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

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