By: Laura Steiner, The Milton Reporter
In a groundbreaking development, Breast Cancer Canada (BCC), a prominent national charity dedicated to breast cancer research, has unveiled new data shedding light on Canadian perspectives regarding breast cancer screening and the imperative need for diverse and real-life experiences in research. This announcement coincides with the launch of the PROgress Tracker Breast Cancer Registry. This pioneering knowledge repository aims to advance breast cancer management by collecting patient experiences over the next decade.
The recently conducted survey involving members of the Angus Reid Forum has exposed significant national demand for initiating routine breast cancer screening at an earlier age. Additionally, it has highlighted the necessity for gathering race-based data and a widespread willingness among Canadians to contribute their experiences to enhance patient outcomes.
Key Survey Findings:
Lowering the Age for Routine Screening: A staggering 89 percent of Canadians believe that routine breast cancer screening should commence before age 50.
Race-Based Data: Canada currently does not systematically track race-based data concerning breast cancer screening rates, in contrast to the United States, where studies have shown that black individuals, especially young black women, face poorer outcomes with breast cancer. BCC’s survey underscores that 79 percent of Canadians advocate prioritizing collecting race-based data to address the information gap regarding racial disparities in cancer.
Canadian Willingness to Contribute: An impressive 80 percent of Canadians express a desire for their health challenges to contribute to research to enhance health outcomes for others.
Parminder Punia of Brampton is a poignant example of the impact of early routine screening. Diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 46 in August 2021, Parminder understands the life-altering impact of a cancer diagnosis. Parminder passionately advocates for improved breast cancer screening in Canada, especially for those with a family history of the disease, such as her daughter. Early screening could have potentially caught Parminder’s cancer at a more treatable stage.
Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women during their lifetime, and treatments are notably more effective when initiated early.
To address the information gap identified in the survey, BCC has launched the PROgress Tracker Breast Cancer Registry, a pioneering initiative set to collect experiences over the next decade from individuals who have experienced breast cancer at any stage during their journey. This invaluable data will inform policy and shape the future of breast cancer management.
PROgress Tracker empowers patients to self-report their diagnoses, treatments, and long-term impacts, segmenting the information by breast cancer type, age, ethnicity, and geographic location. By tracking those diagnosed before the standard screening age, this data will reveal the complexities of treatment and the long-term effects of late diagnosis.
Kimberly Carson, CEO of Breast Cancer Canada, emphasizes the importance of PROgress Tracker, stating, “Through a patient-centred approach, PROgress Tracker will guide the development of new interventions that will directly impact breast cancer care, whether it is starting routine mammograms at an earlier age or potentially shortening the number of radiation treatments in one’s journey.”
PROgress Tracker aims to capture the authentic breast cancer experience from the patient’s perspective. Researchers, oncologists, cancer programs, and corporations will have access to anonymous data from the registry to analyze clinical symptoms and side effects over time. This registry, active for 20 years, will provide real-time analysis and updates to advance timely research and care.
Dr. Omar Khan, a Medical Oncologist specializing in breast cancer, emphasizes the importance of patient voices in healthcare, saying, “Having a robust data registry allowing us to follow the lived experiences of patients throughout all aspects of their breast cancer journey, and combining this with evolving technologies and AI is key to unlocking the full potential of precision medicine.”