We lost Tanja, a cherished mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, niece, friend, colleague. Last year, breast cancer brought us together.

In 2021, Tanja had a routine mammogram. She learned she had dense breasts and requested supplemental screening. That request was tragically denied -no one can access supplemental screening in Nova Scotia. Tanja was told her mammogram was fine, but actually a cancerous tumour was hidden by dense tissue. And tumours not seen just keep growing and eventually spread. When the pain began in her back, hip and lower rib, she sought help, but was sent away three times by her family doctor who told her the pain was due to her being perimenopausal. She fractured her hip in early 2023, around the same time she felt the tumour on her own. She was diagnosed at Stage 4, with extensive bone metastases. She believed if she had been offered supplemental screening in 2021, she could have been in a position to fight for remission instead of being diagnosed as incurable.

Tanja had reason to be angry, but I never heard anger- instead I only heard a passionate voice from a kind and generous woman who gave her time to advocate for equitable access to supplemental screening. Tanja inspired me and our fellow Nova Scotia advocacy group members with her energy, dedication, and actions. She will be terribly missed.

We will honour Tanja’s memory by continuing her work—pressing for change for those underserved by mammography and current inequitable policies. We will work for a future where no woman’s life is cut short due to lack of access to essential screening. Please contact us ifyou would like to help.

Our deepest condolences to her daughter Gracie, husband Shane, parents Doris and John and brother Chris.

Tanja’s obituary can be read here: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/…/tanja-harrison-12114332

Jennie Dale