Breast Cancer Machine (CEM)
Initiative Overview ->
Conventional mammograms save lives; However, did you know that: ❌ 1. Detection challenges: Conventional mammograms don’t catch all cancers (because of the location of the cancer or the density of the breast tissue). 43% of women have dense breast tissue, and sensitivity of mammography drops from 85% to 65% in people with dense breasts. ❌ 2. Capacity challenges: Current capacity does not allow for the rate of viewing that is desired to increase outcomes. ❌ 3. Research capacity challenges: We don’t have the capacity for more research. More data will help increase knowledge and innovation. This means that still too many breast cancers are not caught early, reducing positive outcomes. ✅ BC Cancer - in conjunction with their fundraising partner BC Cancer Foundation - has a plan and opportunity to improve outcomes for the population that it serves: to acquire a revolutionary technology, a Contract Enhanced Mammography machine (CEM); And to fund critical breast cancer research. Philanthropy is needed to bring this technology in. 💡Co-Leads on the BC Cancer Foundation board are bringing together a group of amazing people who want to help support saving lives. $700k is needed to complete the purchase of the CEM and additional funds above this will go towards critical breast cancer research. ➡️ To learn more about the initiative > click on the images above/left! Thank-you to those supporting this initiative. 📧Contact Us: To learn more, and/or to participate, please contact: Lindsay Abbot: Lindsay.Abbott@bccancer.bc.ca
Participants & Donate ->
✅ We're thrilled to bring together a group of amazing people in B.C. who are coming together to help support saving lives: $700,000 is needed to complete the purchase of the CEM and any additional funds will go towards critical breast cancer research. ✅ Participants to date: We are nearing $500k committed; We'd love for you to join us!! And we are committed to sharing results back with the group. 📧Contact Us: To learn more, and/or to participate, please contact: Lindsay Abbot: Lindsay.Abbott@bccancer.bc.ca
CEM Detection Stats ->
‼️ Conventional mammograms save lives. However, if a woman has dense breasts - and this is 43% of women! - a conventional mammogram will detect cancer only about 65% of the time. This means that when cancer is found, it’s often at a later - and often devastating - stage. Early detection is key to saving lives. 💡But there is a solution: a new technology called Contrast Enhanced Mammography (CEM) raises detection rates significantly, especially for women with dense breasts. DETECTION 💟 Doubles cancer detection rates, especially for women with dense breast tissue (43% of women in B.C. have dense breasts), compared to conventional mammograms 💟 Identifies 3x more tumors than ultrasounds and catches cancers before they spread 💟 Better identifies smaller tumors compared to conventional mammography, often before the cancer has spread to lymph nodes CAPACITY 💟 Increases overall capacity for breast imaging services in B.C. 💟 Expand access to alternative testing for high-risk women 💟 Faster — reduces scan times from 45 minutes to just 10 minutes RESEARCH 💟 Data and findings from using this technology can be applied to future breast cancer research (a need to define how it can drive innovation & change) ➡️ Contact Lindsay.Abbott@bccancer.bc.ca to learn more.
How the CEM Works ->
The CEM Machine will be located at the Vancouver Center. ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY: ➡️ A contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) machine works by combining a standard digital mammogram with an iodinated contrast dye injected intravenously. After the contrast is injected, the machine takes two images of the breast in quick succession using different X-ray energy levels (low and high). A computer then digitally combines these images to create a final image that highlights areas where the contrast has pooled, indicating areas of increased blood supply that may signal cancer. ➡️ Tumors typically show up as white spots on mammograms, but dense breast tissue also appears white, obscuring the tumors. ➡️ When you have lots of white normal breast tissue, it’s hard to see the white cancers. But when you do the contrast, the cancers take up the iodine, and all you’re seeing is this cancer lighting up. ➡️ CEM finds more tumors and detects them when they are small and have not yet spread to the lymph nodes. Detecting cancers when they are smaller leads to better outcomes.
Breast Cancer Facts ->
FACTS: Breast Cancer in B.C. 🤕 1 in 8 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. 🤕 Breast cancer is most common cancer among women in B.C. 🤕 Every year, more than 4,000 women in B.C. are diagnosed with the disease 🤕 It represents 25% of new cancer cases among women 🤕 Breast cancer risk increases with age and research shows that 5-10% of breast cancer cases are hereditary 🤕 Unfortunately, the fatality rate is 17%, or 1 in 6 women EARLY DETECTION IS KEY: 💟 92% survival rate for people facing breast cancer diagnosed at an early stage. ✅ BC Cancer has a plan and opportunity to improve outcomes for the population that it serves: to acquire a revolutionary technology, a Contract Enhanced Mammography machine (CEM), and fund critical breast cancer research.
Breast Cancer Research ->
✅ Research dollars would go towards two research programs, focused on women: 1️⃣ Funding a Breakthrough Discovery - Targeting G-Quadruplex DNA: BC Cancer researchers identified a shared weakness in BRCA-related breast cancers: G-quadruplex DNA. A new, world-first drug was discovered to kill cancer cells by targeting this DNA structure. In a groundbreaking clinical trial, led by BC Cancer’s Drs. Karen Gelmon and Sam Aparicio, tumours were genomically sequenced pre- and post-treatment, confirming success. 2️⃣ Funding a new research program Focusing on Younger Women with breast cancer: Younger patients face more aggressive cancers yet remain underrepresented in research. A new research program will explore why breast cancer behaves differently in younger women, using single-cell technology to personalize care and improve outcomes for patients. ------ Led by the following Doctors: ✅ DR. KAREN GELMON Professor of Medicine, UBC, Medical Oncologist, BC Cancer. Listed as one of the World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds. • In collaboration with the Canadian Clinical Trials Group, led a Phase I trial where tumours were genomically sequenced before and after exposure to the drug • This trial marks the first successful use of a dug targeting G-quadruplex DNA to eradicate cancer cells in a solid tumour. ✅ DR. SAM APARICIO Distinguished Scientist, Department Head, Breast and Molecular Oncology, BC Cancer • Recipient of the esteemed Canada Gairdner International Award • International collaborator at the University of Cambridge, alongside Dr. Shankar Balasubramanian • Drs. Aparicio and Balasubramanian are currently collaborating to build on a groundbreaking discovery to treat chemotherapy-resistant breast cancers by targeting folded DNA in the genome • Dr. Aparicio’s team has discovered over 10 unique subtypes of breast cancer, a landmark discovery that has been referenced over 5,000 times and utilized by more than 550 labs worldwide
‼️ Conventional mammograms save lives. However, if a woman has dense breasts - and this is 43% of women! - a conventional mammogram will detect cancer only about 65% of the time. This means that when cancer is found, it’s often at a later - and often devastating - stage. Early detection is key to saving lives.
💟 But there is a solution: a new technology called Contrast Enhanced Mammography (CEM) raises detection rates significantly, especially for women with dense breasts. CEM doubles cancer detection rates compared to conventional mammograms, and identifies 3x more tumors than ultrasounds.
✅ Co-leads on the BC Cancer Foundation board are bringing together a group of amazing people committed to saving lives. $700,000 is needed to complete the purchase of the CEM, and any additional funds will go toward critical breast cancer research.
➡️ To learn more about the initiative, click on the images above or to the left! Thank you to everyone supporting this important effort.