Download Report to the community 2014

Together
we’re creating
a future
without
breast cancer
Report to the community
2014 highlights
An unwavering vision
A message from our National Board Chair
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation made a commitment more than 28
years ago to drive positive change by funding high-impact breast cancer
research, education, and advocacy programs. Today we are proud to be the
largest non-government funder of breast cancer research, with more than
$300 million invested in grants and fellowships.
In fiscal 2014, CBCF invested $27 million to fund projects and programs
focused on advancing our mission. A significant portion – $17.5 million –
was directed to breast cancer research and training grants; health promotion
and education initiatives accounted for $5 million and the remainder was
allocated to community development and other cause programs.
Thanks to our generous donors and volunteers, we have the means to
support the best and brightest researchers from across the country. They
are working diligently to develop improved ways to diagnose and treat breast
cancer, with fewer side effects, and minimize negative impact on quality of
life. Recognizing the power of many, CBCF frequently collaborates with other
groups. For example, this year we partnered with the Canadian Institutes
of Health Research - Institute of Cancer Research (CIHR-ICR) to fund a
research program specifically focused on breast cancer in young women,
involving 62 researchers and clinicians at 44 institutions and clinics across
the country.
By staying true to the commitment we made almost three decades ago,
CBCF is helping to advance the vision of a future without breast cancer –
a vision we share with our supporters and with our partners in research,
education and advocacy. We will continue to drive this vision today,
tomorrow, for as long as it takes.
Susan Ewanick
Chair, National Board of
Directors
2
Driving progress
A message from our CEO and Ontario
Board Chair
In 2014, thanks to your generous support, we awarded $7.9 million in
grants to fund 17 new breast cancer research projects and 10 new training
fellowships in Ontario. The research projects range in focus from studying
ways to prevent breast cancer to a two-step vaccine that would not only kill
tumours but also help prevent them from coming back.
With the remarkable support of CIBC and Shoppers Drug Mart, the Pink
Tour visited more than 360 Ontario communities and connected with over
56,500 people in the last two years, providing valuable information about
breast health and breast cancer screening.
We also continued to advocate for and with the breast cancer community.
The launch of ‘My Breast My Test’, a Facebook-based social site helped
to raise awareness and reduce the confusion around the benefits and
limitations of breast cancer screening and share valuable evidence-based
information.
We are making progress! Over the last 30 years there have been 43%
fewer breast cancer deaths. Women are receiving more targeted and less
invasive treatments with fewer side effects and better outcomes.
But we can’t stop now. Breast cancer is a complex disease and we
need to continue to invest so that fewer women experience a breast cancer
diagnosis and those diagnosed can live long and healthy lives.
Thank you for your commitment and generosity. Together we can create a
future without breast cancer.
Sandra Palmaro
CEO, Ontario Region
Christy Teasdale
Chair, Ontario Region
Board of Directors
3
Research Highlights
See how far we’ve come
From engineering cancer-killing designer viruses and
harnessing the power of the immune system, to testing a safe
and existing drug for a new use in breast cancer treatment,
every breakthrough in research brings us closer to our goal of
a future without this disease.
Prevention
Screening
Treatment
Quality of Life
Enhancing results
with early detection
and screening
4
What today’s
treatment innovations
hold for the future
Improving quality
of life after breast
cancer
Visit our website for more videos and stories
www.cbcf.org/oncommunityreport
New discoveries in genetic markers
Dr. Kristan Aronson
Professor, Queen’s University & Member, Division of Cancer Care &
Epidemiology, Cancer Research Institute
5
PREVENTION
Innovative drugs
could cool hot
flashes without
increasing risk of
breast cancer
SCREENING
Computer taught
to identify breast
cancer can improve
early detection
and reduce false
positives
“We are taking thousands of
archived images from diagnosed
breast cancer cases and putting
them through algorithms that will
basically allow the computer to
learn the particular features of
breast cancer,” explains Dr. Anne
Martel, the senior scientist leading
the project. “So when it sees a new
sample, it can predict the probability
of breast cancer based on what it
learned from the previous images.”
6
CBCF-funded researchers in
Ottawa are developing drugs
that can help women struggling
with menopause symptoms
without increasing their risk of
breast cancer. Dr. James Wright
at Carleton University and Drs.
Christine Pratt and Tony Durst
at the University of Ottawa have
produced drug compounds that
mimic natural estrogen to reduce
hot flashes without activating the
estrogen receptors believed to
cause breast cancer.
QUALITY OF LIFE
Mindfulness
program could ease
nerve-related pain
for women living
with breast cancer
Chronic pain from a damaged
nervous system affects half of all
breast cancer patients. University of
Ottawa researchers are studying the
effect of mindfulness based stress
reduction on qualify of life, mood
and physical function.
