Breast Density Awareness Act

An Act respecting the awareness of screening among women with dense breast tissue

This bill was last introduced in the 41st Parliament, 2nd Session, which ended in August 2015.

This bill was previously introduced in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session.

Sponsor

Patrick Brown  Conservative

Introduced as a private member’s bill. (These don’t often become law.)

Status

Second reading (Senate), as of June 11, 2013
(This bill did not become law.)

Summary

This is from the published bill. The Library of Parliament often publishes better independent summaries.

This enactment requires the Government of Canada to encourage the use of existing initiatives in order to increase awareness among women about the implications of heterogeneous or dense breast tissue for breast cancer screening, and to assist women and health care providers in making well-informed decisions regarding screening.

Elsewhere

All sorts of information on this bill is available at LEGISinfo, an excellent resource from the Library of Parliament. You can also read the full text of the bill.

Votes

May 9, 2012 Passed That the Bill be now read a third time and do pass.
March 14, 2012 Failed That Bill C-314, in Clause 2, be amended by adding after line 20 on page 3 the following: “( d) ensuring, through the Canadian Breast Cancer Screening Initiative, the collection, processing and distribution of information on best practices for the screening and detection of cancer in persons with dense breast tissue.”

January 31st, 2012 / 9:10 a.m.
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Bruce Cole As an Individual

Thank you, Madam Chairman.

I would like to thank Mr. Patrick Brown for asking me to speak to the Standing Committee on Health regarding Bill C-314, an act respecting the awareness of screening among women with dense breast tissue.

My mother passed away from breast cancer at age 72. Up until then I had heard of breast cancer but did not take much notice. I really took notice when my wife was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 36 and passed away at 40, leaving children aged 17, 15, and 13. Her family had no history of this terrible disease.

Family and friends have spoken to me on many occasions regarding this terrible disease, and I have been able to help and guide individuals through their tough times.

Since my wife passed away from breast cancer, I have been involved with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation as a donor and volunteer. Among other important parts of its mission, the foundation provides reliable, evidence-based information to help women make informed decisions about their breast health. I was fortunate enough to attend the world forum on breast cancer last June in Hamilton.

If Bill C-314 is passed, it will help to improve the quality of information provided to women as part of Canada's organized breast screening programs. This will help raise women's awareness about breast density and its implications for their health. If we could identify women with dense breast tissue, they could be monitored with regular breast cancer screening, and we would be in a position to detect and treat breast cancer earlier, when health outcomes, survival rates, and quality of life are usually better.

Collaboration and information sharing is essential between the Public Health Agency of Canada and the provincial and territorial governments through the Canadian breast cancer screening initiative. Let's enhance this sharing of information to benefit women's health. The passing of Bill C-314 would enhance knowledge and understanding of breast density screening, follow-up, and women's health outcomes.

The existing breast cancer screening programs in Canada differ somewhat province by province and from territory to territory. To improve women's health, the organized breast cancer screening programs should be uniform, offering all Canadian women access to the same services wherever they live.

Breast density increases a woman's chances of developing breast cancer. A woman with dense breasts has a three to six times greater risk of breast cancer than a woman who does not have dense breasts. Breast density is higher in younger women who have not gone through menopause. Given this, the women who most need our attention are those in the 40 to 55 age group.

Breast density is diagnosed by mammography. It cannot be diagnosed by touch. A woman's first mammogram will indicate whether she has dense breasts. For women diagnosed with breast density, regular screening by digital mammography or MRI as part of an organized screening program is recommended. Research shows that digital mammography is more effective than screen-film mammography at detecting breast cancer in dense breast tissue. Digital mammography is gradually replacing screen-film mammography in Canada.

Further research is required to better understand the biology of breast density and its role in the development of breast cancer. Further research is also needed to define measures of breast tissue density, optimal imaging modalities, and the frequency of screening.

Knowing about breast density is an important part of a woman's overall breast awareness. If multiple members of a woman's family have been diagnosed with dense breasts, she is encouraged to speak to a health care provider about having a mammogram to assess for breast density.

Women in their 40s, women who are 50 years plus and have not gone through menopause, and women with clinically diagnosed dense breasts are encouraged to ask to be referred to a facility with digital mammography to assess breast density and for regular breast cancer screening.

My wife was 40 when she passed away from breast cancer. She did not have access to the screening technology and knowledge that we have today. I ask you to consider Bill C-314 as a way to raise women's awareness about breast density, how it increases breast cancer risk, and the importance of screening to diagnose breast density and to monitor the breast health and breast cancer risk of women with dense breasts.

I thank the committee for letting me speak today.

January 31st, 2012 / 9 a.m.
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Founder and President, VIP Breast Imaging

Dr. Tina Ureten

Madame Chair and dear members of this committee, I would like to thank you for this opportunity.

I support the Breast Density Awareness Act because I believe this act will provide very important information for Canadian women with regard to their breast health. This act can help save lives and can prevent advanced stages of the cancer.

When we talk about breast density, we are referring to the percentage of glandular tissue versus fatty tissue. That's just an explanation of breast density. Glandular tissue consists of milk-producing cells.

Breast density affects quite a large percentage of women, regardless of age and race. Women with dense breasts have five to six times more risk of having cancer. However, women are not informed after having mammograms as to whether or not they have dense breasts. That's why this act is so important.

Dr. Norman Boyd, a leader in breast cancer research at Princess Margaret Hospital, says, “Cancer turns up five times more often in women with extremely dense breasts, signalling the importance of a risk factor rarely discussed with the patients. It has been ignored to an absolutely unbelievable degree.” A poll in 2010 showed that 95% of North American women don't know their breast density. Less than one woman in ten over age 40 was informed by her doctor about breast density issues.

The important facts behind breast density are that 66% of pre-menopausal women and 25% of post-menopausal women have dense breasts. Women whose breast tissue density is over 75% have five to six times more risk of having cancer. Cancer originating from dense breasts is more aggressive, and breast density is one of the strongest predictors of failure of mammography screening programs.

It's obvious we need an adjunctive screening tool to screen dense breasts. It needs to fulfill WHO's criteria for screening. Since the mid-1970s researchers have been looking for the role of ultrasound as a screening tool. All of the results show very promising numbers for screening dense breasts after mammograms. Some authors of studies have even suggested that ultrasound should be the initial imaging used for younger women.

There is a table in your handouts. It shows how over 52,000 women were screened using mammogram and ultrasound. In the end, 186 cancer cases that were missed by mammograms were diagnosed through ultrasound. That's a significant number.

We have two different types of ultrasound these days. One is general ultrasound. We call it hand-held ultrasound. Those machines are used for general purposes. They are good. They save lives. They improve quality of life because they catch the cancer in the early stages, and they also save the cost of treating patients at the advanced stage, but they are very operator-dependent and time-consuming.

