BY: ZAARA MAZZUCA
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and many women in Canada joined the annual nationwide breast cancer run, Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run. This year, the Canadian Cancer Society CIBC Run raised over $9 million for Canadians that have been impacted by breast cancer. The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) was founded in 1938, and has helped more than 55 million people since 2017.
According to the Government of Canada website, an estimated 26,900 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 5,000 will die of it. Breast cancer accounts for approximately 25% of new cases of cancer and 13% of all cancer deaths in Canadian women.1 in 8 women are expected to develop breast cancer during her lifetime and 1 in 33 will die of it.
It is important to raise awareness for breast cancer, because most people don’t know the symptoms until it's too late. Some of the most common symptoms of breast cancer, according to the CDC, is a new lump in the breast or underarm, thickening or swelling of part of the breast, irritation or dimpling of breast skin. These are just a few that many women don’t know about and won’t notice.
There are many different ways to get involved even though the annual run is over. Donating to resources such as the Canadian Cancer Society. Another resource is the Canadian Women’s Health Network in the Jane and Finch area. The Jane/Finch Community and Family Centre: Women’s group helps women who are struggling with all types of problems such as breast cancer, domestic violence, alcohol addiction, mental health and many more. It is located at 108-4400 Jane St, in the Downsview area. An easy way to show your support by wearing pink, or wearing a pink ribbon on any article of clothing.
Breast Cancer Awareness month may end in October, but the fight for a cure still continues for all types of cancer.