(NEWS RELEASE) New online tool helps women better understand their breast cancer risk and educates about breast health

Be Breast Healthy: Learn and Lower Your Cancer Risk was developed by clinicians, nutrition and exercise experts from The Marvelle Koffler Breast Centre at Mount Sinai Hospital, part of Sinai Health System, a Canadian leader in providing breast cancer care and research. 

Be Breast Healthy: Learn and Lower Your Cancer Risk, guides women through six education modules. Based on extensive research and best practice, the modules cover topics such as breast health, breast cancer risk factors, screening and diagnostics, healthy eating choices, physical activity and weight management. 

“There is a lot of information out there suggesting what may or may not be risk factors for breast cancer and much of it is not true. Other information is confusing or contradictory. This online education experience is designed to provide women with evidence-based knowledge,” says Dr. Pamela Goodwin, Director of the Marvelle Koffler Breast Centre, and renowned breast cancer researcher. “The focus is on empowering Canadian women by providing them with resources to understand and manage their breast cancer risk.” 

“In the vast majority of cases of breast cancer, the cause is unknown. What we do know is that there may be a relationship to genetic factors and overall healthy choices such as diet and exercise. At the same time, many women who are in peak health will develop breast cancer, so it’s very important that women don’t overburden themselves with guilt or worrying about risk. We hope that women who go through these education modules will feel more knowledgeable and confident when they are making choices about their breast health,” says Linda Muraca, the Clinical Nurse Specialist who designed the program in collaboration with the breast team. 

“We also want women to understand breast screening and how it may benefit them.” 

This new web-based education tool is the first of its kind to be developed in Canada. It provides information that is relevant to Canadian women, often on a province by province basis. Each education module begins by testing the user’s knowledge, and then guides them through important information relevant to them. At the end of the module, women are tested again to measure what they have learned. 

Be Breast Healthy: Learn and Lower Your Risk is fully secure and compliant with privacy legislation. Clinicians at the Marvelle Koffler Breast Centre worked closely with Tickit Health who designed and built Be Breast Healthy: Learn and Lower Your Risk. The site was made possible through generous philanthropic support from Under Armour. 

About Sinai Health System Sinai Health System is comprised of Mount Sinai Hospital, Bridgepoint Active Healthcare, Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute and Circle of Care. As an integrated health system, it delivers exceptional care from healthy beginnings to healthy aging, especially for people with specialized and complex health needs, in hospital, community and home. 

Sinai Health System discovers and translates scientific breakthroughs, develops practical health solutions, educates future clinical and scientific leaders and leads efforts to eliminate health inequities. Its Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute ranks in the top ten biomedical research institutes in the world. Sinai Health System is a full affiliate of the University of Toronto. www.sinaihealth.ca