They came up with new machines. They are designed just for screening breast tissues, and they are called automated 3-D whole breast ultrasounds. These machines are really fast. They provide high-resolution three-dimensional images. They eliminate the human factor, and the radiologist can see the slices of the whole breast, so if there are multicentric cancers, they can see them in one image. Of course the sensitivity is much higher than that of the hand-held ultrasound, and they are reliable for following up with the survivors.

As my conclusion, I will say that Canadian women definitely need to be informed and educated about breast density. They are supposed to know what other tests are available for them.

The life-saving strategy should be catching the cancer in the earliest possible stage. We can't prevent this disease yet, but early diagnosis saves lives. Ultrasound is capable of detecting dense breast tissues, but automated 3-D ultrasound is a better tool for that purpose. Of the cancers detected by ultrasound, 93% are in the early stage and easier to treat.

As my recommendations, I will say we definitely need a standard mammography reporting system nationwide. We need to educate women. We need to educate health care providers. Women should know about their breast density after they go through a mammogram test. Also, they have to be informed about supplementary tests. Advanced technology with higher sensitivity should be used for effective screening and early diagnosis, and timely action for the changes is necessary before we lose many more lives.

Thank you for your attention.

January 31st, 2012 / 8:55 a.m.
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Cathy Ammendolea Chair of the Board of Directors, Canadian Breast Cancer Network

Madam Chair and everyone, good morning.

I'm very pleased to be invited to speak here this morning on behalf of the Canadian Breast Cancer Network and to offer our support for Bill C-314, an act respecting the awareness of screening among women with dense breast tissue.

The Canadian Breast Cancer Network is the only national survivor-driven and survivor-focused organization in the breast cancer sector and is the voice of breast cancer survivors in Canada. We represent the concerns of over 225 partners and member organizations across Canada, as well as those of all Canadians affected by breast cancer and those at risk. CBCN's main goals are to improve access to quality breast cancer care for all Canadians and expand the influence of breast cancer survivors and families in all aspects of the breast cancer decision-making process.

It is estimated that over 23,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year and that over 5,100 of them will die from the disease. The Canadian Breast Cancer Network supports efforts made by the federal government to help women make decisions that will increase their chances of survival. As a breast cancer survivor myself, I know first-hand the importance of education and awareness around screening and treatment of breast cancer.

We are pleased to support this bill, as it encourages the use of existing programs to increase awareness, to determine gaps in information, to improve information and education to women undergoing breast cancer screening, and to address the challenges of screening with dense breast tissue. We encourage any pan-Canadian efforts by the federal government, as this will ensure that all Canadians have equal access to breast cancer programs, therapies, and services.

We applaud the efforts brought forward by the member for Barrie in Bill C-314. We would like to see a more clearly defined approach for implementing this bill that will ensure the desired outcomes are met. The member for Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar mentioned that there is currently a tool available through the Canadian breast cancer screening initiative to assist in decision-making pertaining to breast cancer screening. She indicated that this tool--“Information on Mammography for Women Aged 40 and Older”--will be revised to include breast density information. While we believe this to be a beneficial step, we would like to see additional mechanisms in place, clearly outlined, to indicate how this bill proposes to ensure that it meets its objectives.

One of the mechanisms the Canadian Breast Cancer Network would like to see clearly identified is an increased awareness and education for practitioners around screening women with dense breast tissue. The practitioners play an integral role in educating the patients and helping to recommend the appropriate type of screening that would most benefit those with dense breast tissue.

The Canadian Breast Cancer Network agrees that patient education and awareness are imperative when trying to provide necessary information to women being screened with dense breast tissue. We do, however, echo the concerns of the member for Vancouver Centre and the member for St. Paul's: while we want to see increased awareness around the issue, we need to ensure that we are not increasing anxiety in this population.

We are pleased with the federal government's continued commitment to work with the provinces through the Canadian breast cancer screening initiative and to provide education and awareness to Canadians through the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer.

The member for Scarborough—Rouge River identified recommendations the Canadian Breast Cancer Network has put forward that will make a difference for Canadian women. We would like to highlight how they relate to breast cancer screening for women with dense breast tissue.

While there are now more digital mammogram machines available across Canada, we need to continue to ensure that we invest in state of-the-art technology. Digital mammograms and MRIs are some of the diagnostic tools that are available to help address the challenges of screening women with dense breast tissue. We urge the federal government to continue to invest in new technologies to help Canadian women.

Currently there are no established or travelling screening facilities available in Nunavut. The federal and territorial governments must work together to establish a screening program for Nunavut that includes technologies that will address the needs of women with dense breast tissue.

In closing, the Canadian Breast Cancer Network would like to add our support for this bill, and we are encouraged that the federal government is taking a step in the right direction. However, we need a commitment from the government that this bill will be implemented in a timely manner in ways that will benefit women fighting this disease.

On behalf of the Canadian Breast Cancer Network, I would like to thank the committee for this opportunity to speak here this morning. Thank you.

January 31st, 2012 / 8:45 a.m.
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Conservative

Patrick Brown Conservative Barrie, ON

Thank you, Madam Chair. It's great to have the bill here at the health committee.

It's my pleasure to present some opening remarks about Bill C-314. I want to explain to the committee the genesis of the bill and why I think this is an important initiative to take up.

Over their lifetimes, one in nine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, over 23,000 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year alone. Sadly, over 5,000 of them will lose their lives in this very difficult fight.

In the part of the country I come from, the city of Barrie, health care is of the utmost importance, as it is in most cities. When I was thinking about the type of private member's bill I could undertake, I thought that something in the health care field would be appropriate given the interest that exists in my community.

Every year we have a CIBC Run for the Cure, an annual breast cancer fundraiser, and the incredible numbers who gather to stand up and raise funds and build awareness of the fight against breast cancer always astonish me. There are always thousands and thousands who participate. Right now in Barrie we're also building a regional cancer centre to service all of Simcoe-Muskoka, and battling breast cancer obviously is going to be a key component of that new service.

I consulted the health care community in Barrie and asked what types of initiatives we could undertake to further broaden our health services. A number of issues were identified, but one initiative identified on which we can certainly move the yardstick forward was breast cancer screening. That's the genesis of this bill. I spoke with some of the top doctors and health care administrators in my riding and also with individuals from the Ministry of Health here in Ottawa, and I believe this is a means by which we can make a positive contribution in regard to breast cancer.

I feel that it is important not only for women but for all of us to be aware of the fact that screening for breast cancer can save lives. Providing women with accurate information about screening is critically important and will ultimately help them make the decisions that are right for them. That is the essence of Bill C-314.

