B.C. LAUNCHES 2008 TELUS TOUR FOR THE CURE

VICTORIA – Women in 24 British Columbia communities and 42 neighbouring First Nations communities will receive important information about breast health, breast cancer and the value of screening mammograms through the 2008 TELUS Tour for the Cure launched today, announced Health Minister George Abbott.

In support of the Tour, Health Minister George Abbott presented the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, BC/Yukon Region with a cheque for $250,000, which brings the Province’s support for breast cancer awareness to nearly $5 million since 2005.

“The provincial government shares a vision of a future free of breast cancer with our partners the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and TELUS, and that’s why we’re helping deliver important breast health information to women in their communities in new and engaging ways,” said Abbott. “Government offers a free, regular screening mammogram to any woman over age 40 through the BC Cancer Agency’s Screening Mammography Program. Since the 1 888 GO HAVE 1 campaign was launched, we are seeing more and more women screened and that is tremendously encouraging,” said Abbott.

While provincially supported awareness initiatives such as the TELUS Tour for the Cure and the multi-media GOHAVE1 mammography campaign have helped increase the number of first-time mammograms in B.C., Abbott said it’s vital that more women and their families get the facts about breast cancer detection and treatment.

“Women are at the heart of our families,” said Dr. Evan Adams, Aboriginal physician health advisor. “We welcome the chance to bring education and screening for breast cancer to the Aboriginal peoples and communities of B.C. The importance of awareness, early detection – including screening mammography and support will be key messages to Aboriginal communities.”

The 2008 TELUS Tour for the Cure features interactive displays and health panels with easy-to-understand information about:

· ways women can reduce their risk of breast cancer

· the importance of early detection

· current treatment options,

· current cancer statistics, and

· the latest research.

The TELUS Tour for the Cure also features a telephone linked directly to the BC Cancer Agency’s Screening Mammography Program, so visitors can book a screening mammogram after viewing the educational materials.

Screening mammography is still the best detection tool - detecting about 85 per cent of breast cancers. The World Health Organization recommends a 70 per cent mammography participation standard.

“One in nine women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime,” said Tim Draper, TELUS vice-president of sales and marketing. “With 10,000 female employees at TELUS, we’re committed to initiatives like the TELUS Tour for the Cure to ensure that breast cancer becomes a disease of the past.”

The TELUS Tour for the Cure is at Victoria’s Mayfair Shopping Centre until June 8.

“Our goal is to have all women in B.C., age 40 years or older, go for a regular mammogram,” said Greg D’Avignon, CBCF, BC/Yukon Region chair. “Mammograms only take a few minutes. They’re safe, they’re free, and any women over 40 can make an appointment without a doctor’s referral by calling one of the centres of the Screening Mammography Program of B.C. at 1-888-GO-HAVE-1.”

For more information on breast cancer detection, treatment and prevention, visit the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, BC/Yukon Region website at www.cbcfbc.org, www.gohave1.com, or the Ministry of Health at www.bchealthguide.org.

-30-

1 backgrounder(s) attached.
Media contact:	Sarah Plank Manager, Media Relations Ministry of Health 250 480-6678 (cell) 250 952-3387 (office)	Robyn Jones-Murrell TELUS Tour for the Cure Coordinator CBCF, BC/Yukon Region 604 646-3578

For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.