Mr. Speaker, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. An early screening can catch harder-to-find cancers like triple-negative breast cancer, or TNBC, which is more frequently diagnosed in patients under 50.
Those diagnosed with TNBC represent anywhere from 10% to 20% of the overall breast cancer population, and TNBC is more likely to affect Black and Hispanic women. Most people have never heard of TNBC and some Canadians are not even aware there are different types of breast cancer. We need to greatly improve awareness of triple-negative breast cancer and all breast cancers, and ensure more equitable access to screening and treatments. More education, earlier screening and earlier detection mean greater chance of survival.
In closing, I want to recognize friends and breast cancer survivors from Port Moody—Coquitlam: the unstoppable Captain Jenn Dawkins, my wonderful neighbour Hilla Shavit and retired Captain Paula Faedo.