Lack of diversity in Breast Cancer Awareness Campaigns do a disservice to Women of Color
As a feature of Dark History Month, Reexamine welcomed blogger Chaka V. Reid to give a post concerning her view on bosom tumor. Unite the dialogue and let us skill we are able to preferred stand for our assorted people.
Cognizance recoveries exists. In 2005, vocalist Kylie Minogue approached to affirm that she had been diagnosed with bosom growth. It was stunning news and carried accessible cognizance to the small known actuality that youthful ladies get bosom malignancy as well. Named the “Kylie Impact”, Minogue was credited for the enormous ascent in breast growth screening right around adolescent ladies that emulated her fruitful and popular combat with this ailment. I had been a Kylie fan subsequent to I was a small young lady moving to the Loco-movement, and I was one of her numerous fans that petitioned God for her recuperation. From then on I apprehended how capable it was when assorted confronts, advances, and individuals turned out to impart their battles. Yet cognizance and back does not need to be joined to an acclaimed face. Seeing somebody who reflects you, if that is resulting from the fact that they are part of your family, cycle or grounding, can make you sit up and take acknowledge of a noteworthy issue you would not be able to have paid concentration in regards to elsewise. Therein untruths the capacity of media and the method that it would be able to update exists basically by the pictures it decides on to speak for or avoid.
The North American crusades and media around bosom disease have done compelling things to raise mindfulness and financing for bosom growth exploration. Unfortunately, it has tried to incorporate differing ladies in this post. The same time as the latest bosom malignancy mindfulness month not one moment passed by without a business, TV project or magazine delivering a speech to the malady. It was weighty to see this perpetual wave of sympathy and responsibility being put advance to the purpose. At the same time what misrepresented this memo of unity and duty to help all ladies influenced by the illness was the complete absence of assorted qualities within the representations connected with bosom growth.
As a lady of Caribbean/South American drop, a journalist, and a Bosses learner who examines race, representation and media, I am absolutely aware of representations of assorted qualities. In the midst of breast tumor cognizance month I was frustrated to see that not one group for bosom disease highlighted differing ladies of shade in their plugs, with the exemption of Reevaluate, which did incorporate a few ladies of Asian plunge. Stroll following stroll was demonstrated with crowds of ladies in pink embracing, yelling, and parting about, and it appeared to be constantly white ladies and their friends and family. Where were the dark ladies, Indian ladies, Latin ladies in the proposed breast disease plugs or in the strolls, surrounded by their family and mates?
The shocking absence of racial and ethnic assorted qualities in the breast malignancy crusades is particularly telling but nothing revamped. It is reminiscent of the Ladies' Development of 40-50 years back when the content of female empowerment was controlled from high society white ladies to different privileged white ladies, prohibiting ladies of shade and flatter salary white ladies who did not have the capacity to get their challenges and battles in the media prioritized. It was in the late 60's and 70's where Dark, Local, Latin ladies, around different ethnic and class gathers, approached to make themselves listened to. I accept that the same should be beaten breast disease consciousness and media for the reason that it changes exists. It can help sway which ladies are incorporated in exploration and avoidance ponders, and regardless of whether a lady will feel incorporated and welcomed enough to connect for backing when she considers herself encountering this malady.
Chaka V. Reid
I credit writers for example Robin Roberts from Great Morning America, who is African-American, and Egyptian-American Hoda Kotb, co-accommodate of the 4th hour of the Today Indicate, for being a few towering profile ladies of color who have stood up regarding their combat and triumph over breast tumor. We require more visualizations and stories of ladies of ALL shades who have combat this illness. Breast malignancy has no color, it even influences both sexual orientations; accordingly, we merit media coverage that reflects this actuality.
It was a few ladies as various as it comes who both struggled and beat this malady at a little experience-Kylie Minogue and my youngest Close relative K-that made me sit up and declare, “Goodness, I ought to take this genuine,” when I found that irregularity. And then it is their valiance that has spared my essence and given me trust.
