Pink bus returns

An estimated 23,000 women in Canada will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.

That’s one of the messages that the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation’s second Pink Tour hopes to get across during its 17-week campaign across the province. The pink bus pulled into town Saturday at the Arthur Street Shoppers Drug Mart near McKellar Street.

The campaign hopes to bring more awareness of breast cancer screening and risk reductions.

Spokeswoman Jennifer Wilson said last year 30,000 people came onboard the bus and took advantage of the interactive displays. Wilson explained that their target audience is women over 50 years old.

With only 61 per cent of women in Ontario being screened for breast cancer, Wilson said an earlier diagnosis means a higher success rate.

“Women who are younger can reduce their risk by eating a healthy diet, by not smoking, drinking less alcohol and exercising,” she said.

“(Breast cancer) is well known but people are not aware that one third of breast cancers are preventable. The sort of information that is out there is that it is hereditary. Only five to 10 per cent of breast cancers are hereditary.”

The campaign also hopes to debunk a number of myths such as that underwire in bras cause cancer. Wilson added breast cancer isn’t caused by an injury either.

Susan Bale, who works at in prevention screening department at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, said they do a lot of outreach at the hospital and many women in the Northwest know how important it is to get regular screenings.

“We’re finding that a lot of people are up to date,” she said. “I got to the malls, other organizations and do a lot of outreach and encourage people who are turning 50 to go out there and get screened. A lot of women are afraid because they feel like they don’t want to know. There’s always that fear that there is something. We try to encourage them that prevention is key.”

The pink bus will make one final stop at the Murillo Fair grounds on Sunday before heading to Emo.