Breast cancer is more easily treated--and in most cases curable--when found early. Dense breast tissue is one of the top risk factors for breast cancer. It is important for women to be informed of this. This can be done when they are screened for breast cancer by a mammogram. Women who have dense breast tissue should also know that potential cancer may not be detected because it cannot be seen on a mammogram and therefore cannot be diagnosed by radiologists. It appears white on mammograms and therefore is more challenging to detect.

What Bill C-314 will do is highlight the importance of being informed and of working with the provinces and territories through the national screening program in order to ensure that women receive this information. For many women--especially young women, who have a higher incidence of dense breast tissue--having this information is essential to the decision-making process. This knowledge will provide them with the tools they need to make personal health care decisions. Women who are informed that they have dense breast tissue may need to go for a different type of screening, such as an ultrasound or an MRI. Possible cancers may be deciphered more readily by a specialist using this type of diagnostic testing.

We are fortunate in Canada to have screening programs for breast cancer. Our provinces and territories deliver these programs to detect breast cancer early, before it has spread, so that treatment can be started. Providing more information through these programs will further help women and their doctors make well-informed decisions regarding breast cancer screening.

Through this piece of legislation, targeting dense breast tissue is one of the means by which I believe we can make a tangible difference in the fight against breast cancer. We all know too many loved ones, friends, and even colleagues on the Hill who have been touched by cancer. Through this bill, I believe we will make a positive step forward for individuals who unfortunately have to fight breast cancer.

Think of that overall number of 23,000 people every year in Canada who face breast cancer--believe it or not, both men and women--and of the 5,000 of them who pass away. If even a small percentage of them can have early detection through proper screening, it will make a huge difference.

There has been incredible progress in the fight against breast cancer in Canada. With survival rates up into 80%, it's an accomplishment for our country, but we can do much better. We're at 80% today, but with early diagnosis, with more effective screening, I believe the sky is the limit in terms of the survival rate levels we can achieve here in Canada.

I appreciate that the health committee is looking at this today. That's my brief introduction to what this bill is about. I hope that it can receive favourable support from the health committee and that when this becomes legislation we can all have paid a positive contribution into enhancing health care in Canada.

January 31st, 2012 / 8:45 a.m.
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Conservative

The Chair Conservative Joy Smith

Good morning, everyone. We have a quorum, so we're going to start right on time, pursuant to the order of reference of Friday, December 9, 2011, in regard to Bill C-314, an act respecting the awareness of screening among women with dense breast tissue.

We are going to have our witnesses until 10 a.m., when we will suspend for about a minute just so Mr. Brown can take his place on committee. Then we'll do the clause-by-clause.

Our first witness, for a ten-minute opening statement, will be Mr. Brown.

Welcome. Congratulations on your bill, Mr. Brown.

Breast Density Awareness ActPrivate Members' Business

December 9th, 2011 / 1:50 p.m.
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Conservative

Patrick Brown Conservative Barrie, ON

Madam Speaker, before I get into the essence of the bill, I want to respond to a few of the comments made by the member for Scarborough—Rouge River.

This is a bill on breast cancer screening. I know she is new to this chamber, but a royal recommendation is not permitted in a private member's bill. Funding of doctors is not something one can do through a private member's bill. Therefore, I think it is inappropriate to suggest it is something that could have been added to the bill.

May I also add that it is a bit disingenuous, in the sense that the member for Scarborough—Rouge River is an active supporter of the Ontario New Democratic Party; when it was in power, for the first time in Ontario's history it cut medical enrolment, so the root challenge we face in Ontario, in her riding, exists because of the party she supported when it was in office. If we do not train and graduate doctors, we will not have them in our ridings to work on the many essential medical needs.

With regard to the bill, one in nine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some time during their lives. According to the Canadian Cancer Society, over 24,000 Canadian women will have been diagnosed with breast cancer this year alone. Sadly, 5,000 of them will lose their fight.

Cancer care has been a critical issue to me, and when I was presented with the opportunity to present a private member's bill, I knew instantly that I wanted to do something in this field. Every year, thousands of Barrie residents in my riding participate in the CIBC Run for the Cure. It really is inspiring to see so many people who care so much about battling this insidious disease.

While putting thought to this bill, I felt it was important not only for women but for all of us to be aware of the fact that screening for breast cancer can save lives. Providing women with accurate information about screening is therefore important and will ultimately help them make decisions that are right for them. This is the essence of Bill C-314. Breast cancer is more easily treated and, in most cases, curable when found early.

Dense breast tissue is one of the top risk factors for breast cancer, and it is important for women to be informed of this fact. This can be done when they are screened for breast cancer by a mammogram, but women who have breast dense tissue should also know that the potential cancer may not be detected because it cannot be seen on a mammogram and therefore diagnosed by radiologists. It appears white on mammograms and therefore is more challenging to detect.

What Bill C-314 would do is highlight the importance of being informed and work with the provinces and territories through the national screening program in order to ensure that women receive this information.

For many women, especially young women, who have a higher incidence of dense breast tissue, having this information is essential to their decision-making process. This knowledge will provide them with the tools they need to make personal health care decisions.

Women who are informed that they have dense breast tissue may need to go for a different type of screening, such as an ultrasound or an MRI. Possible cancers may be deciphered more readily by a specialist using this type of diagnostic testing.

We are fortunate in Canada to have screening programs for breast cancer. Our provinces and territories deliver these programs to detect breast cancer early, before it has spread, so that treatment can be started. Providing more information through these programs will help women and their doctors make well-informed decisions regarding breast cancer screening. Targeting dense breast tissue is one of the means by which, through this piece of legislation, we can make a tangible difference in the fight against breast cancer.

I know too many loved ones, friends and even colleagues on the Hill, who have been touched by cancer. Through this bill I hope to not only make a difference but hopefully save lives.

I hope I can count on the members of the House to support this private member's bill, Bill C-314.

Also, I am thankful to Andrea Paine, in the Minister of Health's office, for her assistance, and I thank also Dr. Rob Ballagh, from the city of Barrie; Councillor Bonnie Ainsworth; Mike Richmond, from Toronto; and my assistant in my Barrie office, Shawn Bubel, who assisted on the drafting of this bill.

In Barrie we are building a cancer centre right now. This is one of the items I discussed with our CEO, Janice Skot. I appreciate her advice that it is this type of initiative that can really help make a difference.

Breast Density Awareness ActPrivate Members' Business

December 9th, 2011 / 1:40 p.m.
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NDP

Rathika Sitsabaiesan NDP Scarborough—Rouge River, ON

Madam Speaker, as a woman who, like most Canadians, has had friends and family struggle against cancer, I am proud to be given the opportunity to rise today in the House and state without reservation that I will use my mandate to search for practical and effective ways to fight cancer.