Hairly There
Most of our lady life we choose when we prefer to have a chic pixie cut or grow our hair to lengths resembling Rapunzel. This is not taking count of the horrific times our mothers decided to give us a bowl cut or a premature perm that forever has haunted us in our schoolbook pictures. Having this freedom of choice is liberating and can cause many weeks of common debate, “should I cut my hair or should I continue to grow it?”
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| Head scarf from The Beaubeau |
More commonly these days, life presents some of us with no other option other than to lose our hair during the treatment of breast cancer. This forced situation can initially make one feel a sense of deep loss. But, on the other hand, one can feel free from the pressures of having to find that haircut that accentuates their face or is the hottest new hairstyle. The beauty of solely the face is something we rarely experience other than when we are newborn babies, when the purity and simplicity of beauty is undeniably radiant.
I watched my mother go through stronger days and some weaker days as she reached for her wigs. Some days it was a security blanket. Other days, I could see she was marveling in this newly found freedom and this whole new world of headgear. Everyday can be a new day, a new style: from headwraps to hats to natural hair wigs to synthetic wigs. The best part of it all is you don’t have to wait several months to sport a long-locked look or be in a vogue magazine to wear a headwrap.
If you are on a hunt for a new wig here are some locations in Ontario that have been recommended by past cancer patients on different cancer forums, use this map
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| Head wrap from English Traditions |
Quick tips that you should know about taking care of wigs.
- Always use accessories and products that are specific to wigs (wig brush, wig shampoo & conditioner, wig styling product-alcohol free)
- Wash your wig with cold water only
- Do not brush your wig while wet
- Make your at home wig stand with two 2litre bottles. Cut both in half and use the nozzle free parts by inserting in one another
- Wash your wig after every 8-12 times of usage
You Can Find head wraps here:
- The Beaubeau
- Etsy shops: English traditions
- Ninisniche
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| Head wrap from Nininiche |
Personally out of all the options, I love head wraps. Rethink readers which do you prefer? Let us know your fabulous finds and send us some pictures.
Rethink love,
Natalie
Rethink Beauty Blogger
Cancer Treatment: The Fertile Question
Everyone knows that breast cancer treatment is no fun. Not only must a woman grapple with a life-threatening illness, she could have one or both breasts sliced off. Or she may be forced to undergo chemotherapy, which can result in baldness, among several other singularly nasty side effects. Even if the treatment’s successful, she may be rendered infertile since chemotherapy, pelvic radiation, and bone marrow transplants can affect fertility in both men and women. Medical advances have boosted survival rates but, especially for young women, to be permanently denied a choice to be a mother is an added horror.
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| Maryam with children at an orphanage in Zenica, Bosnia |
Laudably, oncologists may offer fertility counselling, most often to women between 18 and 40. A young woman sits in a clinic where she’s forced to make harrowing decisions even before life-saving treatment can begin. Should she freeze her eggs? Frozen eggs alone have only a 10 per cent chance of producing a future pregnancy. She’s told it’s better to freeze an embryo. But to produce an embryo requires sperm. Does she have a partner? Not so easy a question if the woman is single, or in a new or uncommitted relationship. No partner? She can pick an anonymous sperm donor from a binder containing laminated biographies of potential fathers.
But even if she has a partner or chooses a donor should she go ahead with IVF at all? In vitro fertilization is a highly invasive procedure in which a woman’s ovaries are overstimulated to produce more eggs than they would normally, which may cause breast cancer to grow. IVF exacts a heavy financial toll. Each round of IVF costs between $15,000 and $20,000, and that’s only one round. A successful pregnancy may require several rounds. The physical and emotional costs of the quest to become pregnant are equally if not more agonizing, particularly on the woman.
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| Maryam and children in Zenica |
As a human rights activist who worked in Bosnian orphanages before I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I was appalled that my counselling never mentioned the possibility of Canadian or foreign adoption. Adoption, it’s true, can be expensive and complex. At the same time, it can be sublimely rewarding. To not even present it as an option for cancer survivors is reprehensible. Fertility clinics have the best of intentions, which doesn’t mean they unwittingly can’t be influenced by profit statements. And preserving a woman’s fertility is big business.
