Breast Cancer

What is breast cancer?

Breast cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells located in the breast. All cancer cells have the ability to spread. If breast cancer is not treated, the cancer cells can invade local tissues and eventually spread to distant organs (metastasize).

UHN Resources

UHN Brochures and Pamphlets

• Bone Loss & Breat Cancer Treatment for Women: Are You at Risk?
• Bra-buying Guide for Breast Cancer Patients
• Breast Cancer Fact Sheet

  English	Arabic	Chinese
  French	Korean	Italian
  Portuguese	Spanish	Vietnamese
  Greek	Polish

• Breast Cancer Surgery and Pain
• Breast Cancer Survivorship Booklet "Getting Back on Track: Life After Treatment"
• Breast Cancer Resources
• Breast Disease Database
• CEF Chemotherapy
• The Comprehensive Breast Center Breast Cancer Fact Sheet

  English	Italian

• Coping with Breast Cancer
• Frequently Asked Questions about Breast Cancer
• Healthy Eating after a Diagnosis of Breast Cancer
• Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer: Are You at Risk?
• Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer - Patient Info Sheet
• Post Surgical Information with or without Drain
• Radiation Therapy to the Breast Area
  

  English	Portuguese

• Stereotactic Biopsy of the Breast
• Your Functional Rehabilitation After Breast Surgery

UHN Clinics or Centres

• Breast Cancer Survivorship program
• M. Lau Breast Cancer Centre
• Oncology Interactive Education Series

Related Web Sites

• Breast Cancer Action
  A Canadian survivor-directed group joined in purpose to inform, educate and support women and men living with breast cancer, their families and the community.
• Breast Cancer Lighthouse
  This site provides helpful information for women who are newly diagnosed with breast cancer.
• Breast Cancer Net
  An American Web site which presents the latest news on breast cancer detection and treatment. Offers support group and treatment centre locator and links to other Web sites.
• Breast Cancer Society of Canada
  This national, volunteer-driven charity is dedicated to raising money for peer reviewed Canadian breast cancer research. The searchable Web site includes information about breast health, news, and events.
• breastcancer.org
  An American non-profit organization dedicated to education surrounding breast cancer issues. Features of this site include a talking dictionary with celebrity voices, chat rooms and discussion areas with the participation of leading oncologists, anatomy pictures and a variety of support information.
• Breast Cancer Treatment Guidelines for Patients
  Published by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network in partnership with the American Cancer Society, this document provides current information and recommendations based on advances in medical science for the treatment of Breast Cancer.
• Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
  The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is the largest charitable organization in Canada dedicated exclusively to the support and advancement of breast cancer research, education, diagnosis and treatment.
• Canadian Breast Cancer Network
  This survivor-directed, national network of organizations and individuals provides a national link between all groups and individuals concerned about breast cancer.
• Canadian Breast Cancer Research Initiative
  The purpose of the CBCRI is to encourage and support high quality research relevant to the prevention, treatment and control of breast cancer.
• Living with Metastatic Disease: An Information Brochure for Women with Breast Cancer
  An overview of metastatic breast cancer, including treatment options and emotional challenges. Created by Willow Breast Cancer Support & Resource Services.
• Man to Man: A Practical Guide for Male Caregivers when Breast Cancer Strikes Their Loved Ones
  This guidebook is a collection of relevant information, designed to serve as a quick resource for men who are called upon to become primary caregivers to their loved ones who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Although it was conceived with thoughts of male partners in mind, it will also be useful for brothers, sons and fathers who must support sisters, mothers and daughters. It is composed of personal anecdotes drawn from the authors own experiences, enriched by vignettes offered by other men who walked the same bumpy road.
• The National Breast Cancer Coalition
  The National Breast Cancer Coalition is a grassroots advocacy organization dedicated to fighting breast cancer. NBCC was formed in 1991 with one mission: to eradicate breast cancer through action and advocacy. The Web site offers all sorts of information including how to become an advocate for change, legislative priorities, current educational and training programs and more.
• Oncolink Breast Cancer Information
  Breast cancer information from the University of Pennsylvania's renowned cancer centre Web site, Oncolink.
• Ontario Breast Cancer Information Exchange Partnership (OBCIEP)
  On this Web site, you will find out about the OBCIEP and their activities, as well as what others are doing to improve access to breast cancer information resources. Of particular interest are the community bulletin boards where users are invited to exchange information about breast cancer informational activities, programs, and materials.
• Ontario Breast Screening program
  This program is available to women in Ontario, aged 50 or over who have no history of breast cancer or augmentation mammoplasty, have not had a mammogram within the last year and are free of acute breast symptoms. There is no upper age limit on screening in the OBSP.
• Willow Breast Cancer Support and Resource Centre
  Willow is a support and resource service linked to a network of support groups. Breast cancer survivors serve as trained volunteers to listen, to answer questions and clarify treatment options, and to provide support to women with breast cancer, their families and friends. The Web site contains information about their program, the services they provide, Ontario network support groups, upcoming events and links to other resource sites.
• Women's Cancer Network (WCN)
  This site, developed by the Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, keeps women informed and enables them to be their own health advocates. The WCN mission is to assist women who have developed cancer, as well as their families, to understand more about the disease, learn about treatment options, and gain access to new or experimental therapies. WCN News provides a daily newsfeed from Reuters Health Information, with articles selected by women's cancer experts. The WCN serves to educate women on ways to prevent the development of cancer. WCN's confidential risk-assessment questionnaire is designed to give women a personalized understanding of their individual risks of developing breast, ovarian, cervical or endometrial cancer.

Support Groups

• Gilda's Club Toronto
  Named after late comedian Gilda Radner who lost her battle with ovarian cancer in May, 1989, Gilda's Club is a meeting place where people with cancer can come together to learn how to live with cancer and celebrate the challenges and opportunities of everyday life.
• Wellspring
  Wellspring provides a wide range of cancer support programs and services to serve the emotional, social, informational, and emotional needs of people living with cancer, and those who care for them. The Web site contains information about programs and services, frequently asked questions, newsletters, research and program evaluations, and more.
• Look Good Feel Better
  Look Good Feel Better is a free, national program to help women living with cancer improve their appearance and self-image by teaching beauty techniques to camouflage the appearance-related side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Look Good Feel Better is supported by Canadian Cosmetic, Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CCTFA) member companies. The Look Good Feel Better program is endorsed by the Canadian Cancer Society.
• Bayview Support Network
  This organization was created for the benefit of cancer patients/survivors and their families and friends, sharing common experiences of illness, treatment and life after cancer.