Canadian Breast Cancer Network - CBCN

06/18/2026

Every year, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting brings together researchers from around the world to share the latest advances in cancer care.

This year’s meeting featured several promising developments for people living with and beyond breast cancer. Researchers presented studies exploring ways to reduce unnecessary treatment, improve quality of life, better manage treatment-related side effects, and develop new options for metastatic disease.

In our latest Clinical Trials Connected issue, we provide some highlights from the 2026 ASCO meeting that may be of interest to you. Read our highlights here: https://tinyurl.com/33te9953

06/17/2026

« Après avoir travaillé à temps plein pendant deux mois tout en suivant mon traitement, avec une seule semaine d’arrêt pour mon opération, mon médecin m’a prescrit un arrêt de travail à temps partiel… J’étais trop fatiguée pour cuisiner, faire le ménage et, bien souvent, même pour me brosser les dents. J’avais besoin de repos, mais le fait de ne pas travailler à temps plein me plongeait dans l’angoisse, car les factures s’accumulaient. » Lire la suite :

L’argent n’était pas ma première préoccupation lorsque j’ai appris que j’avais un cancer du sein.

06/17/2026

“After two months working full time through treatment with only one week off for my surgery, my doctor put me on part-time leave… I was too tired to cook, clean and, on many occasions, even to brush my teeth. I needed to rest, but not working full time riddled me with anxiety. The bills piled up.”
Read Adriana’s latest blog on the financial realities many people face during and after breast cancer.

Money was not my first thought when I was diagnosed with breast cancer.

06/10/2026

In 7 days, CBCN will be hosting an educational webinar on all things CDK4/6 inhibitors and you don't want to miss out.

CDK4/6 inhibitors are an important treatment option for many people with hormone receptor–positive (HR+) breast cancer and are used in both early-stage and metastatic settings. In this webinar, Dr. Leena Hajra will explain what CDK4/6 inhibitors are, how they work, and the benefits they may offer. The session will also review common side effects associated with these treatments, strategies for managing them, and why treatment adherence is important.

Dr. Hajra will be joined by Kim Walk who will provide the patient voice to this conversation.

Register now: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AkTpdKQVS--BjJu7ekgsLA #/registration

06/08/2026

Have you had experience taking datopotamab deruxtecan (Datroway)? If you have, CBCN would like to hear from you about your experience. The insights you share will help us provide critical input to health care officials to inform the drug approval process.

If you have not taken this treatment but you are living with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer and you are NOT a candidate for PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor therapy, your insights are welcome and may be considered for our submission.

Your feedback will be confidential and we welcome your honest opinions. If you would like to participate, please send an email to [email protected] by Friday, July 10th.

Learn more about what your input will be used for: https://www.cda-amc.ca/datopotamab-deruxtecan-0

06/08/2026

Le Canada compte près de 2,5 millions de travailleur·ses indépendant·es. Pourtant, seul·es environ 52 700 sont inscrit·es et cotisent au régime d’assurance-emploi, ce qui signifie que seule une petite partie peut prétendre aux prestations de maladie ou d’invalidité de l’assurance-emploi. Par ailleurs, seule la moitié dispose d’une assurance maladie privée.

Le Canada compte près de 2,5 millions de travailleur·ses indépendant·es.

06/08/2026

In Canada, there are roughly 2.5 million people who are self-employed. Yet only about 52,700 are registered and paying into the Employment Insurance (EI) Program, which means only a small portion are eligible for EI sickness benefits or disability benefits. At the same time, only about half of self-employed individuals have private health insurance.

Read on to understand what supports that may be availableand that can help reduce financial stress during treatment.

In Canada, there are roughly 2.5 million people who are self-employed.

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