In-person Run for the Cure a sign of hope, but cancer screening delays cause worry
Thousands made their way through the streets of Vancouver Sunday morning for the annual Run for the Cure — a key fundraiser for breast cancer research.
“It is the single largest volunteer-led event in support of the breast cancer cause,” said Elizabeth Garvie, the event's co-director.
“It is so nice to be back in person after two years of having a virtual event, and we’re blown away by the support.”
Despite recently undergoing her first round of chemotherapy treatment, Jennifer Laing walked the 5K route with her family, refusing to sit this one out.
“I have access to treatments now that give me a much better prognosis,” said Laing. “That wouldn’t be possible without research.”
For breast cancer survivor and firefighter Jenn Dawkins, it’s a day of reflection and celebration.
“I have managed to recover incredibly and I’m back at work,” said Dawkins, joined by more than 30 female firefighters from around the province.
But Dawkins, and other survivors CTV News spoke with, say the province’s health-care system needs a better approach to early detection.
“It’s a terrible system right now. The medical system is definitely struggling,” said Dawkins. “In fact, I had my own battles trying to get he appropriate testing I was supposed to get.”
Another survivor says she anxiously waited months for testing she says is vital for detection.
“I’m scheduled for a mammogram every year and I make sure that I do that, but I’m also supposed to be getting an ultrasound done six months after my annual mammogram,” said Shelly Scott, who has been cancer-free for five years.
“And that’s not happening. And I’ve had to fight for it to get it done.”
CTV News recently reported on a 69-year-old who waited months for a biopsy to determine if she had breast cancer. According to the BC Radiological Society, she’s one of thousands of patients waiting for medical imaging in this province.
Organizers say Sunday's event raised more than $680,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
A newspaper says video of Prince William and Kate should halt royal rumour mill. That's a tall order
Prince William and his wife Catherine have been filmed at a farm shop near their Windsor home, The Sun newspaper reported -- the first footage of Kate since she had abdominal surgery for an unspecified condition two months ago.
'You ask for your money, they disappear': Ontario man loses $17K to AI crypto scam
A Toronto man is spreading the word of a cryptocurrency scam that lures victims using AI-generated news sites after he lost $17,000 in investments.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
High thoughts: The habits of Canadian cannabis users are revealed in a new StatCan report
Statistics Canada has conducted a series of surveys to measure the impacts of legalized cannabis since the Cannabis Act took effect in 2018. The latest one, the 2023 National Cannabis Survey, sheds light on users' preferences and habits last year.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Trump says Jews who vote for Democrats 'hate Israel' and their religion
Former U.S. president Donald Trump on Monday charged that Jews who vote for Democrats 'hate Israel' and hate 'their religion,' igniting a firestorm of criticism from the White House and Jewish leaders.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Freddie Mercury's home is on the market for first time since 1980 minus his 'exquisite clutter'
Freddie Mercury's sanctuary in London, where he lived the last decade of his life, is on sale for the first time in nearly half a century -- minus his "exquisite clutter."
'The lost season': Winter comes to a close as Canada's warmest on record
The warmest winter on record could have far-reaching effects on everything from wildfire season to erosion, climatologists say, while offering a preview of what the season could resemble in the not-so-distant future unless steps are taken to cut greenhouse gas emissions.