Rethink in Research
Research informed by patients, for patients.
We know research is incredible important to the breast cancer community. We agree and we’re rethinking how we take part in it too. With our focus on health equity, our research interests focus on pressing gaps like inclusive data collection and MBC-related projects.
We play a unique role in bringing the voices of community members to the table where research projects are taking place and in sharing our 20+ years of experience in breast cancer.
National Needs Assessment for Young Women with Breast Cancer
In 2012, Rethink Breast Cancer launched the first-ever comprehensive quantitative National Needs Assessment for Young Women with Breast Cancer with the goal of better understanding the gaps in the support and care in Canada. It was an extensive effort to understand the whole experience of young women with early-stage breast cancer and then provide an essential benchmark for healthcare workers, government and community organizations to inform and measure the impact of their work, along with our own. The learnings from this research informed our Care Priorities—a framework helping young women get the unique care they really need.
A lot has changed since then, and we recently completed a new assessment to re-examine the needs of young women with early-stage breast cancer. This research will greatly help inform our collective work to better support those with early-stage breast cancer. We’ll be sharing results from our newest assessment soon. Stay tuned!
Advancing Risk Stratification in Young Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer
We know that there currently aren’t effective screening tools for women under 40. That’s why Rethink has long championed more risk-stratified approaches to breast screening.
We’re so proud to share Rethink’s a patient partner on a newly-funded research project: “Advancing Risk Stratification in Young Women at High Risk for Breast Cancer.”
This project is being led by Dr. Mark Basik and was awarded funding through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Bringing Biology to Cancer Prevention Team Grants portfolio. The five-year study will conduct molecular analysis of normal breast tissue in young women with breast cancer and young women without breast cancer, linking genomics and radiomics findings to lifestyle, menstrual, reproductive, demographic and medical factors.
Rethink and Pfizer Canada joint RFP
In 2021, Rethink Breast Cancer partnered with Pfizer Canada to launch a joint research program to fund pioneering research in metastatic breast cancer that has the potential to advance care and improve outcomes for people living with metastatic breast cancer. The areas of interest were determined by patients, for patients, through collaboration and input from Rethink’s MBC Advisory Board, and inspired by the James Lind Alliance‘s top 10 research priorities for MBC.
This collaboration brings patients’ voices and values to the process of supporting quality improvement initiatives to make a difference in the daily lives of people living with MBC. And this initiative has been made possible by the generous support of the Rethink community—especially MBC Allies—for our MBC Fund, by the passion and determination of our MBC Advisors, and by the openness of Pfizer Canada in collaborating to respond to the needs of those living with breast cancer.