In my personal case, I was doubly fortunate both in treatment and its outcome. At the beginning of my ordeal I possessed a tumour on my left breast the size of a tangerine. After much distress, I underwent a lumpectomy combined with radiation and chemotherapy. The excellent treatment I received brought about a full recovery. And, as it turned out, my fertility was not impaired. If I choose, I can bear a child. I did not have to select a generous sperm donor from a laminated binder. Nor did I need to bankrupt myself in the course of an indefinite series of IVF sessions.
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| Maryam and youth in Zenica |
Surprisingly few young women diagnosed with cancer take steps to preserve their fertility. This, medical journals tell us, is due to the fact that fertility counselling is not as widespread as it should be. Even when it is available, the cancer patient’s potential inability to have a baby amounts to one more obsessive worry she doesn’t need in her life-or-death struggle. Counselling for young women facing cancer is indispensable and should be universally accessible. Such counselling should empower them with every possible choice in their ongoing lives. It should teach them that there are many different ways to start a family. Pregnancy is only one of them. The first medical imperative must always be to save women’s lives. The second should be not to handcuff women to their ovaries.
- Maryam Manteghi
Maryam Manteghi worked for United Nations organizations in postwar Bosnia. She teaches law at Seneca College.
Visit Rethink at www.rethinkbreastcancer.com
Visit Rethink at www.rethinkbreastcancer.com
Jim's Story - Being a husband and father when your wife has breast cancer
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| Laura and the kids |
My wife, Laura, was diagnosed with Her2 + Stage IV metastatic breast cancer in 2011. The shock of the news was so great we couldn’t drive home. We were paralyzed by fear and sadness. I clearly remember walking through the lunchtime crowds of Bloor Street and telling Laura: “Hold me close. I want to get in a fist fight”. It was as though the pain of being punched in the face would somehow distract me from the terror and sadness inside of me. I think we both knew at that moment that our lives were forever changed.
Laura is the main breadwinner in our family. She’s the rock. I am an artist - my career was taking off but the ceiling was a bit on the low side when it came to earning potential. What was I going to do? How would I look after the kids if she were gone? For the first time in my life I felt the true weight of being a father. I knew what I had to do and I did it. I grew up.
Immediately and without question I put my career on hold. Major creative projects which required my full focus, attention and joy were put on the back burner or forgotten about. I worked minimally and centred my schedule around Laura. She would frequently thank me for coming to all of her chemo sessions and medical appointments with her. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Immediately and without question I put my career on hold. Major creative projects which required my full focus, attention and joy were put on the back burner or forgotten about. I worked minimally and centred my schedule around Laura. She would frequently thank me for coming to all of her chemo sessions and medical appointments with her. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
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| Me |
This time together was a bittersweet gift. Throughout Laura’s treatment, we enjoyed more time alone together than we had in ages. Even though cancer treatment became a full time job for us, we had a lot of fun, laughing, taking long walks together and going on “cancer dates” to Princess Margaret Hospital. Laura and I had never been closer.
And yet, never in my life have I ever felt so scared and so alone. One night, I lay on the floor and just cried. Friends tried to give me comfort; my parents, reassurance. But several people couldn’t handle it when I answered their “So how are you doing?” honestly. One friend dismissed my fears and sadness outright when I expressed that I was suffering. Apparently I had to “be strong” for Laura and the kids - which in her mind meant not feeling or sharing my burden with her. I found that instead of being strong for my family, I had to be strong for a society that doesn’t like to face the reality of serious illness.
Rethink Breast Cancer’s Support Saturdays program, which provides support to young families dealing with breast cancer, allowed me to take comfort in the presence of other men who had walked a similar path as me. I can’t even begin to explain how difficult it is to support your dearest love through her cancer journey. Together, we shared our similar stories of being dads wanting to fix things.
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| Our Family |
As a parent with two young children I witnessed another wonderful present. Luella - our now five-year-old daughter - could play with other children her own age with moms that were sick, who had lost all of their hair, and who at times were tired and afraid. This helped normalize our post-cancer lives for her. She felt safe and her behaviour became less moody and erratic at home.
