Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In the NWT the number of people with breast cancer is in the hundreds. Of all NWT women diagnosed with cancer, over one-third have breast cancer. Nationwide, this type of cancer will affect about 11 percent of women during their lifetime.
The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation encourages everyone to practice breast awareness, to know how your breasts normally look and feel so that you notice any unusual changes early and discuss your concerns with your health care provider.
Over the past 20 years, survival rates have steadily improved. The reason is early detection and better treatment. In Canada the five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 88 percent. So that’s very good news. On the downside, Aboriginal women are less likely to be screened for breast cancer. So, in terms of reaching Dene, Inuit and Metis women, there’s room for improvement.
Screening is the very best way to identify cancer at the early stage, so increasing the proportion of Aboriginal women who receive mammograms is crucial for improving public health.
Another downside is the popular myth that men don’t get breast cancer. In fact, men can develop breast cancer. Of course, the risk is very low, but breast cancer in men isn’t well-understood and is stigmatized. Men often feel embarrassed about a breast cancer diagnosis because it’s thought of as a woman’s disease. Men should be encouraged to discuss any unusual changes in their breasts with their health care provider.
Underlying all of this is one basic fact: lifestyle plays the biggest casual role in the development of breast cancer. Things like the quality of a person’s diet, how much exercise they get, whether they smoke and how much alcohol they consume. So, a double-barreled strategy is required. On the one hand, proper screening and, on the other hand, long-term prevention efforts through improved lifestyle.
At the appropriate time, I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