(Dr. Patricia Poulin)
TREATMENT
Canadian-led
study looks at
diabetes drug
as breast cancer
treatment
The $20-million global study
could soon give women with
breast cancer access to
metformin, a low-cost drug with
few side effects that can improve
their chances of survival.
(Dr. Wendy Parulekar)
7
SCREENING
SCREENING
Imaging markers
Imaging
markerscan
savesave
moremore
lives by
can
lives
making
cancer
cells
by
making
cancer
easy to
spot
cells
easy
to spot
Led by
by Dr.
Dr. Francois
Francois Bénard
Bénard at
at the
the
Led
B.C.
Cancer
Agency
in
Vancouver,
B.C. Cancer Agency in Vancouver,
this research
research group
group is
is focusing
focusing on
on
this
next-generation
imaging
markers
next-generation imaging markers ––
also known
known as
as radiotracers
radiotracers –– that
that
also
target
somatostatin
receptors
target somatostatin receptors
present in
in almost
almost all
all breast
breast cancers.
present
The
markers
bind
to
the
receptors,
cancers. The markers bind
to the
essentially
labelling
them
so they’re
receptors, essentially labelling
them
visible
on avisible
scan.on a scan.
so
they’re
QUALITY OF LIFE
Study of memory
functions aims to
improve life after
breast cancer
CBCF-funded researchers have
found that women with breast
cancer were five times more
likely than healthy women to
have problems remembering
future tasks. The researchers
have launched a new study to
determine a possible connection
between chemotherapy,
impaired prospective memory
and fatigue. (Dr. Lise Paquet)
8
TREATMENT
Engineered white
blood cells could
boost survival rates
for women with
metastatic breast
cancer
Dr. Jonathan Bramson has
embarked on research into white
blood cells engineered to detect
and attack breast cancer cells.
This innovative approach involves
taking white blood cells from the
patient and equipping the cells
with feelers that can recognize
breast cancer. These engineered
cells are then injected back into
the patient.
TREATMENT
Viral vaccine could
halt the return of
breast cancer cells
Dr. Brian Lichty and his team
began their work with the Maraba
virus, a powerful fighter of tumour
cells. Adding a second virus
resulted in a mix that could also
train the immune system to identify
and attack cancer cells, preventing
a relapse.
9
Living and giving
for a future without
breast cancer
Olga Weatherdon
Providing Inspiration
There seems to be no stopping this 71-year-old. With help from her husband
and friends, Olga is busy handmaking knitted items, baked goods and
lemonade so she can sell them and raise funds for breast cancer research.
What keeps Olga going? She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 and
has spent the last four years celebrating life in remission.
Olga: Middle
Alicia Tait
Personal Insights for a Big Vision
At the age of 26 - just three years after she learned she had cancer, Alicia
shared her experience with a group of funders and researchers taking part in
a Breast Cancer in Young Women workshop, hosted by CBCF and the CIHRICR. The insights from the workshop led to a $5.7-million cross-Canada
program that brings together researchers from different disciplines to study
breast cancer in women 40 years and under.
Alicia: Middle
10
Winnie Go
A Role Model
When the doctor confirmed she had breast cancer and that it had spread to
her lymph nodes, friends and family naturally expected Winnie to focus on
her personal care and treatment. But Winnie decided that while she needed
to take care of herself, it was equally important for her to do as much as she
could for others facing a similar battle. Bolstered by this conviction, Winnie
threw a party and cut off her hair, donating it to children with cancer. She
also raised over $8,000 for the Wig Salon.
11
Denise Deacey
Best Friend Ever
Denise Deacey is a power fundraiser
for the Canadian Breast Cancer
Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure.
But Denise has not been diagnosed
with the disease and does not know
of relatives with breast cancer. So why
is she doing so much in the name of
breast cancer research? “Two of my
girlfriends were diagnosed with breast
cancer five weeks apart,” says Denise,
who launched a Circle of Friends
Golf Tournament for her friends. To
celebrate her 10-year milestone as a
supporter and power fundraiser for
breast cancer research, Denise has
set a goal of raising her fundraising
total to $200,000 in 2015.
Denise: Right
12
Jackie Barr
Determined Spirit
Diagnosed in 1997 with breast
cancer, and again in 2006, Jackie
is now living with Stage 4 cancer.
Despite the diagnosis, none of
this has stopped Jackie from
being Jackie. Those who know
Jackie and her determined spirit
would not be surprised to learn
that she decided to participate
in the Canadian Breast Cancer
Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure
the same year she received her
first diagnosis. In the 17 years
that Jackie has been living with
the disease, she has raised over
$60,000 for breast cancer research.