The gift that Support Saturdays gave to me was time for a coffee, and some dudes to talk with one minute about surfing, the next about fear, loss or just how damn hard it is to sit and watch your wife suffer and not be able to do a thing about it. At Support Saturdays I felt visible and profoundly understood. It was a humbling and empowering experience for me. I’m grateful that Rethink Breast Cancer and all its generous supporters provided our family with such a gift.
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| Laura finishing chemo |
I wanted to save Laura from cancer - with COQ10, Astralagus and Kale salad. Every morning I would get up early so Laura would be greeted by fed and clothed children and a pint of magical juice composed of (all organic) kale, celery, cabbage, carrots and every other vegetable that may or may not have demonstrated to have anticancer properties. The secret ingredient in my magical juice was, of course, love.
I know this is completely irrational, but this is what I wanted to do. When Laura was in chemo, the pain of watching her suffer - physically, mentally and emotionally - was almost too much for me to bear. If I could have had cancer for her, I would have. I’ve learned to accept (but not like) that there are just some things I can’t do.
Today, the threat seems to have passed. Laura’s post-operative follow up appointment last summer revealed, “The tissues extracted demonstrate a complete response to chemotherapy. You currently have no evidence of disease.” I wept at the news.
I know this is completely irrational, but this is what I wanted to do. When Laura was in chemo, the pain of watching her suffer - physically, mentally and emotionally - was almost too much for me to bear. If I could have had cancer for her, I would have. I’ve learned to accept (but not like) that there are just some things I can’t do.
Today, the threat seems to have passed. Laura’s post-operative follow up appointment last summer revealed, “The tissues extracted demonstrate a complete response to chemotherapy. You currently have no evidence of disease.” I wept at the news.
I’m no longer bristling for a fight. Here and now, Laura and I have each other. Here and now, life is normal - more or less. I appreciate and celebrate my time with her a bit more. We’re closer than we’ve ever been. Here and now is the present and being present with each other, here and now, is our greatest gift.
- Jim
If you and your family would like to take part in Support Saturdays please email support@rethinkbreastcancer.com
Click the banner below to make a donation and help young families facing breast cancer
Seek The Peak - Teri's Inspiration
Seek The Peak is a challenging 16-kilometer race that begins on the beach in Ambleside Park in West Vancouver, winds its way through North Vancouver, then heads up the legendary Grouse Grind® to the peak of Vancouver. The 9th annual Seek The Peak Relay takes place June 17th, 2012, with funds raised benefiting Rethink to support young women with breast cancer. Here is what inspires one woman to take part in this year's event.
In early February I found myself in a position I thought I would never be in again, needing a reminder of what is important in life. After spending the afternoon with my friend Michelle, I sat down and wrote a note to all the women in my life.
In early February I found myself in a position I thought I would never be in again, needing a reminder of what is important in life. After spending the afternoon with my friend Michelle, I sat down and wrote a note to all the women in my life.
To the women in my life…
I am sitting down to write this to all of you, fresh with emotion. I have just come back from a run. Today was not a typical run. Instead of it being about getting outside and getting exercise, it was about knowing that I am fortunate enough to do be able to do it.
I think I was also running a bit scared...
Today I spent part of my day with a friend that is fighting breast cancer that has spread to her liver. She has a one, three and five year old. She is an amazingly strong person who is pulling from every ounce of her body the will to keep fighting. I watched while she struggled to eat, threw up and then was so exhausted that all she could manage was to make it to her room to sleep. There was nothing I could do but just be there and although that should be enough it certainly didn't feel like it.
The reason I am writing this for all of you to read is that I’ve had conversations with many of you about the stress of family, jobs and life. It seems to me that a lot of us have been feeling overwhelmed lately. Not all the time but certainly at times. What I want to say to all of you is that right now, in this moment, I am so incredibly grateful for what I have. I want to keep this feeling so it is more than a moment. Sometimes I forget it. I may be hard on myself because I am not in the shape I want to be, stressed because my job feels like too much or frustrated because my child is not doing what I want him to do.
Stop. Breathe. Think.
Spending time with my friend today made me stop, think and appreciate that she would give anything to have enough energy play with her children, to feel good, and to be healthy. I lost my father and godmother to cancer and I thought I would never forget to be grateful for what I have. Today I was not only thinking of Michelle, but I was also thinking about the two of them, being reminded of what really matters.
