation
findings
Program Evaluation is an organized
method of collecting and analyzing
information about program activities,
characteristics and outcomes to
measure program effectiveness
and provide input into program
improvement. This Webinar is
intended to increase your effectiveness
in planning for and participating in
evaluation.
This Webinar was facilitated by Patsy
Beattie-Huggan, who is president of
the Quaich in Charlottetown PEI.
Proposal Writing
This Webinar is now available at the
following link: http://w.on24.com/r.htm
?e=166692&s=1&k=492EBB0C9B7BF28
C193EE3747F61BC1A
Alanna LaPerle was the facilitator
for this session; she is a consultant
with over 20 years experience in nonprofit
and public sector marketing,
communications and program
planning. She provides a range of
services that include grant writing,
marketing research, social marketing,
program planning and evaluation,
and development of marketingcommunication
resources.
Contents include:
• How to adopt a marketing
approach to grant writing
• A step by step guide to putting a
proposal together
Please Note: To properly view these
Webinars you will need to have
Windows Media Player or Real Player
on your computer as well as speakers
hooked up for audio.
For more information, contact Project
Coordinator Jenn McNeil at
jmcneil@cbcn.ca or
1-800-685-8820 ext. 224. •
Network News Winter 2009-10 13

Young survivors at
the CBCN National
Conference for
Young Women
Living with
Breast Cancer,
November 2007
CBCN’s Board
Jackie Manthorne
takes the floor at
CBCN’s October
2009 Stakeholder
Meeting in Ottawa
CBCN Board of Directors
members Pam Petten
(Yellowknife); Diane Spencer,
Vice-President (Bridgewater,
NS); Cathy Ammendolea,
President (Montreal); Jan
Murray, Secretary (Victoria);
Sharon Young (Brandon)
at CBCN’s October 2009
Stakeholder Meeting in
Ottawa (all standing)
14 Network News Winter 2009-10

of Directors, 2005
Young survivors at the CBCN National Conference for Young Women
Living with Breast Cancer, November 2007
Young survivors at the CBCN
National Conference for Young
Women Living with Breast Cancer,
November 2007
CBCN Board of Directors members Nina Burford, Member-at-Large
(Labrador); Jan Murray, Secretary (Victoria); Cathy Ammendolea, President
(Montreal), at CBCN’s October 2009 Stakeholder Meeting in Ottawa
CBCN Board
of Directors,
1990s,
undated
Past President Diana Ermel launches
Breast Cancer Wait Times in Canada 2008
Report Card at World Conference on
Breast Cancer, June 2008
Network News Winter 2009-10 15

Canadian Breast Cancer Network Honour Roll
The Network is a unique national
organization in that its Board of
Directors is composed entirely
of women living with breast cancer.
Over the years many Directors have
succumbed to breast cancer while
in office or after having served the
Network in this capacity. The purpose
of this article is to remember them
and honour them. They were women
who were passionate about improving
the lives of others living with breast
cancer, from those who are newly
diagnosed to those living their final
days. They worked hard to create
support and action groups, dragon
boat teams and other community
resources, to reduce wait times, to
draw attention to the lack of services
to young survivors, women living in
rural, remote and Northern regions of
Canada, women whose first language
is neither English nor French, women
living with metastatic breast cancer.
They cared enough to give their time
and energy so that others would not
have to go through what they did.
Suzanne Giroux
British Columbia Director
(1967-2001)
Suzanne Giroux died at the age of 33
o n June 10, 2001. After nearly losing
her life to breast cancer in her late
20s, Suzanne was given nearly three
years of renewed hope, but in the end,
drugs failed her and she succumbed
to the disease after a determined fight.
Her memoir A Chance for Life was
published by ECW Press a few months
before she died.
Suzanne was the daughter of Huguette
Bourdeau of Cornwall, O ntario and the
late Claude Giroux, granddaughter of
Yvonne Aubin and Benoit Laurendeau
of St-Barthelemie, Quebec and the
late Arthur Giroux and also the late
Bernadette Lefebvre and the late Henry
Boudreau. She was survived by many
aunts, uncles and cousins. Funeral
services were held o n June 13, 2001 in
Christ Roi Church, Cornwall.
Suzanne joined CBCN’s Board at its
Annual General Meeting in November
2000. She was o ne of two British
Columbia representatives. She became
ill again not long after she joined the
Board, so we were not fated to know
her well, or to have the opportunity
to work with her as she developed as
a CBCN Board member and breast
cancer advocate.
Suzanne was also an honourary
member of the Board of the Saunders-
Matthey Foundation for Breast Cancer
Research in Ottawa. O n December
15, 2001, the Saunders-Matthey
Foundation for Breast Cancer Research,
the Paradise Health & Fitness Centre,
Hôtel-Dieu Hospital and the VON
dedicated the Suzanne Giroux
Memorial Rehabilitation Centre for
Breast Cancer Patients in Cornwall.
Given Suzanne’s death at such an early
age despite her strong will to live, it
is fitting that she has been honoured
by a facility in her name that will help
others in their recovery from breast
cancer.
Mary Drover
Co-Chair of the Canadian Breast
Cancer Network
Remembering Mary Ellen Drover, by
Diana Ermel, past president of CBCN
Mary Drover became co-chair of the
CBCN after the founding meeting in
November 1994. Mary was my first
breast cancer role model. I met Mary
at the November 1993 Montreal Forum
on Breast Cancer. Mary was there
as an activist, fighting for national
recognition of the terrible issues that
accompany a diagnosis of breast
cancer. I was newly diagnosed and
just grateful to be in the presence of
someone like her. There she was, alive
and vibrant, telling me her breast
cancer story, including that nine years
previously the medical community had
given her six months to live. She used
a cane sometimes because the radiation
treatment for the cancer that had
invaded her bones those many years
ago had left her with damaged muscle,
bone, and tissue. She was at point of
needing a new knee. Mary was so
excited that something was finally
being done to address the impact
of breast cancer; I was just inspired
meeting someone who had lived….
with metastases… beaten the odds.
As I came to know Mary, I learned she
was far more that a “survivor.” Mary
was one of those special people, warm
and generous of spirit, full of fun, and
wise. Mary touched all those who
knew her.
Breast Cancer Action Saskatchewan
was founded by the group of us who
attended the Montreal Forum. Mary
was instrumental in making that
happen. Mary was a tireless and vocal
spokesperson for the breast cancer
community. Mary always made sure
the voice of Saskatchewan people
affected by breast cancer was heard
nationally.
Mary’s career included working with
Heritage Canada, Saskatchewan
Culture and Recreations, the Royal
Saskatchewan Museum and she
was a former Executive Director of
the Saskatchewan’s Writers Guild.
She was loved and admired by the
arts community. Mary was also a
16 Network News Winter 2009-10

