Breast Reconstruction Awareness Day event held in Campbell River

A free information night hosted by CR Plastic Surgery & Medical Aesthetics in Campbell River provided resources for women facing breast cancer. The event followed the Breast Reconstruction Awareness (BRA) Day model, an international movement launched in 2011 by Toronto plastic surgeon Dr. Mitchell Brown to educate and connect women considering reconstruction after a mastectomy.

During the session, registered nurse Gail Minnaar discussed navigating the Vancouver Island Health Authority process. Minnaar shared that approximately 32,400 Canadian women are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2026, with a survival rate of nearly 85 per cent. She noted that while mammograms are the primary diagnostic tool, ultrasound and MRI are often required for women with dense breast tissue, though MRI access can be limited by cost and wait lists.