As I stood on Grand Boulevard during my run with tears coming down my face, all I wanted to do was to hold my family close, to tell my friends how much they mean to me and to cut myself some slack. When it is our time I doubt any of us will ever wish we worked harder, looked better or stressed about things more. Instead, we will look back and wish we had spent more time with those we loved, had more fun, relaxed more and instead of being so hard on ourselves, that we love ourselves a little bit more!
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| Teri, Michelle and Jenell |
I wrote this in hopes that we could all pause for a moment. We could think about Michelle, and other women that like her, who are fighting breast cancer at this very moment. Their stories of courage should remind us of what truly matters.
My friend Michelle inspires me. She is facing breast and liver cancer head on. She is looking at this not as a death sentence but as a life challenge. As she puts it, A LONG LIFE! I am entering Seek the Peak as a relay with my friend Jenell. Together we are showing our friend Michelle that this event is a small token of giving back to her all that she has given to us!
Love to all of you,
Teri Taylor
Pledge Teri's participation in Seek The Peak and help young women with breast cancer. You can pledge Teri here.
Greetings from Vancouver - Sandy's Story
Then of course, I don’t know how I didn’t see it coming, but the mother dies and the two are separated. I’m an adult I should’ve seen that coming, but Triton is only 6, how could he have seen it coming? Triton started to cry and said he wanted to go home. I guess most mothers may have left the theatre with their obviously traumatized child in tow. But I didn’t. I sat there, tears running down my face, my arm around him telling him that it will get better, just watch, something good will come, just wait. Perhaps we all need that, someone there to tell us that everything will get better, just wait and see. I needed that three years ago when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. How could that be, how could that happen? I did all the right things to NOT get breast cancer. I ate semi-healthy, I didn’t smoke or drink, I even nursed both my children for a total of 5 years. How could I get breast cancer? I was diagnosed at 38 with Her2 positive, estrogen positive, stage 2, grade 3 breast cancer. I had a bilateral mastectomy, with tram flap (where they build you new breasts with your belly fat, yes, they can do that, pretty neat huh?), chemo, radiation, herceptin, tamoxifen, and then zolodex and arimidex. It’s a mouthful, and a lot of medical jargon I didn’t know anything about until it all happened to me.
A few weeks after radiation, I was granted subsidy to attend Rethink Breast Cancer’s Breast Fest Film Festival in Toronto. I was treated like royalty, and got to enjoy a weekend of films that shared amazing, and touching stories of young women dealing with breast cancer. I also got to connect with other women going through what I was going through. At a workshop I attended that weekend, I learned to journal my cancer journey. That was the first time where I felt I could share what I was going through, and it really helped me come terms with all that I had happened to me. While at the film fest, I also learned about another Rethink program called “Live, Laugh, Learn”, a sort of new generation support group for young women, held in some Canadian cities at a Lululemon store, and a place where each month, a different topic, activity, or speaker comes to share with young survivors. When Rethink wanted to bring the program here, to my city, I was so excited. I even got the chance to sit on the committee, to help bring this wonderful program to Vancouver. After a few years, and seeing it all unfold, finally the launch of “Live, Laugh Learn”, happened, Sunday April 29th, 2012, and it was fabulous! It’s been a journey, a long journey that I still am taking, but I have to say, that although cancer wasn’t the best thing that has ever happened to me, it is changed my life on so many levels. I have an extra special bond with both my children. I feel so loved by so many friends and co-workers, and I have not only married the man of my dreams, but during a nightmare, he was my knight in shining armour. My parents, siblings and siblings-in-law have showed me so much love and support that I could never be more grateful. They say when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. But I say, go a step further: open up a lemonade stand and give it out to all of the parent and child “chimpanzees” in your neighborhood! Life, like the movies, doesn't always get better, but my Christian faith has taught me that it’s a blessing to be able to “just wait and see.”
- Sandy
If you are interested in attending Live Laugh Learn in Vancouver (or another Canadian city) and for more information about Rethink's support programs please contact Shawna at support@rethinkbreastcancer.com
Painting the town Red … and White!