pop-culture diva. She grew to love
television and magazines as well as
best seller hardcover books of poetry
and prose. Mary knew every band
and musical trend of the past 30 years.
Mary loved a good giggle, a good
gossip, a ribald clever joke, live theatre,
the daily cryptic crossword, CBC radio,
and lively discussion. Mary was a
forward thinking liberal thinker with
a wonderful intellect. Mary did the
G & M cryptic crossword up to and
including the day she died.
Yes, cancer did catch up with Mary.
She passed from this earth on April 8,
2002, 18 years after being diagnosed
with metastatic breast cancer. After the
service of remembrance for Mary, each
guest was given a helium filled purple
balloon to release into the heavens
to commemorate the wonderful
indomitable spirit that was Mary Ellen
Drover. Mary would have loved that.
She knew the value of life and lived
her life to the fullest, in the way she
wanted. She is still my role model, not
because of what she taught us about
dying, but because of what she taught
us about living.
Ninon Bourque
one of CBCN’s Founders
(1955-1997)
Ninon Marie Bourque was born on
June 22, 1955 in Ottawa. Her passing
on October 21, 1997 of complications
relating to breast cancer was met by
all with great sadness and a profound
sense of loss.
A devoted mother and wife, loving
sister and daughter and loyal friend
and outstanding public servant, she
was also a dedicated breast cancer
activist. Her determination to make a
difference in the lives of others led her
to play a leading role in bringing the
needs of cancer patients and survivors
to national attention.
In November 1993, Ninon made an
important contribution to the success
of the groundbreaking National
Forum on Breast Cancer, serving
as a spokesperson for breast cancer
survivors. In 1994, Ninon helped
establish the Canadian Breast Cancer
Network and served as its first chair.
As a member of the Management
Committee of the Canadian Breast
Cancer Research Initiative (now
Alliance), she won praise for her
ability to articulate the needs of cancer
patients in shaping future research
priorities.
Whether at the committee table or
in speeches delivered across the
country, Ninon’s messages were
clear and simple. Breast cancer
patients as well as survivors of all
types of cancer, are searching for the
knowledge to heal. They need access
to relevant, understandable and timely
information on prevention and healing.
Healthcare consumers are demanding
empowerment. But more often than not
the information they need is difficult
to obtain or difficult to understand. As
consumers, they find great gaps in the
information available to them.
Ninon advocated the need for
champions of a holistic approach to
health, focused on wellness, prevention
and increased patient involvement.
Ninon herself was one of those
champions, although she had only
a few short years to apply her skills
to this cause. She practiced what she
preached. She took charge of managing
her own health and became highly
knowledgeable about her disease
and related treatment options. This
helped her face the challenge of cancer.
Ninon developed a true partnership
with her oncologists and integrated
complementary approaches, such
as acupuncture, diet, exercise and
psychological and spiritual growth into
her treatment plan.
Ninon’s courage and vitality, her
powerful desire to assist others, and
her vision of a healthier future for
those living with cancer provided
the inspiration for the establishment
of a patient resource library at the
Ottawa Regional Cancer Centre –
General Campus. The Ninon Bourque
Patient Resource Library offers cancer
patients and their families improved
accessibility to the information the
need to meet the challenges of cancer.
Francine Gervais
Quebec Director (1948-2009)
Francine Gervais (1948-2009) died of
metastatic breast cancer on August
2, 2009. Daughter of Gaston Gervais
(Margot) and the late Therese Pinel,
she will be fondly remembered by
her father, daughter Isabelle, brothers
Claude and Pierre (Loretta), close
friends Patricia and Samia, as well
as friends, colleagues, and extended
family. Francine taught French at John
Abbott College from 1972 to 2008.
Some of her undertakings in recent
years included dragon boat racing, fly
fishing and singing in the Florilege
Choir. She was also actively involved
with the Canadian Breast Cancer
Network, the Serenite support
program of the Quebec Breast Cancer
Foundation and Vincor’s QBCF
fundraising campaigns.
Francine served on the Network’s
Board of Directors since 2004, and
was most recently Member-at-Large
on CBCN’s Executive. We will all
miss her infectious smile, her cheerful
personality and her contributions
to our national Board composed of
women living with breast cancer.
Network News Winter 2009-10 17

