News Articles

These women were told they were too young to get a mammogram. Then they were diagnosed with breast cancer in their 40s

June 13, 2023

Canadian guidelines say women should start getting mammograms at age 50 unless they have specific risk factors. The U.S. is updating their guideline to start at age 40 and some experts say Canada should do the same.

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Ontario exploring beginning breast screening ten years earlier — at age 40 — something advocates have long pushed for

June 8, 2023

OTTAWA- November 24, 2021 – Jennifer Quaid, an Ottawa law prof who was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer just after she turned 50. She had asked for a mammogram earlier but was told she didn’t qualify. PHOTO BY JEAN LEVAC /Postmedia Article content Just days after a U.S. task force recommended breast cancer screening begin at age 40, the Ontario government says it is looking at a similar move.

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Ultrasound not included in regular screenings for Islanders with high breast density

May 5, 2022

Officials with Health P.E.I. say ultrasounds are not currently being used within the provincial breast screening program, and they won’t be anytime soon. In 2019, Premier Dennis King’s government promised to begin notifying all Islanders who have a mammogram of their breast density. It also promised to look into the potential of adding ultrasound screening for those with the highest breast density.

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Rosilene Kraft has Stage 4 breast cancer

February 11, 2022

She was discouraged from getting a mammogram in her 40s because her doctor followed dangerous Canadian breast screening guidelines. Listen

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A new website helps navigate the maze of provincial and national breast cancer screening guidelines

October 8, 2021

IN2018, 47-year-old Adriana Ermter found a lump in her armpit. Her doctor referred her for a mammogram, but the clinic said it was likely just a calcium deposit. After months of requests for additional screening, the Toronto resident received a second mammogram and an MRI. This time, the clinic found cancer. “If I hadn’t advocated for myself, under the guidelines I wouldn’t have had regular mammograms until I was 50,” Ermter says. “Who knows what stage of breast cancer I would have progressed to?”

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Are Your Boobs Your Best Friends? Seriously? Are They?

October 1, 2021

You may call your boobs your breasties, but are they really? Are you feeling up your best friends and your armpits on the first of every month the same way you’d check a cantaloupe or melon for its ripeness at the grocery store? You know, to make sure you don’t have a lump, swelling, redness, soreness, thickening, irritation or dimpling of the skin, or redness, flaky skin, pulling or pain in the nipple area that could potentially be breast cancer. Better yet, do you know how to properly screen for breast cancer? You should, you need to. It’s your right.

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Why Examining Your Breasts Is So Important

September 30, 2021

Best Health Magazine Dr. Paula Gordon speaks to Rebecca Gow Along with routine screenings, frequent at-home examinations are the key to knowing your norm and catching any concerning changes.

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New Brunswick mammogram reports will now include breast density information

November 6, 2020

New Brunswick is the latest province to mandate that women be told their breast density following a mammogram, but experts say the welcome move falls short of a broader breast cancer strategy they’d like to see extended coast-to-coast.

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Dense breasts: an organization deplores that Quebec does not directly inform women

February 28, 2020

An organization deplores that the Quebec government does not directly disclose to women important information for their health: do they have dense breasts or not? Deprived of this information, Quebec women cannot take measures to detect breast cancer in time, he believes.

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TV Spots

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The U.S. may lower the breast cancer screening age to 40. Should Canada follow?

June 8, 2023

OTTAWA- November 24, 2021 – Jennifer Quaid, an Ottawa law prof who was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer just after she turned 50. She had asked for a mammogram earlier but was told she didn’t qualify. PHOTO BY JEAN LEVAC /Postmedia Article content Just days after a U.S. task force recommended breast cancer screening begin at age 40, the Ontario government says it is looking at a similar move.

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Patient Advocate Shira Farber speaks to Global news about the impact of being denied a mammogram in her 40s

November 3, 2022

Breast cancer survivor calls for access to routine mammograms for all Canadian women in their 40s

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Patient Colleen Packer speaks to CTV Calgary about being denied a mammogram in her 40s

April 11, 2022

Early screening: Cancer patients call on province to pave way for early breast cancer screening

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DBC’s Director of Advocacy and Education, Quebec,

February 21, 2022

Annie Slight speaks to CTV Montreal about breast density and how information is not directly shared with the women of Quebec about an important breast cancer risk

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Early Detection of Breast Cancer Saves Lives

October 15, 2021

CTV Morning Live Vancouver with Dr. Paula Gordon

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‘Outdated’ breast cancer screening guidelines failing Canadian women: report

October 3, 2021

Global News National: Drs. Seely and Gordon video and interview with Saba Aziz. Patient advocates Annie Slight and Nicola St. George.

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Tissue density a factor with breast cancer

October 1, 2021

CTV Toronto: Jennie Dale, Dr. Martin Yaffe, Rosie White speak to Pauline Chan

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Breast density information now included in mammogram reports in New Brunswick

November 5, 2020

The province of New Brunswick announced Wednesday that a new provincewide initiative ensures that breast density results are going to be included in mammography reports and in the letters sent to women following routine screening.

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Dense breast tissue can lead to challenges in detecting breast cancer

October 24, 2020

LONDON, ONT. — Shock is what 75-year-old Barbara Moscovich felt when doctors told her she had not one, but two cancerous tumours in her breast. “I’ve been fortunate to not have had any diseases or ever being in the hospital so I would be considered healthy for my age so for this to happen it seemed totally unreal.”

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Radio Interviews

DBC’s Director of Advocacy and Education, Quebec

February 21, 2022

Annie Slight speaks to CJAD 800AM Montreal about breast density  

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DBC’s co-founder, Jennie Dale, speaks with CBC’s Island Morning

January 7, 2022

DBC’s co-founder, Jennie Dale, speaks with CBC’s Island Morning about Sharon MacNeill- her diagnosis , successful advocacy for density notification and her legacy.

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Island Morning with Mitch Cormier

October 22, 2021

CBC Radio’s Island Morning is a news and current affairs information source for Prince Edward Island. Host Mitch Cormier talks about the issues that matter to the people of P.E.I.

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October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 2, 2021

Dr. Jean Seely speaks to Radio Canada Saskatchewan (French)

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Canada’s breast screening practices are failing women, according to new report

September 29, 2021

640AM Radio: Dr. Paula Gordon speaks to Kelly Cutrara

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Shift – NB with Vanessa Vander Valk

November 5, 2020

Shift is an energetic two and a half hours that connects people in the province with the events of the day and with each other.

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Dr. Paula Gordon discusses what PEI needs to do next to save lives.

August 14, 2020

A national group is suggesting some next steps Health PEI could take for women with dense breasts. PEI is calling women with the densest breasts back for yearly mammograms.

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Stories that made a difference

June 13, 2019

As the regular season draws to a close, White Coat, Black Art looks back at and updates some of the programs that “made a difference” — by sparking change and shedding light on under-reported issues.

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Dr. Paula Gordon speaks with Stephen Quinn on CBC’s Early Edition.

January 11, 2019

New breast cancer screening recommendations do more harm than good, argues UBC clinical professor.

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