Canadians need first rate prevention strategies that include increased access to doctors, increased access to specialists, better screening, earlier screening, first rate equipment, dedicated funding and better access to necessary medications and progressive research. Access, equipment and funding are the silver bullets that make the most difference in the lives of cancer patients.

As I read the bill before us, I was searching for these targets but, I am saddened to say, I found none. It is not that Canada does not need a bill to help fight against breast cancer, it is that we need a better bill. There are real ways that the government can make a difference and Bill C-314 shirks that responsibility.

First, education and awareness are not enough to combat health care problems. I have seen again and again over the past six months how keen the government is to throw huge amounts of money at educational and awareness campaigns while ignoring the tangible systemic problems that need to be addressed.

Awareness is a first step, and I would never degrade the necessity of education, but what is a woman who discovers that she is at risk for breast cancer to do when she does not have access to a family doctor?

I come from Scarborough—Rouge River, an urban riding in the greater Toronto area. One would think that being in an urban centre, people would not have a problem in terms of access to doctors. However, from the day I was elected, I have heard constantly from my constituents that they do not have family doctors and cannot afford the time and money required to travel to a place where they can see a doctor or a specialist. With the state of public transit being what it is for my constituents, I cannot say that I blame them. I takes two hours one way to go downtown. Would hon. members travel hours and hours on public transit to go to the doctor's office? I know I would not.

Unless the government is willing to back this awareness campaign with federal money aimed at providing women with dense breast tissue direct access to doctors and state of the art screening equipment, such as a digital MRI mammogram machine, then all the education and awareness in the world will not really help these women.

I have witnessed this trend again and again. A federal program will take one shallow step toward addressing the real problem and that is where it stops.

This is a game of optics. The Conservatives want to give the appearance that they are taking action on health care issues, without actually doing anything.

The women of Nunavut do not have a breast cancer screening program at all. This is urgent. This is something that we can do that will have real effect on women's lives.

If the government is serious about preventing breast cancer, then the bill in our hands today would be, among other things, a comprehensive proposal to work with our provincial governments and territorial governments to create a breast cancer screening program in Nunavut. The women of Nunavut and other rural communities in the north are already at risk. They are farthest away from hospitals and are often some of the poorest in our country, as we have recently learned with the community of Attawapiskat and many others. It is utterly negligent for the government to deny them access to basic health care while providing, through the bill, education that says, rightly, that more women should be tested and more frequently.

I would ask the Minister of Health to explain this hypocrisy to the House today and, if she cannot, then to commit to creating legislation that will ensure that Nunavut has equal access to essential health services, as it is their right to have.

My colleagues and I are not alone in thinking that the bill is weak and ineffective. The Canadian Breast Cancer Network is the national link between all of Canada's breast cancer prevention organizations, including the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and the Breast Cancer Foundation of Canada, and they do not believe that the bill does enough to enhance screening for women at risk of breast cancer.

I know that the government has a hard time listening to expert advice from those members of civil society who know better than it does, but I beg the government to take note of three major recommendations that the Canadian Breast Cancer Network is saying will make a real difference for Canadian women.

First is new clinical screening machines, MRI digital mammogram machines, that are more routinely used on all women. We must invest in state-of-the-art technology to save cancer patients now. A government that can invest in fighter jets can surely afford the diagnostic machines that have been proven to save the lives of cancer patients.

Second, screening for all women should begin at the age of 40. The government must fund a federal program to establish screening programs for women aged 40 to 49. It is proven that early detection is paramount with breast cancer, and that is why a program that gives women access to doctors and screening before the age of 50 is crucial.

Third, the CBCN has identified that Nunavut must have a breast cancer screening program. We must work with the territorial government to fund this program to reach out to at-risk women instead of demanding that they travel out of territory to receive equal health care.

While the Canadian Cancer Society is, of course, eager for legislation aimed at preventing breast cancer, it has come out and said that this bill will not produce any tangible outcomes for breast cancer patients and their families.

It is also important that we speak to the needs of families when we talk about cancer.

Anyone who has had a family member with cancer, as I have, can tell us how important it is to be supported in the role of an informal caregiver. We do not have enough home care in any of our provinces or territories in Canada; when family members become ill, it almost always falls on their family and community to care for them. This has practical repercussions on people's lives. When I say “support”, I do not mean only emotional and spiritual support for the patient. Although the value of emotional support is unquantifiable in difficult times, Canadians need practical financial support as well.

Alex Jahad, a physician who was the keynote speaker at the CAT conference, said in his address that informal caregivers are the largest invisible majority in health care. They are usually women who are also working and at the same time raising children. Less than one-quarter of these women receive any financial support from the system. In consequence, they themselves will develop chronic conditions and illnesses brought on by overwork and stress.

Dr. Jahad said that the amount of unpaid informal care that takes place in Canada translates to $80 billion to $90 billion of labour. I would therefore like to take this opportunity to remind the House about the NDP's position on increasing access to employment insurance for anybody who must take leave from work in order to take care of a sick relative.

There are real changes that can be made to help fight breast cancer, and we know what they are. The experts have told us what they are. This government is lacking the political will to take serious action. We must fund programs and create the legislation that will have real effects on the lives of Canadians, not just short-term bandage solutions.

Breast Density Awareness ActPrivate Members' Business

December 9th, 2011 / 1:35 p.m.
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Conservative

Kelly Block Conservative Saskatoon—Rosetown—Biggar, SK

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to speak in support of Bill C-314, An Act respecting the awareness of screening among women with dense breast tissue, introduced by my colleague, the hon. member for Barrie.

The bill encourages the federal government to use existing initiatives to increase women's awareness of how dense breast tissue impacts breast cancer screening. We know that breast cancer is far too common in Canada. This year, some 23,000 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, a one in nine chance over a lifetime, and breast cancer will claim the lives of 5,100 women this year alone.

We know that breast cancer screening saves lives. We also know that women with denser breast tissue face added challenges with cancer detection through mammography. Targeting dense tissue, as the hon. member for Barrie attests, is one tangible way we can make a difference. We can play an effective role in the adoption of effective, efficient early detection practices in screening. That is why we are raising awareness and providing accurate information about screening. This helps women make better decisions, particularly if they have dense breast tissue.

Bill C-314 focuses on the efforts already under way to raise women's awareness about dense breast tissue and breast cancer screening. It also would help women and their doctors make well-informed decisions regarding their screening.

There are a number of elements in the bill that I will outline, along with current federal initiatives that support this bill. First, the bill requires our government to determine if there are breast density information gaps in relation to breast cancer screening. By knowing where these gaps are, we can plug the holes through research. In response to the first element, our government will continue supporting cancer research through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, or CIHR. A priority of CIHR's Institute of Cancer Research is early cancer detection. It is currently exploring partnership opportunities with the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation for early detection funding. This research will address breast cancer information gaps.

