By Veronica Agudelo, Community Health Ambassador, Open Door Program
Have you ever wondered how well you know your breasts or chest? We often don’t think about our breast or chest health until we notice a lump or get a letter in the mail telling us it’s time for a mammogram. But breast cancer doesn’t always come with warnings or reminders.
In 2026, an estimated 32,700 people in Canada will be diagnosed with breast cancer. But here's something you need to know; breast cancer isn’t one single disease, and it doesn’t affect just one type of person.
This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let’s talk more about breast cancer screening and why knowing your own breasts and chest, and knowing when to seek care, matters. As your Community Health Ambassador, here’s three things to keep in mind:
Know your normal: Breasts and chests come in all shapes and sizes, and what’s normal for one person may not be normal for another. That’s why getting to know your breasts and chest and being familiar with them is important. Take some time to feel around, from your entire breast and chest area up to the collarbone and under the arms, and get to know what’s normal for you. Once you know your normal, make sure you look beyond lumps, and watch out for other symptoms, like sunken nipples, growing veins, and skin sores. If you notice a change, talk to your family doctor, nurse practitioner or call Health811. Remember, changes are not always caused by cancer, but it’s important to get them checked as soon as possible.
Don’t wait for symptoms: Did you know, in Ontario, women, Two-Spirit people, trans people, and nonbinary people ages 40 to 74 may be able to self-refer for an OHIP-covered mammogram? That means you don’t need to wait for symptoms - or even for your doctor to send you. The Ontario Breast Screening Program is all about encouraging eligible people to get screened for cancer, who may be at risk but otherwise have no symptoms or feel fine. Getting screened when eligible matters because when breast cancer is caught at stage 1, the 5-year net survival rate for women is 100% and 90% for men. When and how often you should be screened will depend on factors like your age, personal risks, or family history. To find a breast screening clinic near you, visit ontariohealth.ca/breastscreeninglocations.
Breast cancer doesn’t discriminate: Breast and chest health matters to everyone, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation. In fact, lesbian and bisexual women may experience higher rates of breast cancer, in part because of factors like nulliparity (never experiencing childbirth), and transgender women taking gender-affirming hormone therapy may have an increased risk of invasive breast cancer too. You deserve screening that respects who you are, and as your Community Health Ambassador, I am here to help you find a breast screening clinic where you feel safe, supported, and seen.
This October, don’t just be aware, take action against breast cancer. The Open Door Program is here to help connect you to better health. Stop by one of our pop-up locations to get more information on breast cancer screening as well as access resources and navigation support for other healthcare services, including primary care, mental health and substance use, chronic conditions, and more.
Looking for more resources on breast cancer? Read more at ontariohealth.ca/breast
For more information about the Open Door Program, reach out to us at info.opendoor@accessalliance.ca or call 416-702-9265.