Stephanie Hall
One of CBCN’s Founders and
its First Office Coordinator
(1961-2000)
Tribute by Liz Whamond, former CBCN
President
On behalf of the Board and Staff (past
and present) of the Canadian Breast
Cancer Network, I would like to pay
tribute to a very special friend and
colleague.
Stephanie Hall was an exceptional
young woman. I first met Stephanie at
the National Forum o n Breast Cancer
in Montreal in 1993. She was highly
energetic with an extraordinary sense
of humour. Our paths crossed again in
November of 1994 at the “Engaging the
Vision” Workshop in Toronto. I got to
know Steph a little better this time and
was inspired by her tenacity, courage
and absolute conviction to the cause!
Her red hair suited her beautifully!
For the next couple of years, we
collaborated many times. As Planning
Committee Members to a fledgling
organization, we literally travelled
from coast to coast in support of the
Canadian Breast Cancer Network. In
1995 we were together as far west as
British Columbia and as far east as
Nova Scotia. At our regional meeting
in Halifax, Steph motivated the crowd
by playing Des’ree’s powerful song
“You Gotta Be.” Steph’s passion
ran through our blood. Stephanie
eventually resigned from the Board
of CBCN to become its first office
coordinator. She produced our very
first newsletters.
Steph knew that breast cancer was her
greatest enemy. She had a great thirst
for knowledge and both absorbed
and regurgitated, in tremendous
detail, knowledge of the disease,
complementary therapies and new and
innovative treatments. At o ne point
she asked me the stage of my cancer
at diagnosis. When I responded that it
was o ne stage less than hers she noted
that I was o nly a beginner!
There are a couple of funny stories
that I would like to share with you.
Past Board member Eva Bereti from
Edmonton, Alberta, was a very close
friend of Steph’s, and faithful until the
end. Eva dubbed Stephanie a “NIT.”
That’s a Native-in-Training! She
was always trying to emulate Eva’s
profound Aboriginal wisdom and
customs.
Irene Scott best remembered Stephanie
for her laughter and her sharing
ways. She called Steph a true Scottish
Soldier! Irene recalled the time that
they travelled back from Vancouver
together. They were not seated side
by side, so they rearranged all the
passengers o n the plane so they could
sit together. During a brief stopover
in Winnipeg, the flight attendant
suggested that boarding passengers
should check with Irene and Steph
about where they should sit!
On a serious note, Irene recalled the
story of the geese and how they always
look after each other. The Network was
conceived with this model in mind. As
the lead goose becomes tired, another
moves forward to lead the flock. In
true Network fashion, Steph eventually
stepped back and others led. Steph
visited Irene in Ottawa in October of her
last year. As Steph boarded the plane
for Toronto, Irene observed the biggest
flock of geese that she had ever seen!
Later than evening, over the phone,
Irene shared her sighting with Steph.
Mario, Stephanie’s partner, shared
his story with us. In response to the
question about what is the most
important service you think a volunteer
can offer to people requesting help,
Stephanie wrote, “a kindred spirit to
listen, who understands but does not
judge or see me as any less of a person
for being ill.”
Stephanie participated in other breast
cancer organizations as well as CBCN.
She was a former board member of
two Toronto organizations, the ABC’s
Support Group and the Canadian
Breast Cancer Foundation. The many
folks she met from these organizations
were also greatly inspired by her.
Stephanie died in 2000 in Toronto,
ending a long and valiant fight against
breast cancer. We owe you a debt
of gratitude, Stephanie, for being a
founding member of the Canadian
Breast Cancer Network. As our
organization grows and flourishes,
your vision will be remembered.
With love always,
Liz
Susan Harris
CBCN Newfoundland & Labrador
Director (2004)
Susan successfully operated her own
financial planning business, Griffin
Financial Services, for 11 years, where
she helped people plan for their
retirement through investments as well
as providing life insurance, disability
insurance and critical illness insurance.
In 1997, Susan entered the very first
Run for the Cure to be held in St
John’s, Newfoundland. On October
20, 1999, she was diagnosed with
breast cancer. Nearly immediately she
started to provide support to others
by organizing a breast cancer support
group. Their main focus was to
provide emotional support, nutritional
information and medical updates
18 Network News Winter 2009-10

in the area of cancer research and
development. At these meetings, they
found that the support of the group
enabled each of them to draw strength
from one another.
In October 2000, just after completing
chemotherapy and radiation therapy,
she organized a group called the
Paradise Care Bears to raise money
for research in the fight against breast
cancer. That year they raised $5,500
and won the Community Award. The
next year they raised $7,500 and won
the Nike Challenge Award for the
largest amount raised by a group.
Susan was elected to the CBCN Board
of Directors and served as a Director
until her death from breast cancer in
2004. When elected, she said that to
stay healthy, she swam, practiced yoga
and walked with Max, her standard
poodle who also kept her company
when she spent the winter of 2000 on
her couch recovering from treatment.
Gabriele Helms
British Columbia Director
(1966-2004)
Gabi was born in Dortmund, Germany
and died on December 31, 2004 in
Vancouver. She was survived by her
husband Bob Shore and daughter
Hana Gabriele Helms-Shore, born
at St. Paul’s Hospital on December
29, 2004; her parents Karl-Heinz
and Marlies Helms of Holzwickede,
Germany; her brother Michael Helms
of Dortmund, Germany; and many
friends and colleagues in Canada,
Germany and around the world.
Gabi received her Masters degree
in English from the University of
Cologne and her PhD in Canadian
Literature from the University of
British Columbia. She taught in the
Department of English at Simon Fraser
University and realized her dream,
becoming an Assistant Professor of
English at UBC. Dr Helms was an
exceptional teacher and scholar, and
made important contributions to the
fields of Life Writing and Canadian
Literature.
Gabi found great comfort and
friendship as a member of a support
group through the BC Cancer Agency
and her relationships there inspired
her to lead the organization of a
groundbreaking national event titled
“The Young and the Breastless: a
Networking Event for Young Women
with Breast Cancer.” Held at UBC in
May 2004, this event, the first of its
kind in the country, drew participants
from across Canada.
Gabi represented British Columbia on
the Board of Directors of the Canadian
Breast Cancer Network from 2002-2004.
Gabi always thought of others first,
and ultimately chose her daughter’s
life over her own. Breast cancer took
her far too early and she has been
profoundly missed.
Irene Scott
Co-Chair of the Canadian Breast
Cancer Network
Tribute written by Dianne Hartling, past
president, Breast Cancer Action (Ottawa),
Treasurer, Canadian Breast Cancer
Network.
Irene Scott passed away on June 21,
2005. She was one of the founding
members of Breast Cancer Action
(Ottawa) and served on the executive
as their first secretary. She was actively
involved as both a volunteer and
board member in all aspects of the
organization. She had a great sense of
humour and working with her was a
lot of fun.
Irene loved to be involved and
when survivors decided to form the
Canadian Breast Canada Network,
she quickly took the opportunity to
be on the steering committee and
worked closely with its founder,
Ninon Bourque, to establish CBCN
as a registered charity. She was also
instrumental in forming the first Board
of Directors from across Canada and
served as a Board member herself for a
number of years.
Irene’s infectious laughter healed many
disappointing moments and made our
journey through the world of cancer
easier than we had anticipated. Later,
after many experiences in organizing
and volunteering her expertise, Irene
decided to move away from the
cancer scene and concentrate on being
a grandmother to her much loved
grandson. Irene is still greatly missed
by her family, friends, colleagues
and all who were touched by her
generosity of spirit and dedication to
the cause. Irene’s philosophy on life
was very typical of the motto below
and I’m sure she lived her life well to
the end.
“Life should NOT be a journey to the
grave with the intention of arriving safely
in an attractive and well preserved body,
but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate
in one hand, wine in the other, body
thoroughly used up, totally worn out and
screaming WOO HOO what a ride!”
Alison Bailes
Manitoba Director (1949-2003)
Alison Jean Bailes died at age 53
with her family by her side at the St.
Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg on July
21, 2003 following a lengthy illness
with metastatic breast disease. Alison
was a devoted mother to her children,
Cameron and Michelle, and was
survived by her brother Lawrie. She
Network News Winter 2009-10 19

