Breast cancer survivors celebrate bravery badges

Breast cancer survivors celebrate bravery badges A group of Sudbury breast cancer survivors celebrate their scars in a bold way for a special magazine spread.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and a group of survivors from Greater Sudbury revealed their scars in a bold way for a special magazine spread.

The women, many who appear topless in the photos, were brought together by 50+ Lifestyle Magazine and the Northern Cancer Foundation. It was to celebrate their scars, as badges of bravery in their battle with cancer.

CTV Northern Ontairo’s Marina Moore hosted The Pink Ribbon Wine and Cheese event Thursday night at the United Steelworkers Hall where the special magazine issue was revealed.

"To champion through something like chemo treatments or surgeries, such as a mastectomy, which I had myself, it is difficult. But with the support of your community and your family, you know, we can get through these things.” said Nicole Blais, the magazine’s publisher.

Dr. Amadeo Parissenti is an affiliate scientist and principal investigator with Health Sciences North Research Institute.

"Yes, cancer is a survivable disease in many, many cases. Some cancers are still stubborn to treatment, pancreatic cancer and lung cancer, but breast cancer, right now, is starting to yield the fruits of a lot previous research. And current clinical trials are suggesting there's new agents on the horizon that'll probably be able to cut that death rate, hopefully, by another two fold within the next decade or so, which would be wonderful.” said Dr. Parissenti.

Organizers say they wanted to send a strong message to others fighting cancer that it’s a battle that can be won.