Health Minister Terry Lake has provided the following statement in recognition of October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month:

“Breast cancer can take away those that are close to us, be it a spouse, mom, sister, grandmother, aunt or friend. There are steps that can be taken to help detect the disease in its early stages.

“Participation in regular screening mammogram programs is the best method for detecting breast cancer, and finding the cancer early means more treatment options and a better chance of recovery.

“BC Cancer Agency research says that there is a 25 per cent reduction in breast cancer deaths among B.C. women who have a mammogram every two years through the Screening Mammography Program. I would urge women to call and book an appointment, or visit www.screeningbc.ca for more information.

“In addition to detecting the cancer early, we also want to try to prevent the disease from occurring in the first place. To raise awareness, the ministry and the province’s leading cancer organizations have joined forces to create a website, which encourages women to take five steps that may help to prevent breast cancer, plus other actions for possible early detection. Five Plus ─ www.fiveplusbc.ca ─ suggests maintaining a healthy body weight, maintaining an active lifestyle, limiting alcohol consumption, breastfeeding, if possible, weighing the risks and benefits of hormone therapy, as well as being aware of the look and feel of your breasts so any changes are noticed.

“In 2014, an estimated 3,200 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in B.C., and an estimated 600 will die from it. The good news is that B.C. is a national leader in cancer prevention and treatment, with one of the lowest rates of breast cancer and the second-lowest mortality rate for women who do get breast cancer.

”Family moments are to be treasured, and detecting breast cancer in its early stages can help ensure that our loved ones are there for as long as possible.”    

Media Contacts:

Kristy Anderson
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)