CCS organizes Women's Brunch on breast cancer screening

The Canadian Cancer Society wants the population to spread the word and give their Thingamaboob

The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) is organizing a Women's Brunch for the media, to remind women of the importance of screening as a way to fight breast cancer.

WHAT: Women's Brunch: round table discussion WHEN: Saturday April 17, 2010 at 10 a.m. (until noon) WHERE: Restaurant Sur Bleury at 1067, Bleury St. (corner of de la Gauchetière)

It is proven that early detection of breast cancer increases the chance of successfully treating the disease. An original and educational tool has been created to encourage women between the ages of 50 and 69 to get regular mammograms.

For Mother's Day, everyone is asked to spread the word and get a CCS Thingamaboob, for the low price of $5 at any Jean Coutu-affiliated prescription counter in Quebec. Money collected from the sale of Thingamaboobs will go directly to fund numerous CCS programs and services.

8 out of 10 women who get breast cancer are 50 and over

An estimated 1 woman in 9 will develop breast cancer in her lifetime

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Canadian women and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women after lung cancer.

In 2009 an estimated 22,700 new cases were diagnosed in Canada, including 6,000 in Quebec. Fortunately, the five-year survival rate continues to improve (in Canada it is now 87%), mostly because of early detection and more effective treatments.