Posted on Tuesday October 07, 2014
DURHAM - - The Central East Regional Cancer Program at Lakeridge Health is teaming up with the Canadian Cancer Society to encourage women to talk to their mothers, sisters and friends about the importance of being screened for breast cancer.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and to help raise awareness, women who have mammograms at Lakeridge Health will be asked to become ambassadors for the Canadian Cancer Society’s Women to Women campaign.
Being an ambassador is simple. Participants are asked to share the message that mammograms save lives with their friends and family. At the same time, they are encouraged to lead by example by making sure they have a mammogram every two years if they are aged 50 to 74, as recommended by Cancer Care Ontario.
“Regular screening through a mammogram (or breast x-ray) can find cancer when it is small, less likely to spread, and usually has a better chance of being treated successfully,” says Sheila-Mae Young, Primary Care Lead from the Central East Regional Cancer Program.
To make this conversation easier, Women to Women ambassadors receive a special tool developed by the Canadian Cancer Society called the Thingamaboob. The Thingamaboob is a key chain with different sized beads that show how important mammograms are in finding breast cancer early.
“The Thingamaboob is an excellent visual tool that is definitely a good conversation starter. The message that mammograms save lives is always most powerful when it is delivered by a friend or family member,” explains Fauzia Hemani of the Canadian Cancer Society.
Each ambassador will receive by mail 11 Thingamaboobs – 10 to share with the women in their lives and one to keep for themselves. To learn more about becoming an ambassador, visit the Canadian Cancer Society website.
Quick Facts
- More than 500 women nationwide have become Women to Women Ambassadors, sharing their message with more than 3,700 friends and family members.
- Breast screening is offered at both the Oshawa and Bowmanville sites at Lakeridge Health. Women looking for more information can visit our website.