Second, the bill would require that approaches be identified as needed to improve information for women. This would be done to address the challenges of detecting cancer in women with denser tissue and to raise awareness concerning these challenges. Bill C-314 also recognizes the responsibility provinces and territories have for delivering these invaluable programs. For example, when mammography identifies dense breast tissue, these programs notify women to obtain further testing. In Ontario, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador and the Northwest Territories an annual recall system is in place for women identified with dense breast tissue. In other jurisdictions, follow-up is determined by the radiologist.

While breast screening programs are primarily a provincial and territorial responsibility, the federal government, through existing initiatives and partnerships, supports raising awareness of breast cancer screening and breast density. In response to this bill, the government will d continue to support provinces and territories in raising awareness of breast density and its screening implications through the Canadian breast cancer screening initiative. This initiative is a partnership between the Public Health Agency of Canada and provincial and territorial programs. Through it, we are working with provincial and territorial governments to measure screening program performance nationwide. This means that all jurisdictions regularly share screening program information: lessons learned, best practices, share challenges and mutual questions of importance.

Part of the Canadian breast cancer screening initiative includes the Canadian breast cancer screening database, a national repository on breast cancer screening. Provinces and territories contribute to that database, which is then used to monitor and evaluate screening programs across Canada.

Bill C-314 would require the existing Canadian breast cancer screening initiative to share information on dense tissue in relation to cancer screening and any follow-up procedures. The initiative makes a tool available to assist in decision making pertaining to breast cancer screening. In the future, the tool will include breast density information. Sharing information about ways to improve these programs ensures women receive the full benefits of early detection.

I am pleased to note that our government will also begin discussions through the federal-provincial-territorial national committee for the Canadian breast cancer screening initiative regarding identification protocols for dense breast tissue. Through the committee, participating provincial and territorial screening programs are encouraged to share best practices on raising awareness of dense breast tissue.

The committee also provides opportunities for provincial and territorial governments to collaborate on screening recommendations and approaches. The Canadian breast cancer screening initiative will also continue providing information on breast cancer screening through its biennial report. This information will help to enhance organized screening across Canada.

Moreover, our government continues to take action through the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, which leads the implementation of the Canadian strategy for cancer control. This made-in-Canada approach, consistent with the bill, has a key role in accelerating effective cancer prevention and control strategies. It also works with and engages the cancer community to provide Canadians with information on screening.

Of interest, the partnership hosts a web based resource called, “Cancer View Canada”. This portal provides information to Canadians on cancer issues, including screening, and it draws on the expertise of partners.

Renewed investments in the partnership, which was announced last March by our Prime Minister, allows the partnership to continue its important work. As members will see, there is much work already started that supports Bill C-314.

The bill also recognizes the important role of the Canadian Cancer Society, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and the Canadian Women's Health Network in providing reliable information to support women's decision making.

The federal government works collaboratively with various stakeholders and will continue raising awareness through these existing initiatives. Canadians do not have to wait to learn about these issues from their doctors. We have a responsibility to provide this current evidence in the most efficient and effective way possible, especially when the lives of Canadians may be at stake.

Through further awareness, Canadian women and their families can become more informed and they will make better decisions. They will also learn about breast density and its implications for screening.

I encourage all my fellow parliamentarians to support this very important bill. It would increase awareness for women regarding dense breast tissue. It is important knowledge to have, not only for them but in the interest of their loved ones. It could even save a life.

I thank the hon. member for Barrie for his concern about this issue and his willingness to ensure we are better educated about our health.

Breast Density Awareness ActPrivate Members' Business

December 9th, 2011 / 1:25 p.m.
See context

Liberal

Carolyn Bennett Liberal St. Paul's, ON

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise here this afternoon to speak to Bill C-314. This bill calls on the Government of Canada to encourage the use of existing initiatives in order to increase awareness among women about the implications of heterogeneous or dense breast tissue for breast cancer screening, and to assist women and health care providers in making well-informed decisions regarding screening.

On behalf of our health critic, the hon. member for Vancouver Centre, I would like to say that the Liberal Party supports this bill. All efforts to raise awareness, to provide more information and to encourage communication must be supported.

As a family doctor, it became very clear to me and also in our work at the Women's College Hospital in Toronto that the world changed when books like Our Bodies Ourselves came onto the market, and women were empowered to know more about the choices in order to ask better questions of their doctors and demand better care.

The bill, which will respect the awareness of screening among women with dense breast tissue, is just that kind of initiative. So we as Liberals support any effort to increase awareness, to fund research, and to provide information to Canadians about cancer prevention and early detection. We know that we should be doing more of this in many areas of health, including health promotion, wait times and pharmaceutical strategies.

The proposed legislation calls on the federal government to work with the provincial and territorial governments to increase awareness among women about the risk factor involved in having dense breast tissue. It asks that we use existing programs. It asks that we identify the gaps in information for women and that we improve that information that is going to Canadian women. It asks that we address the challenges in detecting breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue.

This year, 23,400 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 5,100 will die. As the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour has said, all of us are touched by breast cancer in some way. My mother died of breast cancer as well. She had two different breast cancers that took her life even in what was to be a lesser kind of breast cancer: breast cancer after menopause. My sister has had breast cancer diagnosed before menopause.

As a physician, I recognize the importance of early detection and ensuring that patients have the best possible information and treatment. Any oncologist would say very clearly he or she would rather find these cancers early when indeed they can be treated. The problem is the dense breast tissue makes it difficult to identify breast cancer. There are too many stories of what was presumed to be a negative mammogram that was later on shown to have a cancer hiding in the breast tissue that was not visible to the radiologist at the time.

We are blessed now in Canada that almost 80% of mammography is done with the new digital approach which makes it much easier to detect the problems in dense breast tissue, but still we need to do more. We need to require more tests and appropriate screening. It means that we need to ensure that people reading the mammography are experienced radiologists. Now with technology, help is possible for very experienced people with tremendous expertise in mammography can read them at a distance. The new machine in Moose Factory allows the people a long way away to be the actual expert reading the exams.

We always have to balance appropriate testing without alarming the general population or Canadians with unnecessary tests that only put more pressure on the system. We believe that the federal government does have a role to play in facilitating best practices and funding research related to cancer prevention and early detection as part of the Canadian partnership against cancer.

It is interesting that the California state legislature recently passed bill SB 173 that would require mammogram providers to inform women if they have dense breast tissue and that they would benefit from more screening. But is also interesting that the California governor, Jerry Brown, vetoed the bill noting that while it was important, the bill should have used more careful language so as not to create unnecessary anxiety among women and strain the health system. This message was echoed by the California Medical Association because of its risk of leading to unnecessary MRIs and ultrasounds.