was predeceased by her parents, Bill
and Irene and brother Ronald.
She received her degree in nursing from
University of Manitoba and went on to
become a nurse educator. She used her
own personal diagnosis of breast cancer
in 1990 as the catalyst for devoting
countless hours to improving access to
more effective diagnosis, treatment and
support for individuals and families
living with breast cancer. She had a gift
for listening and counselling women
with breast cancer and was a strong
advocate on their behalf.
Alison organized “Together,” the
first breast cancer support group
for women in Manitoba. This group
evolved into Breast Cancer Action
Manitoba, a nationally affiliated
support group for women living with
breast cancer. She was a member of
the Manitoba Breast Cancer Advisory
Council and chair of the Advocates’
Committee of the Winnipeg Regional
Health Authority Comprehensive
Breast Health Strategy.
She helped establish the state-of-theart
Breast Health Centre in Winnipeg
and was instrumental in creating the
CancerCare Manitoba Breast Cancer
Centre of Hope – Quality of Life Fund.
Due to all of these achievements and
many more, she was the recipient of
the Guardian Angel Breast Cancer
Award of Distinction for 2002. Alison’s
life was epitomized by her devotion to
her children and her will to live.
(Merle) Lynn Macdonald
British Columbia (1941-2009)
Lynn passed away suddenly at her
home in Kelowna, BC on Thursday,
November 26, 2009. Lynn was born on
May 30, 1941 in Quebec City, QC to the
late Merle (Manns) Macdonald (1941)
and the late Alexander Macdonald
(1968), and was the beloved
stepdaughter of the late Nora (Martin)
Macdonald who predeceased her just
3 months ago. Twin sister of the late
Janice (Don) Morrow (1995) and sister
to Sandra (Kent) Plumley, Miriam
Russell and Martin (Linda) Macdonald,
she leaves behind her beloved children,
Kirsten Sheppard (Daren Patterson)
of Knoxville, Tennessee and Brett
Sheppard of Melbourne, Australia,
and her dear grandson, Alexander
Patterson.
Following graduation from Glebe
Collegiate, Ottawa in 1958 Lynn
received a B.A. in English & History
from the University of Manitoba,
(1962) and a B.S.W. (1965) and M.S.W.
(1966) from the University of Toronto.
She gave thirty-eight years to the fields
of Social Work and Mental Health
across Canada.
Lynn represented British Columbia
on CBCN’s Board of Directors from
1998-2002. She was a dedicated,
active and effective advocate for the
Canadian Breast Cancer Network
and a respected voice and advocate
within the Best Medicines Coalition.
For several years Lynn participated in
and delivered papers at domestic and
international conferences on behalf of
both organizations. She also researched
and wrote two current issue papers for
CBCN on life insurance and extended
health benefits. She was always willing
to stand up for those who could not
stand up for themselves. We will miss
Lynn’s exemplary courage, passion
and dedication.
A memorial service was held in
Ottawa on December 9, 2009 in
Ottawa. The family asked that any
memorial donations to be directed to
the Canadian Breast Cancer Network
(www.cbcn.ca) or to the Best Medicines
Coalition (www.bestmedicines.org), or
to a charity of one’s choice. •
CBCN’s Website Friends
Remembered Pages
The Canadian Breast Cancer Network has established The Friends Remembered Pages so
we can remember and share the lives of relatives, friends and others near and dear whom
we have lost to breast cancer, and to celebrate their lives as well as the lives of women and
men who have survived breast cancer and who continue to live with us in this world as
well as in our hearts and minds.
We invite you to contribute obituaries, stories, articles, poems, anecdotes and photos to this
section about Friends you remember. Send them to cbcn@cbcn.ca.
20 Network News Winter 2009-10

Richard Robinson’s successful
“Bringing Sexy Back” campaign
The Canadian Breast Cancer
Network celebrated great success
with renowned Canadian fashion
designer Richard Robinson and the
“Bringing Sexy Back” campaign. Robinson’s
donation of an original pink gown was in
honour of his 40 th anniversary in fashion
design, and in memory of his mother-inlaw
who recently passed away with breast
cancer.
The dress was the featured article for the
CBCN 4 th Annual online auction during
the Breast Cancer Awareness month of
October. The original Bringing Sexy Back
fashion show took place at the Conference
for Young Women with Breast Cancer in
November 2007. Funds raised through the
auction of the dress will contribute to the
next Conference for Young Women with
Breast Cancer.
When Richard Robinson offered to donate
original design young women with breast
cancer across the country voted on the
style; traditional, sexy or edgy, and “sexy”
won!
The successful bidder for the dress was
Carmela Toscano of Orleans. •
Louise Robinson; renowned designer Richard Robinson; Richard Robinson
house model Kadijha modeling the pink gown; CBCN executive director Jackie
Manthorne at the October 28, 2009 Bringing Sexy Back in Person cocktail party
at Arc the Hotel in Ottawa
Volunteers Needed at CBCN
For the CBCN Office in Ottawa
Planned Giving Assistant: Send out brochures for In
Memorium Giving to Funeral Homes across the country, track
brochures sent and call for re-orders. Someone good at details
and who likes to talk with people on the telephone.
Online Auction Assistants: Several people to start in January
to research new donor categories and update existing donor lists.
Auction assistants are creative, like to do web research, and are
detail oriented with an excellent command of English.
Fundraising Intern: Marketing or business student who is
articulate and presents well to corporate world, understands the
importance of research for the right ask to the right person at the
right time.
Volunteers nationally
Researcher / writers needed for website update in preparation for
migration to our new website. Web updaters are assigned a section
according to their interests and/or background in the subject.
They verify the material we have is correct and that links work,
analyze the section and compare to other groups nationally and
internationally for best practices, look at gaps in the information,
research to find credible and appropriate material to make their
section the best it can be, and finally look for illustrations or
suggest sources. Researcher / writers have to be serious about
their time commitment and meeting deadlines, meticulous about
sources, thorough, and have an excellent commend of either
English or French languages, written and spoken.
For any of these volunteer positions, contact Mona Forrest at
mforrest@cbcn.ca
Network News Winter 2009-10 21

