Scarborough Health Network (SHN), in collaboration with The Olive Branch of Hope, Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario (BPAO), and other community and health partners, hosted its second annual Breast Health and Awareness Seminar for Black Communities to wrap up Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Through insightful panel discussions and wellness activities, the event empowered attendees with essential information on breast health and promoted culturally relevant screening information.
Twenty-five participants including eleven individuals between the ages of 40 and 49 took advantage of on-site mammogram screenings, following the Government of Ontario’s recent expansion of the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP), which allows Ontarians aged 40 to 74 to begin routine breast screenings without a referral. This change is crucial for Black individuals, who are 41% more likely to die from breast cancer than their white counterparts.
Attendees also heard from Scarborough – Guildwood MPP Andrea Hazell, whom SHN thanks for her impassioned remarks and participation in such an important and topical event.
SHN extends gratitude to our community partners in this event, The Olive Branch of Hope and BPAO, as well as Black Health Alliance, Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities, Scarborough Ontario Health Team, Central East Regional Cancer Program, and Toronto Central Regional Cancer Program. We also thank our sponsors, Gilead Oncology, AstraZeneca, and Hologic, whose generous contributions made this event possible.
In the news
CityNews covered the Breast Health and Awareness Seminar, highlighting the OBSP’s changes and their vitality to the Black community. Dr. Mojola Omole, SHN breast surgical oncologist and president of the BPAO, emphasized the importance of awareness and advocacy within the community.
“Even though Black individuals don’t get breast cancer more often than our white counterparts, we do die from it more,” Dr. Omole told CityNews.
“We present at an earlier stage and with more aggressive disease. It’s hard to advocate for ourselves effectively to get timely care, so part of this event is to empower our community to be aware of cancer, aware of what is normal and abnormal, and aware of modifiable risk factors.”
Dr. Omole was also featured in a video from the BPAO, which followed her having her very first mammogram at 45 years old at SHN’s General Hospital, guided by Michelle Jones, Charge Technologist and Breast Assessment Navigator. The video demonstrates the screening experience and that it’s normal to feel a bit nervous before a mammogram, but that the staff are there to make the process as comfortable and seamless as possible.
Watch the video below!
SHN extends a heartfelt thank you to all who participated. These initiatives are vital to furthering our goal of improving health outcomes and reducing late-stage breast cancer diagnoses within Black and other cultural communities. Just by attending, you have supported the journey to reducing health disparities in our community.
Get screened
We encourage our community to come in for a screening at one of SHN’s Breast Clinics at our General, Centenary, and Birchmount Hospitals, which are OBSP designated sites. Patients between the ages of 40 and 74 years old can make an appointment for mammograms without a physician referral.
Contact Centralized Patient Scheduling at 416-431-8167.