We are pleased to see that Bill C-314 calls for research, information sharing, and increased awareness for women about the problems related to screening for those with dense breast tissue, which makes it hard to identify these tumours.

For any Canadian who wants to look at the movement in the United States, it is at rudense.com. There is very interesting information. It asserts that breast density is one of the strongest predictors of the failure of mammography screening to detect cancer. There is a very interesting logo, “Are you dense? exposing the best-kept secret”. Unfortunately the best-kept secret can take people's lives.

There are things that are coming forward: ways that we could detect the breast density on a scale of 1 to 4; letting women know which category they are in; what women should expect for themselves and their families in terms of the amount of screening; and the serious conversation women need to have with their doctors.

We in the Liberal Party are very keen on the idea of national clinical practice guidelines that every Canadian can come to know and understand. Therefore, regardless of their postal code, women could be asking for the best possible care based on the evidence-based clinical practice guidelines.

It means that family doctors are brought up to speed and can actually have meaningful conversations with their patients, not only about the clinical practice guideline but whether their individual situation places them in that average clinical guideline, or whether their situation is particularly special, such that a different plan of action or care plan should be there for them.

I am very pleased and thank the member for bringing the bill forward. We look forward to further debate.

As our party's health critic, I look forward to studying the bill with the hon. member at the health committee.

Breast Density Awareness ActPrivate Members' Business

December 9th, 2011 / 1:15 p.m.
See context

Simcoe—Grey Ontario

Conservative

Kellie Leitch ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to speak in support of Bill C-314 regarding dense breast tissue and the importance of breast cancer screening.

Bill C-314 calls on the federal government to use existing programs and initiatives to increase awareness about dense breast tissue and its impact on breast cancer screening. The bill's focus is on working with partnerships to improve information and share information on screening with women and their doctors. Several current government actions are highlighted. They are supported by other partner organizations focused on cancer, breast cancer and breast cancer screening. I will explain more about these actions in my remarks today, but I would like to begin with a few words about how critical the underlying issue is.

Every year, millions of Canadians are affected by cancer either personally or by the experience of a family member, friend or neighbour. I have personally been affected by this disease with the loss of my mother in 1989. Because of this and my role as a surgeon, I know about the importance of breast cancer screening and awareness. Breast health, regular checkups and exams should be a conversation in every home in Canada. It is one that occurred in my family home. As one can imagine, it is not an easy conversation for a single father who has recently lost his wife to have with his young children. However, it is extremely important that parents have this conversation with all of their daughters.

Awareness starts at home, as well as in a doctor's office. Young women across the country should be in constant dialogue with family physicians when it comes to their breast health and determining what practices for screening are best for them. Breast cancer in particular is a major health concern. One in nine women in Canada develops breast cancer during her lifetime, making it one of the most common cancers affecting Canadian women.

In 2011, it is estimated that 23,400 women in Canada will be diagnosed with breast cancer, an increase from 2010. That represents about 450 women being diagnosed each week. Early detection of breast cancer through organized screening programs is an important public health practice. Our government has invested in partnerships that promote optimal screening. Our government works across different health sectors with partner organizations, as well as with provinces and territories that deliver health care services.

Together we want to improve screening and early detection and to provide information to women. That is exactly what Bill C-314 calls for: an assurance that we are doing all we can to increase awareness and to assist health care providers and women in making well-informed screening decisions.

This bill recognizes that we are taking action on this issue through a number of initiatives. We are reinforcing existing investments, commitments and action on prevention, detection and control. The bill also recognizes the important work done by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. This initiative was established and funded by our government. The bill highlights the work our government does through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Canadian breast cancer screening initiative. The knowledge generated through these initiatives is then shared with doctors and networks that include health organizations like the Canadian Cancer Society.

The central initiative supported by our government to fight cancer is the Canadian strategy for cancer control. This is a co-ordinated comprehensive strategy developed with government, non-governmental cancer organizations, cancer survivors, researchers and health care professionals. Screening and early detection is the main priority of the strategy. Breast density and its implications for screening is a part of this.

The Canadian strategy for cancer control is implemented by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer. The partnership is an independent not-for-profit organization that is working on prevention, early detection, treatment and the support for Canadians living with cancer. This organization has done much to ensure cancer patients and health care professionals across Canada have state-of-the-art knowledge about what works to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer.

Notably, the partnership has encouraged hard-to-reach populations to undergo screening, helping doctors to identify cancer earlier. Funding of $250 million to the partnership was recently renewed for five more years, from 2012 to 2017. This funding will help the partnership continue its invaluable work on reducing cancer cases, enhancing the quality of life of cancer patients and increasing the likelihood of survival.

Through CIHR, the government is funding research on more effective diagnostics, treatment and prevention for all cancers, including breast cancer. Research investments in this area support important Canadian scientific work. I want to stress that the search for a cure is only part of the incredible research being undertaken in this country. Research is helping to reduce the burden of cancer on individuals and families through informing the development of prevention strategies.

As well, scientific research is helping to improve screening in health care settings. It is contributing to early diagnosis and, in many cases, allows access to better quality cancer care. This year alone $22.7 million was spent on breast cancer research.

Bill C-314 highlights the importance of providing women and their doctors with the most recent information. Our government's Canadian breast cancer initiative contributes by making education and information resources available to communities across Canada. This work facilitates action on breast cancer, women's health, inter-sectoral collaborations, and stakeholder involvement.

The government supports the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation's screening initiative, a key component of the Canadian breast cancer initiative. The screening initiative is a joint provincial-territorial collaboration to develop screening approaches. It contributes to improving breast cancer screening programs by developing nationally agreed upon quality indicators.

For women with higher breast density, breast cancer is generally harder to detect using mammograms, resulting in more frequent screenings. The Canadian breast cancer screening initiative supports national standards for prevention, early detection and screening. It seeks to develop and share best practices in breast cancer and women's health. Our government recognizes the importance of participating in cancer screening. Raising awareness around breast density supports this goal.

Through the screening initiative, we are working with the provinces and territories as well as local and non-governmental organizations to increase early detection and screening for populations less likely to be screened, such as newcomers to Canada, rural Canadians and persons with disabilities. This cross-Canada project enables the sharing of best practices, and ensures that information and support programs are available to women with breast cancer.

Through the Canadian breast cancer screening initiative and the Canadian partnership against cancer, our government helps the provinces and territories benchmark performance against national standards. It is equally important to share knowledge through health organizations such as the Canadian Cancer Society. The bill reinforces the current actions on breast cancer screening that reflects the government's commitment to keep Canadians and their families healthy, to help doctors detect cancer, and to give women better information on which basis to make their decisions.

