Live Well: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time not just to support and honour those who’ve been affected by breast cancer, but to think about ways to reduce the risks and impacts.

As one of the most common forms of cancer and one of the most dangerous, about one in every eight women in Canada is diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime.

This month, our weekly wellness articles will focus on different ways to reduce your risk factors for breast cancer, as well as the importance of regular screening to detect breast cancer in the earlier stages when treatment is more likely to be successful.

Depending on your family history, you may benefit from genetic screening to find out more about your level of risk. Approximately 1 in every 300-400 Canadians carries a BRCA1/2 gene mutation, which can mean they are at an increased risk to develop cancer. Genetic testing is available through OHIP for patients meeting certain criteria, like having a personal history of cancer at an early age, or having family members with breast cancer. 

Those who don’t qualify for having genetic testing fully covered may opt to pay for testing. The Screen Project is an initiative to make BRCA1 & BRCA2 screening available to all Canadians over 18 years of age at an accessible price, while also helping researchers study the benefits of larger-scale genetic testing. There is a fee involved, but it may be eligible for reimbursement through your Wellness Spending Account (WSA).