One of the early
media reports
Material reprinted with the express permission of: “Ottawa Citizen
Group Inc.”, a CanWest Partnership.
about the CBCN
22 Network News Winter 2009-10

Controversy about
Mammography
Screening… Again
By Jackie Manthorne, Executive Director
Those of you who have been
involved in the breast cancer
community will know that every
so often, the value of mammography
and breast self-examination (BSE) is
questioned, much to the consternation
and often anger of women who
found their lumps by faithfully doing
BSE or through a regular screening
mammogram.
This time, it was the United States
Preventive Services Task Force
(USPSTF), which in November 2009
issued new recommendations:
“The USPSTF recommends against
routine screening mammography
in women aged 40 to 49 years. The
decision to start regular, biennial
screening mammography before the
age of 50 years should be an individual
one and take patient context into
account, including the patient’s values
regarding specific benefits and harms.
“In addition:
• The USPSTF recommends biennial
screening mammography for
women aged 50 to 74 years
• The USPSTF concludes that the
current evidence is insufficient to
assess the additional benefits and
harms of screening mammography
in women 75 years or older
• The USPSTF recommends against
teaching breast self-examination
(BSE)
• The USPSTF concludes that the
current evidence is insufficient to
assess the additional benefits and
harms of clinical breast examination
(CBE) beyond screening
mammography in women 40 years
or older
• The USPSTF concludes that the
current evidence is insufficient
to assess the additional benefits
and harms of either digital
mammography or magnetic
resonance imaging (MRI) instead
of film mammography as screening
modalities for breast cancer 1 “
Some of this we have heard before;
meta-analyses and studies have been
published and publicized in the last
few decades. Indeed, CBCN has
responded many times through its
own media releases and CBCN Board
presidents and other Directors have
been interviewed dozens of times
about these two issues.
On November 19, 2009, CBCN
issued the following media
release in response to the USPSTF
recommendations:
”Canadian Breast Cancer Network
speaks out against the finding of the
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
(USPSTF) Recommendations on
Breast Screening
“Women from 40-49 should not
receive routine mammograms for early
detection of breast cancer according to
the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
(USPSTF). The panel of doctors and
researchers, which does not include
oncologists, advises women to begin
regular screening every two years at
1 Screening for Breast Cancer
Recommendation Statement, US
Preventive Services Task Force,
http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf09/breastcancer/brcanrs.htm
Network News Winter 2009-10 23

age 50. The panel also states that breast
self-examination (BSE) does little good
and should no longer be promoted.
”The Canadian Breast Cancer
Network (CBCN), the only national
survivor-driven and survivorfocused
organization in the breast
cancer sector, does not agree with
this finding. CBCN strongly urges
provincial and territorial breast
screening programs add women from
40-49 to their screening programs and
also encourages women to continue to
practice breast self-examination.
“There are a growing number of
women who are diagnosed with breast
cancer under the age of 50 who do
not have a history of familial breast
cancer,” said Cathy Ammendolea,
president of CBCN. “In contrast to
the position of the U.S. Preventive
Services Task Force, we would like to
see Canada provide screening from age
40. We all know that the best way to
beat breast cancer is to diagnose it in
its early stages.”
”This year alone it is expected that
22,500 women in Canada will be newly
diagnosed with breast cancer. “We
want to eliminate any impediments
to regular mammography screening
for women age 40 and older,“ said
Ammendolea.
”The Canadian Breast Cancer
Network works to advocate the best
care, quick response times from our
medical system, support networks
and strategies for living with breast
cancer.”
In addition, the Canadian Breast
Cancer Foundation issued the
following statement:
“Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
believes all Canadian women should
be able to self-refer for mammograms
starting at age 40
“November 18, 2009 - “The Canadian
Breast Cancer Foundation continues
to advocate for all Canadian women
aged 40-49 having access to the
highest standard of breast screening.
Women should be able to self-refer
for mammograms starting at age 40,”
says Beth Easton, VP Allocations &
Health Promotion for the Foundation’s
Ontario Region. “We do not
understand why the U.S. Preventive
Services Task Force (USPSTF)
changed their position on screening
mammography for women aged 40 to
49, without new significant evidence to
support such a change.”
“The U.S. Preventive Services Task
Force (USPSTF) published new clinical
guidelines on screening for breast
cancer in the general population in
the November 17th, 2009 issue of the
Annals of Internal Medicine. Those
guidelines contained several changes
from USPSTF’s previous guidelines,
published in 2002. One of the changes
concerns screening mammography for
women aged 40 to 49 years. USPSTF
now recommends against routine
screening mammography for these
women.
“Currently, Canadian breast cancer
screening programs differ across the
country. What is available to women
in one province or territory may not
be available to women elsewhere.
Provincial programs differ in their age
of eligibility and whether self-referral
is permitted. The Foundation believes
that all Canadian women should be
able to self-refer to the best screening,
regardless of where they live.
“Benefits to mammography screening
exist for women screened in their 40s,
50s, 60s and 70s. Breast cancer detected
in women in their 40s represents
16% of the total mortality from
breast cancer. The USPSTF’s report
underestimates the benefit in mortality
reduction that can be achieved by
screening women in their 40s.
“Says Easton, “While we agree that,
wherever possible, women should
discuss the potential benefits and
risks of screening mammography
with their healthcare providers
before deciding whether to have a
mammogram, we know that in the
real world, many women do not have
a primary healthcare provider, and
sometimes healthcare providers act as
gatekeepers to screening. We are also
concerned that media coverage of the
USPSTF’s announcement will lead to
undue concern among women that
mammography is more likely to harm
them than help them. Our position
is clear. Screening mammography
saves lives, including for women aged
40–49.”
“The Foundation also hopes to
clarify that the “harms” described in
the USPSTF report would be better
described as “well-known limitations”
of screening mammography, including:
• Not all breast cancers are detected
with screening mammography
Screening mammography
sometimes results in false positives
• Some cancers are detected that are
not lethal, and current screening
cannot distinguish between lethal
and non-lethal cancers
• Like X-Rays, screening
mammography does require some
radiation exposure
“Easton observes that improvements
in screening techniques are already
addressing some of these limitations,
and that women can be willing
to accept the current limitations
because they recognize that screening
mammography provides an
opportunity to detect breast cancer
earlier, when there is a better chance of
survival.
“Provincial Program, Age of Eligibility,
Access:
• BC Screening Mammography
Program, 40, Women can self-refer
• AB Breast Cancer Screening
Program, 40, Women can self-refer
• SK Screening Program for Breast
Cancer, 50, Women can self-refer
• MB Breast Screening Program, 50,
Women can self-refer
• ON Breast Screening Program, 50,
Women can self-refer
Continued on Page 27
24 Network News Winter 2009-10