10th Annual Red & White Ball in support of Rethink Breast Cancer.
Ten years ago the event was started by a group of young women to show support for their friend who was battling breast cancer, and every year the event gets bigger and bigger – making more of an impact on the fight against Breast Cancer.
I’ve been involved in supporting Breast Cancer charities all my life but supporting this event and supporting Rethink was a no brainer for this 20-something year old! I attended the Red and White Ball for the first time in 2010 and had a blast. It was the atmosphere, the music and the crowd of hundreds of young professionals all getting together to build awareness and raise funds for this worthy cause. After attending just one event I was hooked! I knew I would be attending Red & White every year and I needed to find a way to get more involved.
This event is made possible every year by a team of lovely ladies – dubbed the R&W Girls J - who year in and year out, have discovered that our time, energy, and effort is far more valuable than the money we can afford to donate individually. Instead, we devote our spare time to planning and promoting this event each year and we are proud to say we plan to attract 500 young professionals and raise over $20,000 for Rethink with this year’s event.
One of my favourite parts of the evening is seeing everyone dressed up in Red & White. It’s amazing to look out at the crowd to see red or white ties, shirts, dresses, shoes, lipstick, hair fascinators and often the occasional boa! And the amazing part is everyone is there in support of a good cause, to have a good time and make a difference.
This year’s event is going to be bigger and better than ever, and we’ve got tons of surprises planned for the evening – especially given it’s our 10th anniversary! Swag bags for all attendees valued at over $150 courtesy of our generous sponsors including Ferknot and Red Lovo, open red and white wine bar for the first couple of hours courtesy of YellowTail, amazing raffle prizes up for grabs, DJ Slim Signal spinning all night long and so much more!
We promise that this will be one unforgettable night and we can’t wait to see you on Friday, April 20th, 2012!
Get your tickets here
Dalia
Chair, Red & White Ball 2012
The Women and Men Behind Your Man Reminder: A TED Ads Worth Spreading WINNER!
With over two million views of the video and more than seventy thousand downloads of the app, Rethink’s Your Man Reminder - one of the ten winners of TED Ads Worth Spreading is spreading TLC (Touch, Look, Check) breast awareness all over the world! Read more about the story behind the success of the latest Rethink initiative to go 'viral'!
At Rethink Breast Cancer we like to say that we’ve seen it all when it comes to “boobs” and breast cancer. We have worked with incredible Ad agencies like ZiG, Bensimon Byrne, Crispin, Porter and Bogusky, and many more who have presented us with fabulous education campaigns that are often centered around breasts. Makes sense if you think about it.
One of Rethink’s goals is to take the fear out of breast cancer messaging and encourage young women to get involved in the cause, educate themselves and make sure they are breast aware. Young people are a particularly difficult community to reach as they are the target of so much advertising and are constantly bombarded with things to do, buy and see. We are always looking for creative ways to break through the clutter with important information about breast cancer, and “boobs” usually do the trick! When our long time partner agency John St. called us in to hear some fresh ideas they had for a brief we had given them around our Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign, we were ready and willing to hear some “booby” ideas. Imagine our surprise when we heard the name of their campaign idea was “Your Man Reminder”. We were instantly smitten by their idea of using hot men to remind women to be breast aware and were particularly excited by the idea of launching our first smartphone app. John St. is amazingly collaborative, and we worked together to figure out how the Your Man Reminder app would work and ways we could use social media to help spread the word about it.
With so much focus on the app, I have to admit we kind of forgot about the promotional video script that had originally been presented to us. The idea was to bring the “hot man reminder” to life in a video that would serve both as an education tool and drive people to download the app. When our amazing project manager at the time, Katie Gillespie, came to us for script approval for the video both MJ (Rethink’s Executive Director) and I raised our eyebrows. It’s a fine line between using a positive upbeat message for breast awareness and showing respect and recognition of the challenges that many young women in our programs face around the loss of their breasts. We loved the humour and twist that the John St. script was proposing, but we wanted to make sure that the video didn’t offend or hurt anyone. I admit that I was also probably a little prudish about the whole thing! We spoke to A LOT of people and worked closely with John St. to hone the script – for example, Dr. Rutherford wasn’t in the original script - and then we were off to the races. Great casting was key to the success of the video and Katie kindly volunteered to help audition all the hot men (and sent lots of pics to the team back at the office). She also agreed to spend the day on the set. What a devoted team player!