I want to commend the hon. member for Barrie for his initiative which will not only better the information women receive regarding their breast health but will also lead to earlier detection and to more women's lives being saved.

I came face to face with the ramifications of breast cancer when I lost my mother 22 years ago. Compounded by my role as a physician, it is why I am so passionate on this issue. I strongly urge every member of the House to support this bill on the awareness of breast cancer screening, so that we can stand unanimous in this chamber in support of women's breast health.

I once again commend the member for Barrie for his excellent work on this bill.

The House resumed from October 24 consideration of the motion that Bill C-314, An Act respecting the awareness of screening among women with dense breast tissue, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Breast Density Awareness ActPrivate Members' Business

October 24th, 2011 / 11:40 a.m.
See context

Calgary Centre-North Alberta

Conservative

Michelle Rempel ConservativeParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment

Mr. Speaker, first, I thank my colleagues for their excellent debate on this issue this morning.

I rise today to address Bill C-314, an act respecting the awareness of screening among women with dense breast tissue. I thank my colleague, the member for Barrie, for bringing this important bill forward.

As October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is time to draw attention to breast cancer and to raise awareness of this important health issue affecting Canadians.

Statistics tell us that breast cancer is the most common form of cancer among Canadian women. One in nine women will be diagnosed with the disease.

Those statistics are more than just numbers. They represent women whose lives are affected by breast cancer. They are wives, mothers, daughters and friends. This year it is estimated that thousands of women across the country will be diagnosed with breast cancer and that approximately 5,000 women will die from the disease.

Thankfully research is providing answers to many questions regarding breast cancer. We are learning more about prevention, risk factors and treatments. Our government's investments into health research through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research support scientific discoveries regarding all types of cancers including breast cancer. We are learning more about the early detection of breast cancer.

The bill focuses on raising awareness regarding breast density and its effects on breast cancer screening. It emphasizes the importance of this issue in an effort to help women and their doctors make well-informed decisions with regard to breast cancer screening.

Why is that important? More than ever before Canadians are taking an active role in their health and require good information to support that role. Canadians need information on what has been proven as well as what is not yet well understood. Only then can they weigh the risks and benefits of the different courses of action.

As well, the Internet revolution allows Canadians to find a great deal of information on health topics. It also means Canadians are faced with the difficulty of deciding what is accurate, inaccurate, important or misleading.

Therefore, providing accurate information to Canadians will increase their awareness and help them make well-informed decisions.

There is a great deal of information available on breast cancer and breast cancer screening which addresses the particular issue of breast density and its implications on breast cancer screening.

A mammogram is an X-ray taken of the breast and is used as a screening method for breast cancer. However, for women with dense breast tissue it can be more difficult for this method to detect small changes that could denote cancer.

Canada's breast cancer screening programs are delivered by the provincial and territorial governments under their jurisdiction for health care delivery. These excellent programs operate according to the highest standards. The federal government is helping breast cancer screening programs through investments made in the Canadian breast cancer screening initiative. This initiative measures the performance of breast cancer screening programs across the country. The information is used by those programs to improve the services they provide to Canadian women.

We are also assisting breast cancer screening programs in sharing their best practices. A key feature of these programs is the important information they provide to women on all aspects of breast cancer screening including breast density. That way we can build on the good work that is already under way.

National non-governmental organizations and their volunteers also play integral roles in raising awareness. The bill recognizes the important role of organizations, such as the Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, as well as numerous other women's health organizations. All of these organizations work to promote cancer prevention, early detection, effective treatments and research. They also provide education and awareness programs and work to improve the quality of life for those living with breast cancer.

The fact that so many Canadian organizations and programs already provide high quality information to women on breast cancer reflects upon the dedication that exists with regard to this enormous health challenge. Researchers, doctors, nurses and provincial and territorial cancer agencies are committed to reducing the rates of breast cancer.

Our government's investment in the Canadian strategy for cancer control and its implementation by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer is part of this national commitment. As its name implies, the partnership is working across the country to speed up the use of effective approaches to cancer prevention and control so that all Canadians will benefit. It is helping to fill gaps, build new models and expand existing programs where needed. Cancer screening is one of the partnership's priorities and its work to provide information to Canadians is consistent with the intent of the bill. The renewed investment in the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer announced by our Prime Minister in March will help that excellent work that is under way continue.

We have much to build on and many best practices to apply as we continue to support Canadian women in accessing the information they need to make decisions on their health. Of course, our efforts are in line with the role of the federal government in supporting health research and identifying best practices in creating partnerships and of promoting the health of Canadians.

In closing, Bill C-314 encourages the Government of Canada to use existing initiatives to raise awareness of breast density in the context of breast cancer screening. This is important for Canadian women.

I sincerely hope we have the support of all members in this House for this important bill.

Breast Density Awareness ActPrivate Members' Business

October 24th, 2011 / 11:05 a.m.
See context

Conservative

Patrick Brown Conservative Barrie, ON

moved that Bill C-314, An Act respecting the awareness of screening among women with dense breast tissue, be read the second time and referred to a committee.

Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to speak to my private member's bill, Bill C-314, An Act respecting the awareness of screening among women with dense breast tissue, which calls on the federal government to encourage the use of existing federal initiatives in order to increase awareness among Canadian women about the impact of having dense breast tissue and the complications it poses for breast cancer screening.

Breast cancer touches many Canadian women and their families and friends, and is the most common form of cancer in women. I know this is something Canadians from coast to coast to coast care deeply about. Just last month Barrie held its annual CIBC Run for the Cure in support of breast cancer research. I saw 2,000 residents out early on a cold and wet Sunday morning to support the battle against breast cancer. Runs like that occur across the country because Canadians are deeply concerned.

In my community of Barrie, in less than 12 months, the Royal Victoria Hospital's regional cancer care centre will open. There have been literally thousands of fundraising events over the last five years to support this very large cancer centre. It will help battle a variety of cancers, including of course, breast cancer.

This year it is estimated that about 23,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 5,000 women will die from this insidious disease. Over their lifetime, one in nine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. This is very difficult to accept. It touches many women and their loved ones. Sixty-four Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 14 will die of breast cancer every day. It is my sincere hope that over time this bill will help reduce those troubling numbers. Health sectors in other areas of the world are beginning to more aggressively target dense tissue to enable early detection of breast cancer.

It is important for all of us to be aware of the fact that screening for breast cancer can save lives. Providing women with accurate information about screening will help them make decisions that are right for them. The federal government supports a number of initiatives to support Canadians dealing with cancer.

Bill C-314 aims to raise awareness about dense breast tissue and breast cancer screening. It will help women and their doctors make well-informed decisions regarding breast cancer screening. It includes a number of elements, which I will briefly outline. I will also address initiatives currently under way to address them.