Thank you to CBCN 2009
Online Auction Donors
Thanks to all the donors
who made our 2009 Breast
Cancer Awareness Month
Online Auction a resounding
success, enabling us to raise
over $16,000!
7 Numbers; A la Carte Bed &
Breakfast; Aaron Pritchett; Alberta
Massage & Spa; Ambassatours;
Amber Shereen; Amuse, Toronto;
Anderson House Bed & Breakfast;
Angie Nussey; Annapolis Royal
Golf & County Club; Annick Press;
Aradia Fitness; Ardyth & Jennifer;
Art Gallery of Hamilton; Asessippi
Ski Resort; Astral Fitness; Atlas Yoga
Studio; Balnea Spa Bromont-surle-Lac;
Barley Wik; Basic Spirit;
Beau’s Brewery; BertingGlass Ltd;
Bill Brennan; Black Creek Pioneer
Village; Blue Neon; Bluebird
Meadows Bed & Breakfast; Body
Buster Bootcamp; Border Crossings;
Brad Hampton; Breeze off the Lake
Bed & Breakfast; Broadview Press;
Bustos Entertainment; Calaway
Park; Campbell House; Canadian
Centre for Architecture; CARI Pool;
Carmelita By The Lake Cottage
Bed & Breakfast; Carol Anne Cole;
Carriage House Inn; Cartier Place
Suite Hotel; Casa Loma; Cascadia
Hotel & Suites; Cat Sitter for Hire;
Catherine Lawrence; Celebrity
Limousine; Chateau Victoria Hotel
& Suite; Chicopee Ski & Summer
Resort; Chiwawa; Cindy Moleski
Photography; Circle Ranch; City
of Edmonton Community Services;
Clovelly Golf; Club de Golf Nation;
Club Phoenix; CNE Toronto; Coast
Hotels & Resorts; Coast Plaza
Hotel & Suites; Coconut Lagoon;
Confederation Center of the Arts;
Corus Entertainment; Courtyard
Restaurant; Crimmins Pottery;
Croisieres AML Cruises ; Crooked
Stovepipe
D&M Publishers; Dahlia Wakefield;
Dance District: Social Dance Studio;
D’Arcy Ranch Golf Club; Darren
Gowan Sculpture; Darren Holmes
Photography; Dave & Don Carroll;
Deer Park Municipal Golf Course;
Deerfoot Inn & Casino; Delta
Ottawa; Derek Jones; Deserving
Thyme Spa; Discovery Centre;
Dofasco Centre for the Arts; Dogs
At Camp; Domaine d’Amour Bed
& Breakfast; Domino Theatre; Don
Adler; Donna Kendal; Down Home
Life Magazine; DownHome Inc.;
Downward Dog Yoga Centre;
Eaglequest Golf; Eddie May
Entertainment-Scarlett’s Dinner
Theatre; Empire Theatres; Ester
Myers Yoga Studio; Executive
House Hotel; Fairmont Banff
Springs ; Fairmont Chateau Laurier ;
Fiddlehead; Fiddlers; Fifth Avenue
Club; Fitting Image Custom Breast
Prostheses Ltd; Forehand Foods
Group; Fort Calgary; Freewheeling
Adventures
Galliano Golf & County Club;
General Store Publishing House;
Geordie Productions; Glassduck;
Global Fitness Centre; Globe
Theatre; GoodLife Fitness; Grafton
Street Dinner Theatre; Grand Plaza
Montreal; Granite Town Farms;
Green Thumb Theatre; Greensmere
Golf & County Club; Hamilton Civic
Museums; Hank & Sally Unrau;
Harbour Cruises; Harbour Dance
Centre; Harbour Towers Hotel &
Suites; Harbourfront Towers Hotel
& Suites; Harrowsmith County Life;
Heckbert Studio & Gallery; Heffley
Inn Ski & Golf- Sun Peaks Resort;
Heritage Park Historical Village;
Hidden Lake Golf Club; Hilltop Bed
& Breakfast; Hilton Suites Toronto
Markham; Hockey Hall of Fame;
Hotel Pur; Il Terrazzo Ristorante;
Imax; Inn at the Forks; Issac’s 64
John’s Place; Jonah Place Bed &
Breakfast Inn; Jost Vineyards; Judy
Proulx; Junction County Golf Club;
Just for You Boutique; Just Look
Photography by Karen Justice;
Kamiskotia Snow Resort; Karen
Fowlie; Karen Jung; Kings Landing
Historical Settlement; Konzelman
Estate Winery; Kumsheen Rafting
Resort; Larry Mercey; Le Calactus
Restaurant; Le Nouvel Hotel & Spa;
Le Plumard Bed & Breakfast; Le
Saint-Sulpice Hotel; Les Fougères
Restaurant; L’Exquisite Day spa for
Women & Men; Lifeart Prosthetics;
Lionhead Golf & County Club; Lisa
Hewitt; Lisa Tugnette; Living Stones
Carvings; Loews Le Concorde;
Lost Creek Golf Club; Lyn Pflueger;
MacIntyre Purcell Publishing; Magic
Mountain Water Park; Magpie
Jewellery; Maison aux Pignons
Verts; MamaLuv; Mamma Grazzi’s;
Manoir Saint-Sauveur; Mansfield
Ski Club; Maple Music Recordings;
Maple Tree Press; Mariposa Cruises;
Marival Designs; Mark Dubois;
Marriott Halifax Harbourfront; Matrix
Hotel; Maureen Kelly; Metcalfe
Golf & County Club; Michael
Johnston; Michique Bags; Migz
BBQ on Broadway; Minto Suite
Hotel; Miramichi Golf & County
Club; Mondus Distinction; Morning
Glory Bed & Breakfast; Musee de
la Civilization; mwCandles; My
Mothers Bloomers
Nakusp Golf Club; National
Gallery of Canada; New
Attitude Prostheses; NightinGail
Photography; Norine Braun; North
Atlantic Aviation Museum; Northern
Bear Golf Course; Novotel Ottawa;
Novotel Toronto; Nuvo magazine;
Oak Hammock Marsh; Oak Island
Resort; Odyssey Theatre; Ofuro Spa;
On The Bay Magazine; Ontario
Science Centre; Opus Hotel
Montreal; Orfuro Spa; Pacific Audio
Visual Institute; Paradiso Restaurant;
Paul’s Boat Lines; Personalized
Books Ontario; Petonly.ca; Pho
Van Van; Phoenix Personal Fitness
Inc.; Photo Breau –Zealand; Pink
Network News Winter 2009-10 25