Jackie: Right
13
Taking steps toward a future
without breast cancer
On October 6, 2013, more than 57,000 Ontarians from 30 communities
across the province came together to walk or run for a hopeful future – a
future without breast cancer.
The result: $12.1 million raised in Ontario and $27 million nationwide for
breast cancer research. With every step, stride and sprint, we’re moving
closer to a future without breast cancer.
“Let’s not stop now,” says Christina
Kramer, Executive Vice President, CIBC and the
bank’s Executive Run Sponsor. “While progress
has been made, breast cancer continues to
be the most common diagnosis for Canadian
women.”
14
Education &
Advocacy
Sharing the knowledge
The more you know about breast cancer, the easier it is to make informed
decisions that affect your health and the wellbeing of your family. As
Canada’s largest non-government funder of breast cancer research,
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is always tapped into the latest
findings – from reducing the risks for breast cancer to early detection and
treatment options. We share these important findings with Canadian women
and health care providers through educational materials and programs that
address key focus areas.
The Pink Tour
Breast cancer education hit the road in the summer of 2012 and
2013, when the 46-foot Pink Tour bus pulled up at 360 stops
in communities across Ontario and connected with more than
56,000 residents.
Breast Health
Did you know that one-third of breast cancers are preventable? To
help Canadian women maintain healthy breasts and make lifestyle
changes and decisions that reduce the risk of breast cancer,
CBCF launched a Breast Health Program in January 2013. By its
second year, the Breast Health Program had built a community
of more than 15,000 social media followers, and boasted over
22,000 visits to its inspiring cbcf.org/onenewthing website.
My Breast My Test
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation launched My Breast My Test,
a Facebook-based advocacy program that gives women access
to accurate, evidence-based information about the benefits
and limitations of breast screening so they can make informed
decisions. This site also lets them share their questions, concerns
and experiences with other women. In just over a month since
it went live in April 2014, My Breast My Test received more than
2,200 likes and hundreds of testimonials from women about their
experiences surrounding screening.
15
Fellowships
Funding specialized training to build strong teams
To build strong teams focused on improving breast cancer treatment and
care, we need to support specialized training for researchers and health
care professionals. Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation held a fellowship
competition in partnership with TELUS, which provided $400,000 to fund
five fellowships in 2013.
Congratulations to the TELUS-Canadian Breast Cancer
Foundation National Fellowship recipients!
Dr. Julie Arsenault,
McMaster University, Hamilton:
Evaluating a robotic radiosurgery device for use in
breast-conserving surgery
Dr. Julie Arsenault was among the five fellows who
received funding for research ranging from examining
the rehabilitation needs of women with breast cancer to
understanding the role of microenvironments in targeted
therapies. A radiation oncologist from Hamilton, Dr.
Arsenault will study a robotic radiosurgery device called
Cyberknife, to see if it’s safe and effective for surgery to
treat early-stage breast cancer.
Dr. Ling-l Olivia Tseng,
BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver:
Investigating how interactions with
family physicians can improve
care for people with breast cancer
Karen Dobbin,
Cancer Care Manitoba/University of
Manitoba, Winnipeg:
Examining the rehabilitation needs of
women with breast cancer
Dr. Saima Hassan,
Dr. Sami Benzina,
Centre hospitalier de l’Université
de Montreal, Montreal:
Understanding the molecular
signatures that can help predict
treatment outcomes based on
cancer subtype
16
University of Moncton, Moncton:
Studying the role of a gene that could
affect the spread of breast cancer
Financial Summary*
Year ended March 31, 2014
Sources of funding
CBCF CIBC Run for the
Cure
66%
Corporate Partnerships
12%
Community Events
7%
Individual Donors
4%
Direct Marketing
4%
Special Events
1%
Government Partnerships
2%
Other
4%
How funds are spent
Grants **
69%
Health Promotion &
Education
26%
Grant Review &
Administration
3%
Volunteer Development
2%
* These statements reflect an unaudited financial summary of Ontario Region only. The Canadian
Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) is audited on a national basis. For audited national financial
statements please visit www.cbcf.org
** Grants are presented net of returned funds from previous years’ grants
17
We
can’t
stop
now
Thank you
You make it all possible
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation
Ontario Region
20 Victoria Street, 6th Floor
Toronto, ON M5C 2N8
Visit our website:
www.cbcf.org/ontario
See us on YouTube:
youtube.com/cbcfontario
Friend us on Facebook:
facebook.com/cbcfontario
Follow us on Twitter:
@CBCF_Ontario
On the cover: Kathy Phillips got involved with Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation in 2011
when she participated in the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation CIBC Run for the Cure on
behalf of her aunt. Just six months later, Kathy was diagnosed with breast cancer. Thanks to
the most innovative care and treatment, Kathy is thriving.
™ Trademark of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, used under license.