October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the Alberta Cancer Foundation (ACF) and the Alberta Society of Radiologists (ASR) have joined forces to launch a campaign with a goal close to their hearts. Their mission is clear: encourage women to get screened early and regularly for breast cancer.
The campaign cleverly taps into the power of nostalgia, using playful references to the 80s and 90s to send a message that’s equal parts fun and important. If you find yourself rocking skinny jeans, experiencing hot flashes, or getting lost in an HGTV binge, it might be the time to look into booking a screening appointment. By connecting on common experiences, the campaign aims to make screening feel like a natural and essential part of life.
At the core of this effort is a desire to equip women with the knowledge they need to know when to get screened and to take proactive steps toward safeguarding their health. This message is critically important, as in Alberta, 1 in 7 women will face a breast cancer diagnosis in their lifetime. But the good news is that early detection can make all the difference. Women who get screened regularly have a much higher chance of detecting breast cancer early, which significantly boosts their odds of successful treatment and survival. In fact, early detection could mean the difference between life and death, saving countless women from more advanced stages of the disease.
However, despite these clear benefits, only about one-third of women in the 45- —to 50-year-old age range are currently getting screened. That’s a number that both the ACF and ASR are determined to change during this year’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Their hope is to not only increase the number of women getting screened in that critical age group but also to encourage a lifetime of regular screening as women age.
Through this campaign, ACF and ASR are sending a clear message: by taking charge of their health now, women can alter the course of their futures. Together, we can change the statistics and improve the lives of so many by spreading the word and ensuring every woman knows the importance of regular screenings.