Who We Are
Dense Breasts Canada (DBC) is a non-profit organization, founded in 2016. DBC is made up of dedicated individuals, with and without breast cancer, and healthcare professionals. All are committed to raising awareness and advocating for optimal breast cancer screening.
OUR GOALS: AWARENESS AND ADVOCACY
To increase awareness among the public and health care professionals of the risks associated with dense breasts and the importance of screening, starting at age 40.
To convince health authorities to report breast density to women and provide supplemental screening to women with dense breasts.
To convince the federal government to revise current breast screening guidelines and reform the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care.
WHY WE’RE SEEKING CHANGE
Over 3 million women in Canada, over age of 40, have dense breasts. DBC wants to educate women about the importance of knowing and understanding their breast density so they can be proactive in reducing their risk and can also have informed discussions with their healthcare providers.
Why breast density matters: Dense breasts pose two risks: 1. Women with dense breasts have a higher chance of developing breast cancer. 2. Dense tissue can mask cancer. Women with dense breasts can benefit from additional screening to decrease the number of missed or delayed cancer diagnoses.
Why optimal screening matters: Early detection of breast cancer provides the best chance for survival. Five year survival at Stage 1 is 99.8 percent and at Stage 4 it is 23%. Early detection also can mean a better chance to avoid chemotherapy, mastectomy and axillary dissection. Optimal screening includes annual screening starting at age 40 and continuing past age 74 and additional screening for women with dense breasts.
![Adrienne-1929](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Adrienne-1929.jpg)
![Adrienne-2210-copy](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Adrienne-2210-copy.jpg)
![IWYTK_logo IWYTK_logo](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IWYTK_logo.png)
You can do all the right things and still get cancer, so keep yourself in check. It isn't your fault or anyone else's when it happens. I was vegan for most of my life, was active with a normal BMI. I don't drink alcohol. I’ve never smoked. Be diligent with your self-exams. If something doesn't seem right, listen to your body. Get it checked out. I may not have lived if I had waited until I was 50 for my first mammogram.
Adrienne | Diagnosed at 43
![Melanie-7477](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Melanie-7477.jpg)
![Melanie-7673](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Melanie-7673.jpg)
![IWYTK_logo IWYTK_logo](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IWYTK_logo.png)
While mammograms are the gold standard for checking breast cancer, they don’t always help. KNOW your breast density score (A, B, C, or D). Educate yourself. Additional screening may be required for C and D. You should always trust your instincts. The best advocate is YOU. If you feel something, say something. If you're not comfortable with something, ask questions, request second opinions, but do not be quiet.
Melanie | Diagnosed at 46
![Adrienne-1929](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Adrienne-1929.jpg)
![Adrienne-2210-copy](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Adrienne-2210-copy.jpg)
![IWYTK_logo IWYTK_logo](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IWYTK_logo.png)
You can do all the right things and still get cancer, so keep yourself in check. It isn't your fault or anyone else's when it happens. I was vegan for most of my life, was active with a normal BMI. I don't drink alcohol. I’ve never smoked. Be diligent with your self-exams. If something doesn't seem right, listen to your body. Get it checked out. I may not have lived if I had waited until I was 50 for my first mammogram.
Adrienne | Diagnosed at 43
![Melanie-7477](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Melanie-7477.jpg)
![Melanie-7673](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Melanie-7673.jpg)
![IWYTK_logo IWYTK_logo](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IWYTK_logo.png)
While mammograms are the gold standard for checking breast cancer, they don’t always help. KNOW your breast density score (A, B, C, or D). Educate yourself. Additional screening may be required for C and D. You should always trust your instincts. The best advocate is YOU. If you feel something, say something. If you're not comfortable with something, ask questions, request second opinions, but do not be quiet.
Melanie | Diagnosed at 46
![Adrienne-1929](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Adrienne-1929.jpg)
![Adrienne-2210-copy](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Adrienne-2210-copy.jpg)
![IWYTK_logo IWYTK_logo](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IWYTK_logo.png)
You can do all the right things and still get cancer, so keep yourself in check. It isn't your fault or anyone else's when it happens. I was vegan for most of my life, was active with a normal BMI. I don't drink alcohol. I’ve never smoked. Be diligent with your self-exams. If something doesn't seem right, listen to your body. Get it checked out. I may not have lived if I had waited until I was 50 for my first mammogram.
Adrienne | Diagnosed at 43
![Melanie-7477](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Melanie-7477.jpg)
![Melanie-7673](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Melanie-7673.jpg)
![IWYTK_logo IWYTK_logo](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/IWYTK_logo.png)
While mammograms are the gold standard for checking breast cancer, they don’t always help. KNOW your breast density score (A, B, C, or D). Educate yourself. Additional screening may be required for C and D. You should always trust your instincts. The best advocate is YOU. If you feel something, say something. If you're not comfortable with something, ask questions, request second opinions, but do not be quiet.
