Educational materials for patients and families

Breast cancer and fertility - A short article by Dr. Ellen Warner about how breast cancer treatments can affect fertility, and what can be done about it.

Breast cancer and breastfeeding - This article from the Breastfeeding Medicine journal discusses the effects of breast cancer and its treatments on breastfeeding. It provides protocols for care of breastfeeding women who have been, or are currently being treated for, breast cancer.

Freezing your eggs at age 24 - A former PYNK patient describes her experience with fertility preservation due to breast cancer.

This video, created by Sunnybrook’s Cancer Genetics & High-Risk Program, provides some background information on cancer and genes. It reviews how hereditary cancer risk assessments are done based on personal and/or family history of cancer, who is eligible for genetic testing and what those results can be for a person and/or their family members.

Menopause

Breast cancer and early menopause – a guide for younger women - This article was adapted by the PYNK team from a pamphlet of the same name published by Cancer Australia. The resource explains menopause and its relationship with breast cancer treatments, explores common symptoms and suggests coping techniques.

Vaginal dryness

Premature Menopause (video) »
This talk, presented at PYNK’s 2022 Spring Patient Education Event, includes the same content as the Too Young for Menopause video above. However it also includes live footage of Christel Helwig, PYNK Nurse Navigator 2010-2022, presenting, as well as a live Q&A at the end of the presentation. Note: This presentation unfortunately was subject to significant audio interference.

Vaginal dryness as a result of menopause can significantly alter a young woman’s quality of life. This article explains the causes and symptoms of vaginal dryness, and suggest techniques to manage it and counteract its ill effects.

Fatigue

Video and resources: How to manage cancer-related fatigue - Fatigue is the most common symptom experienced by people with cancer. This whiteboard explainer video was produced by Dr. Mike Evans with support from the Odette Cancer Centre and the Canadian Cancer Society. It provides information about fatigue, and simple techniques to combat it. There are also links on the page to written information and resources on the subject.

Body image after breast cancer – video and resources - Created by the PYNK team in collaboration with psychiatrist Dr. Mary Jane Esplen and her team, this resource and video thoroughly explore how body image is developed, changes during breast cancer, and can be managed.

Sexual changes associated with breast cancer - Both the physical and emotional impacts of breast cancer can affect a couple’s intimate relationship, as this article by Dr. Deborah McLeod explains.

Let’s talk about sex – a cancer patient’s perspective - This frank piece by a cancer survivor talks about the impact cancer has on patients’ and survivors’ sexual experience, and the often inadequate treatment of this topic by healthcare providers.

Living with loss and uncertainty after diagnosis and treatment: Dr. Karen Fergus writes about the uniquely personal feelings and reactions to the changes associated with the diagnosis of breast cancer.

Anxiety and cancer: People with cancer often experience anxiety. This article provides a brief synopsis of anxiety symptoms and ways to deal with them.

Letting go of control and finding purpose in the randomness of cancer: Psychiatrist Dr. Ralph Lewis discusses letting go of control and focussing on the meaningful parts of life during his wife’s experience with breast cancer.

Cancer and the not-so-positive power of positive thinking: There’s lots of talk about 'staying positive' when it comes to cancer diagnosis and treatment. Here, Dr. Elie Isenberg-Grzeda, a psycho-oncologist at the Odette Cancer Centre, tackles a few of the common questions he receives about positive thinking and cancer.

NEVER TOO YOUNG – Psychosocial information and support for young women with breast cancer: This in-depth pamphlet, produced by the Canadian Breast Cancer Network, thoroughly discusses psychosocial issues that affect young women with breast cancer.

Facing cancer as a younger adult: This article discusses particular challenges for younger people with cancer.

With partner

I wish I could fix it: Information for partners of people with breast cancer: Adapted from the pamphlet by Breast Cancer Network Australia, this work discusses challenges faced by partners as they adapt to new roles and challenges in their lives and relationships while trying to support a spouse through the breast cancer journey.

Breast cancer and the couple relationship: Dr. Karen Fergus, on how couples can weather the storms of breast cancer together rather than having these stressors tear them apart. 

With children

Communicating with children about illness - In this article, child-life specialist Morgan Livingstone steps through childhood from infancy through the end of the teenage years, with age-appropriate suggestions about how to talk to children about illness, and how to interpret their cues and responses.

Supporting Your children through your diagnosis and treatment - Here Dr. Karen Fergus discusses a number of ways to help kids deal with questions, experiences and behaviours (by children and their parents) that they are encountering as a result of their parent’s breast cancer.

How to talk to your children about your cancer by Laura Pasqualino, social worker. This short article gives some great tips and basic ideas in point form.

Talking to your children about cancer - Elaine Rapp, a social worker in the Odette Cancer Program, provides a brief guide to the basics of how to tell your child about your cancer and its implications for your family.​

Talking to your kids about breast cancer: A guide for parents - This attractive booklet guides parents through talking to their children and helping them cope with Mom’s breast cancer. It is published by Rethink Breast Cancer and available in print as well as online. Rethink generously provides us with complimentary print copies. They are available through the PYNK Physician Assistant.

The kids’ guide to mommy's breast cancer - Published by RETHINK breast cancer, and available in print as well as online, this booklet uses engaging illustrations and clear simple language to introduce kids to the basics of breast cancer in a factual and non-scary way.

Book list - These books are designed to help families with children navigate the cancer diagnosis of a parent. The list was compiled by a breast cancer survivor who had young children when she was diagnosed.

Facing a diagnosis of breast cancer, parents often grapple with how to broach the topic with their children. It's a challenging conversation, but one that can profoundly impact their understanding and coping mechanisms. Just like adults, children cope better when given honest information and support. These webinars were presented live by PYNK in 2024. In them, Morgan provides guidance on talking about your diagnosis and using honest communication to best support your children. She addresses common reactions you may encounter and recommends helpful resources to support you and your family through this journey.

MISSION: Recovery - Created by Rethink Breast Cancer, this unique animated video series uses an imaginary world combined with the thoughts and voices of real kids who have had a parent with breast cancer. The short episodes offer child appropriate information, as well as helpful strategies and tips to help children understand what their parent is going through, the feelings they may be experiencing themselves, and the importance of asking for help when they need it. Parents can watch the series with their children to stimulate conversation and communication.

The series includes the following episodes:

• The Discovery
• Operation Rescue
• E.L.P. Squad
• The Black Dot Returns
• Transmission Feelings

With others

Relating to family and friends when you have breast cancer - In this article Dr. Karen Fergus addresses some of the many issues that come up between women with breast cancer, their family and friends. From asking for emotional and practical support, to dealing with insensitive remarks and other people’s feelings, cancer can complicate relationships.

Triggers that remind me of my daughter's cancer are everywhere - This highly relatable article in Cure magazine is written from the perspective of a mother who functioned as a caregiver for her daughter through her cancer treatment journey.

MBC TIME - A collaboration between the Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN), Rethink Breast Cancer (Rethink), the Quebec Breast Cancer Foundation, and Pfizer Canada, this comprehensive site about Metastatic Breast Cancer provides information, resources and stories of individuals living with mBC.

What Women With Metastatic Breast Cancer Want You to Know - This Chatelaine article promoting the MBCtime organization, gives an engaging lay-person’s exploration of metastatic breast cancer.

Newly diagnosed - A brief introduction for those newly diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer

Remembering the 'forgotten stage' of breast cancer - This article describes the experiences of a woman with stage 4 breast cancer.