Leading up to Breast Health Awareness Month in October, Scarborough Health Network (SHN) came together with several health and community partners to host the Filipino Breast Health and Awareness Workshop. This was SHN’s third breast health event since last fall—and with 98 participants, the largest yet—helping to raise awareness and encourage screening among different ethnic communities in Scarborough.
“We know that breast cancer in the Filipino community can present later and in more advanced stages compared to other populations,” said Dr. Sailaja Nallapaneni, SHN general surgeon and panelist.
“This workshop was a crucial opportunity to talk openly about screening, early detection, and the importance of culturally relevant care. It’s important to recognize the specific needs of each community in our efforts to improve health outcomes.”
Held at SHN’s Centenary Hospital, the Filipino Breast Health and Awareness Workshop was a celebration of health, community, and culture, and a mix of education, wellness activities, music, goodie bags, and dance. Two expert panels featured healthcare professionals and patients with lived experience who discussed the ins and outs of breast cancer, high-risk screening and treatment, modifiable risk factors, and mental health—all through a Filipino lens. This allowed for open conversation with participants, giving everyone the opportunity to ask questions and share their own experiences in a safe, inclusive environment.
Additionally, the breast health workshop offered same-day screenings, with 35 participants receiving on-site mammograms, 11 of whom had never previously had a mammogram in their lives. SHN’s staff and volunteers were thrilled to facilitate such important screenings and spread awareness to Filipino communities.
“I’ve had so many family members touched by cancer, but it’s still true that you don’t always consider it until it happens to you,” remarked one participant.
“Today has given me the opportunity to hear comforting and reassuring experiences of both survivors and family members of those who have been treated. I’m grateful to have learned so much about getting screened and preventative measures.”
Thank you to our amazing event partners for helping to make this workshop a reality: Scarborough Ontario Health Team, Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities, Toronto Central Regional Cancer Program, Central East Regional Cancer Program, Black Physicians’ Association of Ontario, Kababayan Multicultural Centre, as well as ongoing collaboration with SHN’s voluntary staff-led Filipino Community of Inclusion.
In the news
During the event, OMNI News Filipino interviewed SHN experts including general surgeon, Dr. Nallapaneni; Joanne Fernandes, Director of Diagnostic Imaging; and Dr. Christina Chingkoe, Radiologist, about the importance of engaging the Filipino community in proactive health education and screenings. Check it out!
Upcoming breast health events
Breast Health and Awareness Seminar for Black Communities
SHN is committed to serving the diverse communities of Scarborough, and we look forward to future initiatives including the upcoming Breast Health and Awareness Seminar for Black Communities that will be held on Saturday, October 26.
Scarborough Ontario Health Team Town Hall
On October 28, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., Scarborough Ontario Health Team’s Town Hall Planning Working Group and the Transformation and Sustainability Committee are hosting a virtual town hall to provide updates to the Ontario Breast Screening Program, presented by Drs. Rola Shaheen and Rebecca Wray.
Get screened: Self-referral age lowered to 40
The Ontario government lowered the mammogram self-referral age to 40 from 50 in October.
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 Ontario Breast Screening Program (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.