Melanie | Diagnosed at 46
Our People
![jennie photoshopped final jennie photoshopped final](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/jennie-photoshopped-final-square-c7a2d9076d2b9cc46a21192519504420-jd67e2lr1iy9.jpg)
![Michelle Di Tomaso Michelle Di Tomaso](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Michelle-Di-Tomaso-square-1568fede4a2d655ff900bd9efcb7eaaa-zxvfeo3ywp92.jpg)
![CongratulationsDrPaula CongratulationsDrPaula](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/CongratulationsDrPaula.jpg)
![Marlie Oden Marlie Oden](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Marlie-Oden.jpg)
![ADVOCATE PIC- annie ADVOCATE PIC- annie](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/ADVOCATE-PIC-annie-.jpg)
![Joan Joan](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Joan.jpg)
![Eevin-LeighSchlamp Eevin-LeighSchlamp](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Eevin-LeighSchlamp-scaled-square-109fa2b276b6e84ba47dd3b70ee3884d-x2o60wd4se5h.jpg)
![image003 (1) image003 (1)](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/image003-1.jpg)
Meet Our Advocates
![Slide 8 Rosilene Kraft, BC Rosiline Kraft <br> British Columbia](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Slide-8-Rosilene-Kraft-BC-1-square-d395201d5419d93e23fe950104381467-d3z0bhatyvxf.jpg)
Rosiline Kraft | British Columbia
![Michelle Di Tomaso -2 Michelle Di Tomaso -2](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Michelle-Di-Tomaso-2-square-3406dc28f972c097c6de109f070c792b-30ny1v7iqm4a.jpg)
Michelle Di Tomaso | British Columbia
![Sara Towgood Profile Sara Towgood <br> British Columbia](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Sara-Towgood-Profile-square-b69ff79c178e16e1935c5e53e3a66772-vflebswz6oiq.jpg)
Sara Towgood | British Columbia
![Slide 7 Natalie Kwadrans, AB Natalie Kwadrans <br> Alberta](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Slide-7-Natalie-Kwadrans-AB-1-square-f6e25b46c17ca53fb8aa6b5a7460a631-d6fskazwm5xg.jpg)
Natalie Kwadrans | Alberta
![Slide 7 Libby Wilson, AB Slide 7 Libby Wilson, AB](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Slide-7-Libby-Wilson-AB-1-square-7056cc81a1889e1159e8650513e8c198-bf14sgqjdckv.jpg)
In Memory Libby Wilson | Alberta
![Sharon Sharon](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Sharon-square-bc7c24a969991c6b4d251a69bc35e47d-yjqdgzfx2534.jpg)
In Memory Sharon Olson | Saskatchewan
![Slide 8 Carole Rucks, SK Carole Rucks <br> Saskatchewan](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Slide-8-Carole-Rucks-SK-1-square-bf3c52e348a5c1fef7e0053ef6be7041-padzovhunw9q.jpg)
Carole Rucks | Saskatchewan
![Slide 6 Debbie Kerr Debbie Kerr <br> Ontario](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Slide-6-Debbie-Kerr-1-square-5797348aac1786ea68a2b438abda91ee-z8bv51qjsca3.jpg)
Debbie Kerr | Ontario
![SLIDE 5 Amanda Theyers SLIDE 5 Amanda Theyers](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/SLIDE-5-Amanda-Theyers-1-square-99a91bf4a7ec82ee7c8060c437721668-ourxsile6j5n.jpg)
Amanda Theyers | Ontario
![slide 7 Pam Hall, PEI Pam Hall | Prince Edward Island](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/slide-7-Pam-Hall-PEI-1-square-198e7163b3cd3595fa21ae0b838e3057-eu9xf7tiql6v.jpg)
Pam Hall | Prince Edward Island
![kathy kathy](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/kathy-square-6f90024fa3bc0691e71c4d561bb569e4-0a6sb2cdfuli.png)
Kathy Kaufield
New Brunswick | Prince Edward Island
![Gaynor Hart Gaynor Hart | Nova Scotia](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Gaynor-Hart-square-1da7906cb1ea863f633ada0afaa28aad-6re1vn3uszml.png)
Gaynor Hart | Nova Scotia
![Anne-Zakem Anne Zakem <br>Prince Edward Island](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/Anne-Zakem-square-662e9c2131e74174a685f4b2802c67ce-pjch5em7qfna.jpg)
Anne Zakem | Prince Edward Island
Honourary Patron
![KarenGoldenburg KarenGoldenburg](https://densebreastscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/KarenGoldenburg-square-99e063d3b579d3d62422315cab0bf298-kbxcqriztj3a.jpg)