When the day arrived to see the finished product I was really nervous. Would the video convey the fun AND the importance of the messaging and app? Would it seem too silly? Embarrassing? I was a nervous wreck. All my concerns melted away as Dr. Rutherford opened the video and we laughed in all the right places. John St. had nailed it (as always) and we were ready to post it online.
I can’t even remember how the next few days went down as it is all a blur now. Everything happened so fast and the video just took off like it had a life of its own! Our viewership numbers were climbing through the roof and it seemed like everyone was sharing, tweeting, commenting and giving a lot of love to the campaign. Bloggers and media from around the world jumped on the bandwagon and MJ and I did radio, print, TV and online interviews here in Canada and from countries across the Globe. We were particularly thrilled that the campaign was embraced by the gay community and loved their shout outs to Anthony (he was even chosen as “man of the month”!).
The campaign buzz has slowed down but is far from over. We’ve had over 2 million people view the video and over 70,000 have downloaded the app. That’s a lot of women being reminded to target their breasts and show them some TLC!
We are so grateful to everyone who worked on this campaign. We are already brimming with ideas for phase 2 of the app and video. We want to hear more of your feedback and especially any thoughts you might have of where we might go next with this amazing campaign!
- Alison Gordon
VP, Strategy, Marketing & Communications
Rethink Breast Cancer
Announcing Rethink's Advocacy Program
I am one of the newest members on the scene at Rethink Breast Cancer as I recently came on board as the Senior Manager of Advocacy. In the last decade, Rethink Breast Cancer has become the “change maker” in the breast cancer community in Canada, bringing fresh, forward thinkinginitiatives and break-through awareness to the under-40 crowd. With the addition of my new role, Rethink is taking its advocacy work in the breast cancer field to the next level. Our plan is to create an innovative advocacy program that will put young women at the center of driving change for all women.
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| Ashley MacIssac-Butler |
When I was approached by Rethink to spearhead this program, I was both humbled and thrilled to continue my work in the breast cancer community. I have spent much of my career working in politics and I have found a real niche in the non-profit sector taking what I learned on the political side of things and educating and assisting organizations such as Rethink on how to affect change at the political level.
There is a real need for a bold and powerful voice in the breast cancer community in Canada calling for changes to improve the lives of breast cancer patients and survivors.Rethink is in an unique position to mobilize our extensive community to provide a strong voice on advocacy issues among stakeholders, government, and industry. We have a broad reach through our national support programs and have close working relationships that we can continue to build through advocacy.
The mission of Rethink’s advocacy program is to create a bold, youthful approach to making much needed changes to improve breast cancer services, treatment, education and research. In the past Rethink has contributed to small “a” advocacy by raising awareness of the unique needs and challenges of young patients. Now, we are ready to formalize our approach into advocacy on a much larger scale.
Rethink’s Advocacy program will:
- Create models for advocating to healthcare professionals, politicians, and decision makers
- Build systems for proactive and reactive campaigns
- Create patient working groups to assist in the development and implementation of the program
- Create a linkage between Rethink and breast cancer affiliates that we will draw from to help shape our advocacy initiatives
Rethink Breast Cancer just undertook a National Needs Assessment which surveyed over 500 breast cancer patients and survivors in Canada. The results of this survey will allow me to identify current gaps in the system. I am looking forward to creating advocacy models and campaigns that will raise awareness and bring about change to the inequalities that women face during and after treatment.
I am excited to be a part of the Rethink team as they are a fantastic group of women—and a man!—who offer a refreshing approach to breast cancer services. As Rethink evolves and embarks on a new decade, we will be applying our creative approach to advocacy, something that I am sure will benefit women for years to come.
If you would like to know more about Rethink’s advocacy program or you would like to get involved please contact me.
- Ashley MacIssac-Butler
Senior Manager of Advocacy, Rethink Breast Cancer
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