By Loose Lips Mag
@looselipsmag
Think breast cancer only happens to women in their forties and beyond? That it couldn’t possibly come knocking for younger women—those in their twenties and thirties? Think again.
That’s what ReThink Breast Cancer is urging women to do. The Toronto-based organization is the first-ever Canadian charity to take a “breakthrough approach” to all facets of breast cancer to the 40s-and-under crowd through education, resources, advocacy, community engagement, and fundraising.
Now, ReThink will be making a pitstop in Vancouver for its annual Boobyball, a one-night gala fundraiser full of fun—and free—stations like a nail bar, oxygen bar, open bar and free food at the Imperial on October 20.
The fete has proved to be an uplifting bash for young women and survivors alike, including Karen Wall, a breast cancer survivor who relied heavily on ReThink while living her “Big C” journey at just 27 years old.
“I started looking for support groups and people to connect with because I felt very alone. I didn’t know anyone my age who had been diagnosed with breast cancer and basically didn’t know anyone under the age of 40. Then, I found Rethink on Facebook,” Wall tells Loose Lips over the phone.
In January 2017, Wall found a lump in her breast while doing a routine self-exam, and immediately called her GP. Because there was no history of breast cancer in her family and she was otherwise healthy, she was diagnosed with a probable infection.
After a week of taking antibiotics with no physical change, Wall was sent for an ultrasound and biopsy. Wall was diagnosed with breast cancer on March 1 of the same year.
“Initially [having it dismissed as] an infection, as it’s unlikely someone my age would get a ductile infection [made me want to advocate for my own health more],” Wall says.
“In the back of my mind, I kind of thought, ‘Yeah, this doesn’t seem right, I think it’s something else,’ and I started having that gut feeling. I think a lot of the time that is the case, [doctors] sort of dismiss it when really they should be acting a lot quicker for things like biopsies and ultrasounds, just from the get-go.”
Wall’s journey with ReThink made the process a lot easier to handle, she reveals.
“[Shauna from ReThink] met up with me in Vancouver, she was at a conference, and we sat down and talked about ReThink and what they do. She connected me with many different resources. First off, the Facebook group is a great place for women under 40 to connect about things that may be going on through their diagnosis or journey afterwards, questions, concerns, just general support. They also invited me to their retreat they have every year in Ontario, near Muskoka. It’s young women at all stages of their diagnosis and cancer. They just connect and it’s nice to get away from the reality of your situation and the pressures of your everyday, and be around a lot of people who really care and understand what you are going through. So, they’ve been a fantastic support,” Wall recounts.
“It’s a community of people really advocating for young women and their health, and connecting them with each other and providing resources and support.”
Today, Wall is back at work, healthy, and hitting the road travelling. She’ll also be partying it up at her second Boobyball at the Imperial this year, having attended her first Boobyball bash just last year after finishing her treatment.
Meet Wall and other inspiring survivors and advocates at the Vancouver Boobyball: Wild West theme. Bust out the cowboy boots and get your fringe on for the throw-down charitable event of the year, snag your tickets here.
Kristi and Brittany are the co-founders and co-editors of Loose Lips Mag. Together, they’re building their feminist media empire—leaving the patriarchy, charcuterie boards and empty bottles of wine in their wake. Loose Lips Media is grateful to operate on the unceded Coast Salish territory of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.
