In the summer of 2020, Elysia Bryan of Toronto discovered a lump in her right breast but delayed seeking medical attention, assuming it would resolve itself. Despite the lump being visible and causing discomfort, Bryan postponed getting screened for breast cancer. Eventually, in April 2021, she consulted her family doctor, who advised her to undergo a mammogram and biopsy. Following these tests, Bryan was diagnosed with breast cancer at St. Michael’s Hospital and underwent a lumpectomy within two weeks.
After enduring eight rounds of chemotherapy, 24 radiation sessions, genetic testing, mastectomy, and reconstruction, Bryan triumphed over cancer and now advocates for breast cancer screening. Stressing the importance of early detection, she emphasizes that timely diagnosis offers more treatment options compared to later-stage detection.
Bryan collaborates with The Olive Branch of Hope, a group supporting Black women with breast cancer, where she observes a rising trend of young women being diagnosed with the disease. She underscores the significance of young women prioritizing their health by utilizing available screening services.
A recent study by the Hologic Global Women’s Health Index revealed that only 15% of Canadian women and 25% of American women reported undergoing breast or cervical cancer screening in the past year. The study, conducted in partnership with Gallup, highlighted disparities in screening rates among women based on income levels, ethnicity, and newcomer status.
Ontario’s decision to lower the self-referral age for mammograms by a decade has aimed to enhance early detection and treatment accessibility for breast cancer, which affects one in nine women in the province. Despite this initiative, only around 21% of eligible women aged 40 to 49 have availed themselves of screening services since the change.
Dr. Supriya Kulkarni, a breast imaging radiologist, emphasizes the need to reach out to underserved communities, including immigrants, refugees, individuals with language barriers, and First Nations, to ensure broader access to screening services. She underscores the importance of engaging younger individuals who may face barriers like family commitments, economic pressures, and limited access to healthcare.
Efforts to promote screening are ongoing, with Dr. Ritika Goel, a Toronto-based family physician, highlighting the disparities in healthcare access faced by marginalized populations, particularly racialized and immigrant women. Ontario Health has taken steps to develop multilingual materials and conduct webinars to raise awareness about the importance of breast cancer screening expansion.
The hope is that with advancements in screening technologies and increased outreach efforts, more women will be encouraged to undergo regular screenings, leading to early detection, improved treatment outcomes, and ultimately, more lives saved.