First, this bill requires the Government of Canada to assess whether gaps in information exist relating to breast density in the context of breast cancer screening. Second, this bill requires that approaches be identified, where needed, to improve information for women in order to: one, address the challenges of detecting breast cancer in women with dense breast tissue; and two, raise awareness concerning these challenges. Third, the bill requires the existing Canadian breast cancer screening initiative to share information on dense breast tissue and its relationship to breast cancer screening and any follow-up procedures that may be deemed necessary.

Canada is fortunate to have screening programs for breast cancer. The provinces and territories deliver these programs to detect breast cancer before it has spread so that treatment can be started. We are learning more and more from scientific research about breast cancer and its risk factors. New and better treatments are being developed. However, there is still much to learn. We know that good information is fundamental to the decisions that each of us makes with the advice of our doctors about our own health. This dialogue is the key to doctor-patient relationships.

Let me take a few moments to explain how the issue of breast density relates to breast cancer screening. First, breast density refers to the amount of tissue in the breast. Dense breasts have more tissue. Breast cancer screening is done using a mammogram, which is an X-ray of the breast. A woman's breast density can affect the accuracy of a mammogram and it may be more difficult for a doctor to see an abnormality. There could be cancer present if the breast tissue is dense because both cancer and dense breast tissue appear white on mammograms.

High breast density is also linked to an increased risk of developing breast cancer, although it is not yet known why this is the case. We also do not know how common dense breast tissue is among Canadian women, although some statistics point to the fact that it could be as high as 40%. Providing women with information of what is known about breast density would help them make well-informed decisions about screening and would open the door for women to engage in follow-up procedures, such as an MRI or ultrasound, if they have dense breast tissue which could skew the mammogram.

In addition to raising awareness on breast density, the bill recognizes the responsibility of the provinces and territories for providing breast cancer screening. Provincial and territorial breast screening programs are invaluable in the early detection of breast cancer in Canadian women.

As noted in the bill, the federal government plays a role in breast cancer screening by facilitating the identification and adoption of effective practices in screening. We also support the sharing of information on screening methods and outcomes through our federal roles in research and surveillance.

Through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, our government provides funding to researchers to investigate the full spectrum of cancer prevention and control. One of the priorities of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research is early detection of cancer. The CIHR works with partners both nationally and internationally to advance its research priorities, including breast cancer research.

Our government has demonstrated its commitment to breast cancer screening by investing in the Canadian breast cancer screening initiative. We work with provincial and territorial governments to measure the performance of breast cancer screening programs across Canada. This means that all jurisdictions regularly share information on the screening programs and discuss what they are learning. They share best practices, discuss the challenges they are facing and the questions that are important to all of them.

Information sharing about ways to improve these programs ensures that women receive the full benefits of early detection. This includes providing women with information about all aspects of breast cancer screening. The federal, provincial and territorial national committee for the Canadian breast cancer screening initiative provides opportunities for provincial and territorial governments to work together to develop their screening recommendations and approaches. This committee is comprised of medical professionals and key stakeholders.

For example, the committee is currently looking at breast cancer mortality and improving screening for underserviced populations. We have the Canadian breast cancer screening database, which is a source of valuable information on breast cancer screening. Participating provincial and territorial screening programs contribute to the national database, which is used to monitor and evaluate breast cancer screening programs. Non-government organizations play a vital role in this process as well.

I am proud to say that our government is taking action on cancer through our continued investment in the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer which has led to the implementation of the Canadian strategy for cancer control. The partnership is the first of its kind and was established by our Conservative government. It covers the full spectrum of cancer control, from prevention to palliative and end-of-life care, policy to practice, and from research to health system applications.

Together with the cancer community, the partnership is accelerating the use of effective cancer prevention and control strategies. Its objectives are to reduce the number of cancer cases, minimize cancer-related deaths and improve patient quality of life.

In March of this year, our Prime Minister announced renewed funding of $250 million over five years, beginning on April 1, 2012. This will allow the partnership to continue its invaluable work. In the words of the Prime Minister:

We are making progress on prevention, diagnosis, treatment and hope, and in tracking our progress closely, the partnership is leading us on the path to a cure.

The partnership plays a key role in providing information to women on cancer screening, which aligns with the spirit of this bill. The bill also recognizes the important role of organizations such as the Canadian Cancer Society and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation in providing reliable information that supports women in making decisions about their health.

All of us are familiar with the Canadian Cancer Society. This national volunteer organization works in cancer prevention, research, advocacy, information and support for all cancers.

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is a national volunteer organization dedicated to working toward a future without breast cancer. The foundation funds, supports and advocates for research, education and awareness programs, early diagnosis and effective treatment, as well as a positive quality of life for those living with breast cancer.

Women's health organizations, such as the Canadian Women's Health Network, raise awareness on many health issues faced by women in Canada, including breast cancer.

Working with the above-listed breast cancer stakeholders, the federal government will continue to raise awareness through existing initiatives on the issue of breast density in the context of breast cancer screening. These stakeholders will be very critical in our battle to raise awareness about breast density.

This bill is particularly timely given that October is breast cancer awareness month. Through efforts to raise awareness, Canadian women and their families can become more informed about breast cancer. They will learn about breast density and its implications for breast cancer screening. They will be able to make well-informed decisions based on this knowledge.

I would like to thank Andrea Paine at the Ministry of Health in Ottawa, Dr. Rob Ballagh of Barrie, Mike Richmond from Toronto, and my assistant in Barrie, Shawn Bubel, for their assistance in the drafting of the bill.

The bill provides an opportunity for the Government of Canada and the House to recognize the critical importance of raising awareness about breast density and breast cancer screening.

It would be an honour for me to have the support of all members in the House for this bill. Too many families have been touched by this form of cancer. I am hopeful that by ensuring women get the information they need which could lead to early detection, this legislation could potentially save lives.

Breast Density Awareness ActRoutine Proceedings

October 3rd, 2011 / 3:10 p.m.
See context

Conservative

Patrick Brown Conservative Barrie, ON

moved for leave to introduce Bill C-314, An Act respecting the awareness of screening among women with dense breast tissue.

Mr. Speaker, this enactment would require the Government of Canada to encourage the use of existing initiatives in order to increase the awareness of women about the implications of dense breast tissue for breast cancer screening and to assist health care providers in making well-informed decisions regarding screening.

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, in 2011 it is expected that over 23,000 Canadian females will be diagnosed with breast cancer, of which, regrettably, over 5,000 will pass away.

The Government of Canada can certainly play an effective role in the adoption of effective early detection screening practices. Targeting dense tissue is one of the means by which we can make a tangible difference.

(Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)