Canadian Breast Cancer Network - CBCN

05/29/2026

Patients are turning to artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT, not to replace their doctors, but to fill the long stretches of uncertainty between appointments. A recent survey from the Canadian Medical Association reported that 37% of Canadians rely on online information because they can’t access a doctor.

If you've found yourself waiting months for a specialist appointment, lying awake trying to understand a pathology report, or leaving a 15-minute consultation with more questions than answers, you understand the appeal. During gaps in care like these, AI tools have become a source of instant answers.

While AI tools can be incredibly helpful, it is important to use them wisely and with clear boundaries. So with that in mind, here are some practical guidelines for using AI safely.

Use AI for:
Understanding medical terms and concepts
Gathering general health info
Preparing thoughtful questions for appointments
Processing or organizing info between appointments
Finding emotional support or reassurance during uncertain moments

Avoid using AI for:
Making or comparing treatment decisions
Interpreting your own imaging, pathology, staging, or lab results
Judging whether a symptom is serious or urgent
Stopping, adjusting, or starting medications
Choosing surveillance or follow-up schedules

AI is increasingly shaping how patients access information between appointments but it won’t replace your oncology team or organizations like CBCN which play a crucial role in supporting digital health literacy, curating trustworthy resources, and advocating for responsible AI systems that prioritize safety, transparency, and accuracy.

Reach out if you need support with your breast cancer questions.

To read the full article, visit our blog: https://cbcn.ca/en/blog/our-stories/before-you-ask-AI-about-your-health-read-this

05/28/2026

If you weren't able to run and raise funds for CBCN through the Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend, you're in luck! The TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon, happening on October 17, is your chance to do just that.

If you’ve joined us for this race before, you already know how incredible this event is. Don’t miss your chance to be part of it again. If you have not participated before, why not make 2026 the year that you do?

When you fundraise or donate to CBCN, you help:

- Provide trusted information to patients and caregivers
- Advocate for better access to care across Canada
- Amplify patient voices in health policy
- Empower people with the knowledge they need

Challenge your friends, family, and colleagues to see who can raise the most money for CBCN! Whether you’re running, walking, or cheering from the sidelines, every dollar makes a difference for Canadians affected by breast cancer.

Not planning to run? You can still support the cause with a donation.

Sign up for a race or donate today: https://raceroster.com/events/2026/111134/2026-tcs-toronto-waterfront-marathon/fundraising-organization/82575

05/26/2026

CBCN's Our Voices blog is a dedicated digital space where people diagnosed with breast cancer and caregivers share their personal journeys in their own words. By publishing real, unfiltered stories that focus on various aspects of the cancer experience, Our Voices creates a living community of shared wisdom. It supports others by breaking the isolation that often follows a diagnosis, offering comfort, and providing practical, hard-earned guidance from peers who truly understand the day-to-day realities of the disease.

Our Voices transforms individual vulnerability into collective strength, ensuring that no one has to navigate their breast cancer journey alone.

Read what others have shared about their experience here: https://cbcn.ca/en/blog/our-stories/category/stories

05/25/2026

We'd like to take the time to thank everyone who supported the Canadian Breast Cancer Network through Run Ottawa's Run to Empower and Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend events, as well as State and Main's Mother's Day campaign. Thanks to your generosity, we raised over $12,000 between these three events!

When someone is diagnosed with breast cancer, having access to accurate information and a strong support system is critical. Your contribution will allow us to keep doing the work that matters: empowering patients, advocating for better care, and ensuring that no Canadian has to navigate this disease uninformed.

Thank you for making a tangible difference in the lives of those who need it.

05/21/2026

We recently shared 4 ways that you can get involved with CBCN's work. In case you missed them, we are resharing those opportunities once again.

1. Join Us for a Conversation on All Things Radiation Therapy
2. Get a Better Understanding of CDK4/6 Inhibitors
3. Share Your Breast Cancer Screening Experience and Knowledge
4. Let Us Know About Your Breast Reconstruction Experience

Learn more about getting involved with these opportunities here:

https://tinyurl.com/getinvolved4

05/20/2026

This International Clinical Trials Day, we’re proud to support / .

Canada is a global leader in clinical trials, driven by world-class researchers, diverse participants, and strong collaboration across the country. But progress depends on momentum.

Join us in helping advance clinical trials in Canada. Share your voice, support the movement, and be part of what’s next.

05/20/2026

« Je savais ce que signifiait le terme « âgisme » … ou c’est ce que je pensais? Avais-je été victime de discrimination liée à mon âge pendant mon traitement contre le cancer du sein? Après mûre réflexion, je crains que la réponse soit affirmative. » Lire la suite :

Une présentation PowerPoint intitulée « Ageism and Health » (âgisme et santé), réalisée par le Waterloo-Wellington Older Adult Council,

05/20/2026

“I knew what ‘ageism’ meant… or did I? Did I experience ageism while being treated for breast cancer? After careful consideration, I’m afraid the answer is ‘yes’.”
Read about Elizabeth’s experience navigating breast cancer and the challenges of being treated differently because of age.

A Power Point presentation titled “Ageism and Health” from the Waterloo-Wellington Older Adult Council crossed my desk recently and caused me to reflect on my own experience of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

05/20/2026

Registration is now OPEN for CCRAN's 4th Annual Pan-Tumour Biomarkers Conference!

Join leading experts from across Canada and around the world for a free, two-day virtual event on June 18–19, 2026 — bringing together patient, clinical, and policy perspectives to advance a national strategy for comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) in metastatic cancer care.

For the first time, this year's Conference will offer real-time captions in French and several other languages, ensuring the content is more accessible to attendees across Canada and around the world.

Registering secures your spot at the live event and gives you early access to all video recordings, presentation materials and shared content before they become publicly available.

🗓 June 18–19, 2026
💻 Virtual — join from anywhere
💲 Free

REGISTER NOW: https://www.ccran.org/biomarkers-registration

05/19/2026

Radiation therapy continues to evolve, bringing new technologies and approaches that aim to improve outcomes and reduce side effects for people living with cancer.

This webinar will explore recent advancements in radiation delivery, side effect management, and how new evidence and clinical trials are shaping care.

Join us to better understand what these advancements may mean for breast cancer care today and in the future.

Learn more and register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_kqVi66RrQKK8qsjPJ9ivGg #/registration