Lotus Yoga; Place Victoria Place;
PlasmaCar; Porcelain Beauties;
Portage Place Bed & Breakfast;
Prairie Theatre Exchange; Prism Bed
& Breakfast; Reif Wineries; Rhodes
Music; Richtree Market Restaurants;
River Reflections Bed & Breakfast;
Riverside Bed & Breakfast; Riverview
Cellars Estate Winery; Riverview
Golf Club; Roland Nipp; Rossman
Lake & County Club; Royal Alberta
Museum; Royal Ontario Museum;
Ruby Foo’s Hôtel
Saege Bistro; Say Magazine;
ScrapFest Inc.; Sea Kayak
Adventures Inc.; Second Story
Press; Sheraton Hotel; Shilo County
Club; Silk Concepts; Silver Wave
Film Festival; Six Shooter Records;
Smiling Cow Studio; Snow Valley;
Solar Children’s Festival; Solar
Stage Children’s Theatre; Sons
of Maxwell; Soulpepper; Starfire
Band; Staybridge Suites; Steve Bell;
Stratford Shakespeare Festival;
Strathmore Golf Club; Suffolk House
Bed & Breakfast; Sun Peaks Resort;
Suncatcher Bed & Breakfast; Suzie
Vinnick; Svaroopa Yoga; Swift
Years; The Anna Wyman Dance
School; The Antigonish Review;
The Citadel; The Comedy Cave;
The Doctor’s House; The Dog &
Duck Pub; The Great Canadian
Windchime; The Hammerheads; The
Key Publishing House; The Kilkenny
Irish Pub; The Old Winsloe House;
The Queen’s Inn; The Rock Oasis;
The Round Table; The Royal Oak;
The Serenic View Bed & Breakfast;
The Willow Inn Bed & Breakfast; The
Woman’s Place Fitness; The Works,
Ottawa; The Yoga Studio South;
Theytus Books; Thistledown House;
Tianne Cao; Timmins Museum Gift
Shop & Boutique; Tony O’Leary;
Trukare LLC; Tundra Books
Vancouver Airport Marriott;
Viewpoint Photography; Villa
Maria County Inn; Vittoria Trattoria;
Walks & Wags: Dog Walking &
Pet Care Services; WanderBird
Cruises Expeditions; Water’s Edge
Bed & Breakfast; Westben Arts
Festival Theatre; Western Civilization
Aviation Museum, William Au
Photography; Will-W; YMCA
of Greater Halifax/Dartmouth;
Yoga Centre Winnipeg; Yoga
North; Yoga Passage; Youth
Ballet & Contemporary Dance of
Saskatchewan; Yuk Yuk’s Ottawa •
Breast Cancer Survivor
to Financial Survivor!
Jadzia Romaniec, Task Force Liaison Officer and Zakia Sanaye, Project
Coordinator of the Breast Cancer Survivor to Financial Survivor Project
Breast Cancer Survivor to Financial
Survivor is the newest handbook
being developed by the
Canadian Breast Cancer Network.
Breast cancer patients/survivors often
find that they have to make difficult
financial decisions while dealing with
the stress of having cancer, the costs
associated with receiving treatment
and employment income reduction.
The booklet gives breast cancer
survivors some financial decisionmaking
tools and options, new ways
to evaluate and use their own assets,
and uncovers some
little-known resources
and reviews best ways
to negotiate their way
through the social benefits
and disability systems.
Breast Cancer Survivors to
Financial Survivors looks
at how to manage assets
such as RRSPs, whether
to borrow funds, mortgage or sell a
house, cash in insurance policies, try to
eventually obtain re-training, or obtain
part-time work either in their preexisting
workplace or somewhere new.
Information is also being compiled
about assistance with transportation,
prosthetics, childcare costs and other
help from local agencies.
The handbook includes information
about decision-making processes,
planning materials and financial
alternatives and choices compiled from
a volunteer Task Force of financial
and related industry experts. A Project
Advisory Committee of breast cancer
survivors is reviewing the material.
Many of the contributors have had
firsthand experience with the financial
difficulties related to a breast cancer
diagnosis. If you, or anyone you know,
have stories or contributions about
creative financial survivorship, please
do let us know! Your solutions can
be very helpful to others in treatment
or survivors. The manual will be
distributed through CBCN’s 225
partner and member groups and on
the CBCN website and through the
CBCN national office. Publication is
expected in February 2010.
For more information or to contribute
call Zakia Sanaye, Administrative
Coordinator, or Jadzia Romaniec, Task
Force Liaison Officer, at 613-230-3044
Ext 228, or toll free 1-800-685-8820. •
26 Network News Winter 2009-10

