Each year, the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign is held in the month of October. In support of the campaign this year, the University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) will be selling three-dollar cookies on campus at GPA’s campus convenience store and Degrees diner throughout the month. All proceeds will go to the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation.
UMSU vice-president student life Tracy Karuhogo said that the fundraiser has already seen successful sales. Karuhogo said that UMSU will be ordering more cookies if they are sold out.
Karuhogo said that she is passionate about issues like breast cancer that affect women. She added that it is important for UMSU to have events like this to show support for all people who are affected by the disease.
In 2021, the Public Health Agency of Canada reported that about two in five Canadians will be diagnosed with some form of cancer in their lifetime. It is estimated that one in four people die from the disease.
In Manitoba, 900 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, and 200 are expected to die from the condition. Breast cancer runs in the family of only about 10 per cent of women who are diagnosed.
Breast cancer is among the most diagnosed cancers, along with colorectal, lung and prostate cancers. These cancers made up about 46 per cent of all diagnoses in 2021 alone.
The Public Health Agency recommends not smoking, having a healthy diet, incorporating physical activity into your daily life, having proper protection against the sun and getting screened for the disease to help reduce one’s chances of developing cancer.
CancerCare Manitoba emphasizes that because of breast cancer’s high rate of diagnosis and fatality, it is important for women over the age of 50 to have scheduled mammograms every two years. Depending on biological factors, transgender and non-binary individuals might require regular screenings as well.
Being screened regularly for breast cancer decreases its mortality rate by about 20 to 30 per cent for women between the ages of 50 and 74.
There are multiple mammogram clinics across the province, and a Winnipeg clinic is located at 5-25 Sherbrook Street. Appointments can be made by calling 1-855-952-4325.
Karuhogo said that students should keep an eye out for future UMSU fundraising events like Movember next month, a campaign that raises awareness regarding men’s mental health, prostate cancer and testicular cancer.
Karuhogo recommended that students check out the UMSU website or Students of UMSU Instagram page for more information on current and future events.
