What you should know about Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day

As part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, the Canadian Cancer Society has started to sponsor a new event — Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day. BRA Day is an initiative that provides information and resources for women considering post-mastectomy breast reconstruction.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women worldwide, and it’s estimated that one in eight women in Canada will be diagnosed with it during her lifetime. While more people than ever are triumphing over breast cancer (largely due to medical advances and increased emphasis on early detection), many survivors of breast cancer still end up having one or both breasts fully or partially removed during treatment. Although reconstructive surgery isn’t for everyone, BRA Day events give women the information they need to decide whether or not to undergo the procedure.

BRA Day was started in 2011 by a Toronto plastic surgeon who wanted to make sure women were receiving accurate information about breast reconstructive surgery. Above all, the event seeks to debunk the myth that breast reconstruction is indulgent and expensive. Many doctors find that choosing to undergo reconstructive surgery improves quality of life for many breast cancer survivors and lessens the emotional toll of undergoing a mastectomy. Furthermore, women often don’t realize that reconstruction after breast cancer surgery is covered by health insurance in Canada.

Today, BRA Day is celebrated each October in communities across Canada and around the world. These events feature presentations by plastic surgeons discussing the procedure and talks by patients sharing the positive and negative aspects of their experiences. Many of these events also feature a “Show & Tell Lounge” where volunteers show participants the results of their reconstructive surgeries.

To find a BRA Day event near you, visit www.bra-day.com/canadian-bra-day-events.