Continued from Page 24
Controversy about Mammography
Screening… Again
• QC Breast Cancer Screening
Program, 50, Women can selfrefer
• NB Breast Cancer Screening, 50,
Women can self-refer
Members, Friends, Funding Partners
and Corporate Friends
CBCN gratefully acknowledges the following individuals
and organizations for their financial contributions for this
financial year (July 1, 2009 to present)
• NS Breast Screening Program,
40, Women can self-refer
• PE Breast Screening Program, 40,
Women can self-refer
• NL Breast Screening Program,
50, Women can self-refer
• NT Breast Screening Program,
40, Women can self-refer
• YK Mammography Program, 40,
Women can self-refer”
Note that Nunavut does not have
a breast screening mammography
program.
It is clear from the furor aroused
in the United States that the
recommendations of the U.S.
Preventive Services Task Force were
highly controversial. According to
WebMD Health News 1 , “leading
medical groups…immediately
announced their own guidelines had
not changed. The American Cancer
Society reiterated its guideline for
annual screening mammography
for all women beginning at age 40,”
stating that it had reviewed virtually
the same data and concluded that
“the lifesaving benefits of screening
outweigh any potential harms.’’ In
addition, the American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists
(ACOG) continues to recommend
regular screening mammograms
every one to two years for women
in their 40s, annual screening for
women 50 and older, and Breast
Self-Examination (BSE).
We encourage you to work with the
Canadian Breast Cancer Network to
promote mammography screening
from age 40 for all women in
Canada. •
Member ($25-$99)
• Hundreds of individuals and groups across
the country
Friends of CBCN ($100-$499)
• Alwyn Anderson
• Dolores Ast
• Lisa Bélanger
• Eva Bereti
• Isabel Burrows
• Dr. Eva Butler
• Carol Ann Cole
• Karen DeKoning
• Helen Elsaesser
• Chris Foster
• Ratna Ghosh
• Dolores Griffin
• Darlene Halwas
• Holly Hinds
• Maureen Jackman
• Fran Jones
• Diane Moore
• Patricia Moore
• Laurie Porovsky-Beachell
• Mary Rogers
• Lyle Spencer
• Charles & Nancy Weisdorff
• Jan Zwicky
Bronze Level Supporter
($500-$4,999)
• Bell Canada
• CyberAlert
• Inga Petri, Strategic Moves
• Telus Communications
• Tencor
• Virage
Silver Level Supporters
($5,000-$24,999)
• Dell
• Mike’s Hard Pink Lemonde
• Temerty Family Foundation
• The Harold Crabtree Foundation
• The Quilt Project
Gold Level Supporter
($25,000-$99,999)
• AstraZeneca
• GlaxoSmithKline
• Novartis
• Pfizer
• Roche
• The Cure Foundation
Platinum Level Supporter
($100,000 and over)
• Breast Cancer Society of Canada
Government
• City of Ottawa, Ottawa Partnership for Jobs
• Ministry of Training, Colleges and
Universities, Government of Ontario
• Public Health Agency of Canada
• Service Canada
• Canada Summer Jobs
Corporate Sponsors
• National Fundraising Network / Chocolates
for Charity
• Pizzazzing You
• Sassy Sam’s
• MOMPowered Inc.
• Novelty Canada
• Canadian Gift Concepts
Network News Winter 2009-10 27

Canadian Breast Cancer Network Partners
National Partners
• Breast Cancer Society of Canada
• Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
• Canadian Breast Cancer Research Alliance
• Canadian Cancer Society
• National Cancer Institute of Canada
• National Ovarian Cancer Association
• Willow Breast Cancer Support Canada
• World Conference on Breast Cancer
Provincial/Territorial Networks
• Alliance for Breast Cancer Information and Support, British
Columbia and Yukon
• Breast Cancer Network Nova Scotia
• Manitoba Breast & Women’s Cancer Network
• New Brunswick Breast Cancer Partnership
• Northwest Territories Breast Health/Breast Cancer Action Group
• Nunavut Breast Cancer Project
• Ontario Breast Cancer Exchange Project (OBCEP)
• Prince Edward Island Breast Cancer Information Partnership
• Qulliit Nunavut Status of Women Council
• Saskatchewan Breast Cancer Network (SBCN)
• The Newfoundland and Labrador Lupin Partnership
Provincial/Territorial/Regional/Local Partners
• Amitié Santé 04
• Association à fleur de sein
• Au Seingulier
• Breast Cancer Action Kingston
• Breast Cancer Action Manitoba
• Breast Cancer Action Montréal
• Breast Cancer Action Nova Scotia (BCANS)
• Breast Cancer Action (Ottawa)
• Breast Cancer Action Saskatchewan
• Breast Cancer Centre of Hope (Winnipeg, Manitoba)
• Breast Cancer InfoLink (Calgary)
• Breast Cancer Support Services Inc. (Burlington, ON)
• Breast Cancer Research and Education Fund
• Breast Health Centre of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
• Breast of Canada Calendar
• Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – Ontario Chapter
• First Nations Breast Cancer Society
• FLOW
• Hereditary Breast & Ovarian Cancer Society of Alberta
• Manitoba Breast Cancer Survivors Chemo Savvy Dragon Boat
Team (Winnipeg)
• Miles to Go Healing Circle - Six Nations (Ontario)
• New Brunswick Breast Cancer Network
• Organisation québécoise des personnes atteintes de cancer
• Prince Edward Island Breast Cancer Support Group
• ReThink Breast Cancer
• Sauders-Matthey Cancer Prevention Coalition
• Sentier nouveau Inc.
• Sister to Sister: Black Women’s Breast Cancer Support Group
(Halifax, NS)
• Soli-Can
• The Young and the Breastless
• Virage, Hôpital Notre-Dame du CHUM
Key Partners in Other Sectors
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Society of Canada (ALS)
• Anemia Institute of Canada
• Canadian Health Coalition
• Canadian Health Network
• Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association
• Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders
• Canadian Prostate Cancer Network/National Association of
Prostate Cancer Support Groups
• Canadian Science Writers’ Association
• DisAlbed Women’s Network Ontario
• Epilepsy Canada
• Early Prostate Cancer Diagnosis Ontario
• HPV and Cervical Health Society
• National Council of Jewish Women of Canada
• National Council of Women of Canada
• Newfoundland and Labrador Women’s Institutes
• Ontario Health Promotion Project
• Ottawa Health Coalition
• Parent Action on Drugs
• Quality End-of-Life Care Coalition
• Women’s Centre of Montreal
• Women, Health and Environments Network
• Women and Rural Economic Development
International Partners
• National Breast Cancer Coalition (Washington, D.C.)
• Philippine Breast Cancer Network
CBCN is represented on the following groups
• Best Medicines Coalition
• Board of Directors and co-chair of the Canadian Breast Cancer
Research Alliance (CBCRA)
• Canadian Cancer Action Network (CCAN)
• Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology Ad-hoc
Project Team for the project Creating a Community for
Knowledge Exchange and Capacity Building
• Canadian Breast Cancer Screening Initiative
• Coalition priorité cancer au Québec
• Community Capacity Building Committee, Canadian Breast
Cancer Initiative, Public Health Agency of Canada
• Episodic Disabilities Network
• Metastatic Breast Cancer Global Advocacy Advisory Board
• Provincial Cancer Control Strategy, Newfoundland and Labrador
• Provincial Wellness Coalition Sub-committee for Healthy
Living, Newfoundland and Labrador
• Saskatchewan Cancer Advocacy Network
28 Network News Winter 2009-10