Canadian Breast Cancer Network Organizes Adopt-a-Riding Campaign
Federal election candidates asked to respond to recent survey revealing the
significant financial cost of having breast cancer

The Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN) is a survivor-directed, national
network of organizations and individuals. Its mission is to provide a
national link between all groups and individuals concerned about breast
cancer and to represent the concerns of all Canadians affected by breast
cancer and those at risk. CBCN has 76 partner groups, over 150 member
groups and hundreds of individual members who support the work of the Network.

A 2004 Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN) survey of nearly 500 women
with breast cancer shows that there is a significant financial impact on
women who are diagnosed with breast cancer and their families. Not only
will those diagnosed with breast cancer (21,000 new cases every year)
struggle with the physical and emotional impact of the disease, they will
also be faced with unexpected and stressful financial costs.

Most women struggle with financial issues as soon as they are diagnosed
with breast cancer. This happens at a time when they should be
concentrating fully on getting through treatment and recovery rather than
dealing with the added stress of worrying about how they will support
themselves when their employment insurance runs out, how they will make
mortgage payments, and where to find money to cover the cost of much-needed
drugs as well as the cost of travel and childcare when they are away from
home for weeks of treatment.

This shouldn't happen in today's Canada! The Federal government has a role
to play in making sure that in the future, women diagnosed with breast
cancer receive more financial support during diagnosis and treatment.

The Canadian Breast Cancer Network has organized a national adopt-a-riding
campaign to educate candidates about these issues. As part of this
campaign, party leaders and all other candidates are being asked to respond
to the following questions:

Question 1: Employment Insurance

Survey results: When asked whether 15 weeks of Employment Insurance
benefits were enough to get them through treatment, 75% of respondents said
they were not long enough. Note that 76% of respondents reported being off
work for over 15 weeks.

If elected, will your party bring forward changes to Employment Insurance
to lengthen sickness benefits for Canadians undergoing treatment for breast
and other cancers as well as other illnesses that require long periods of
treatment?

Question 2: Universal Drug Access

Survey Results: 34% of respondents reported that all drugs were free of
charge, while 66% of respondents reported that they had to pay for drugs

If elected, will your party work actively with and encourage the provincial
and territorial governments to increase the speed of drug approval as well
as to standardize formularies in order to provide Canadians with universal
up-to-date quality drug access no matter where they live?

Question 3: Income Tax

Survey results:
Childcare: 44% of respondents required childcare during treatment; of
these, 24% of childcare costs were completely paid by the respondent
Cost of drugs: 66% of respondents reported that they had to pay for drugs
Travel for treatment: 39% of respondents travelled over 50 km to get to the
doctor's office and to the hospital, while 61% had to travel over 50 km to
get to the cancer centre. Parking at the hospital and cancer centre was
also very costly
Homecare: 55% of respondents required homecare during treatment. Of those,
9% either completely or partially had to pay for homecare services themselves
Income during treatment: 19% of respondents were supported by their
spouses/partners, remortgaged their houses, were given loans from family
members or friends, or somehow made do

If elected, will your party make changes to the Income Tax Act so that
Canadians who incur expenses while undergoing treatment for breast and
other cancers as well as other illnesses can deduct these expenses from
their income? These expenses would include childcare; elder care; homecare;
drugs; travel (mileage, bus tickets/passes, taxis, train or airline
tickets, lodging, meals, parking) and other treatment-related costs.

Responses will be posted on the Network's website (www.cbcn.ca), which
receives nearly 2 million hits a month, and included in CBCN's e-letter to
inform voters who have been affected by breast and other cancers.

For further information on results of the survey, or to become a volunteer
and adopt your Riding, contact:

Jackie Manthorne
Executive Director
[log in to unmask]
1-800-685-8820, ext. 222

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