Breast Cancer Awareness Month is underway. 

The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency is one of many celebrating the month and their awareness campaign this year has the theme of 'Breasts Need Support, So Do Your Friends'.

Laurie Pearce, an early detection coordinator for breast screening with the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency, said their goal is to make talking about breast cancer and screening a more comfortable topic. 

"It's really around having comfortable conversations about the screening mammograms and really encouraging women to make it part of their healthy lifestyle choices." 

Pearce said that over the years, she has seen people become more comfortable talking about the breast cancer topic. 

"From a coordinators' perspective and going out and speaking with the public, I feel over the last few years people are more comfortable talking about screening tests whether it's a screening mammogram a fit kit," she said. "That is really our goal. To help the general public become more comfortable talking about these things. If they are talking about it, then they are probably paying more attention to their health, and they are probably more likely to participate by going for a screening mammogram." 

She said the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency has a breast screening program that encourages women to get a checkup.  

"Our breast screening program is one of our three screening programs that our early detection department has," she explained. "When women turn 50, they receive an invite letter encouraging them to call our toll-free number and book a screening mammogram. It's a self-referral; they don't need a health care provider referral to come to our program to book a mammogram." 

"Regardless if it's for breast cancer or any other type of cancer, early detection is key. With early detection, if it's found early, it's usually more treatable, which results in better outcomes," Pearce continued. "We strongly encourage people to incorporate it into their healthy lifestyle choices just like they would make a regular checkup to go to the dentist, or have their eyes checked." 

The Canadian Cancer Agency estimates that this year, 26,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. That represents 25% of all new cancer cases in women in 2019. 

They also estimate that 5,000 women will die from breast cancer and on average. 

230 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 55 will die from breast cancer