Societies dont always get what they demand and therefore they have to combat for their needs

and desires. An approach of struggle is activism. Activism is an intended action to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. There are different forms of activism such as writing letters to newspapers or politicians, political campaigning, preferentially patronizing businesses, rallies, street marches, strikes, both sit-ins and hunger strikes. Usually activism movements are taken to improve the standard of living for individuals and provide them with better facilities. In this paper I will analyze the development of the breast cancer movements in Canada, and explore what is the idea of activism and how does it affect individuals lives. I will be discussing about the problems faced my women with breast cancer and how activist movements have assisted in improving those problems and difficulties.

The idea of activism is about making a change to the present world. It is about bringing a change for the individuals who lack the needs they require in order to survive peacefully. There have been many activist movements throughout the world to improve or change the environment. Many have been successful such as the sex activism movement which was specifically to promote homosexuality and make the society respect them for what they are and treat them equally as other genders. Activists are people engaged in activism who intend to bring about social, political, economic, or environmental change. Activism focuses on specific political or social issues, resisting or undoing a social change. Social movements are a sequence of constant performances, displays and campaigns by which ordinary people make joint claims on others. Through these social movements ordinary people participate in public politics. Activism

movements seem to have a life cycle in which they are created, focus on growth, achieve success or failure and ultimately dissolve and end to exist. (Lansford 12)

Breast Cancer is a disease which is formed by the breast tissues. Treatment for breast cancer usually includes surgery in which the breasts are removed. Women over 40 have a greater chance of getting breast cancer compared to women under that age. The stress, anxiety and psychosocial burdens of young women with breast cancer vary from those of older women. Young women are starting careers, relationships and families, and getting breast cancer at this stage of life would be depressing for them. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women after lung cancer. (Medical News) In the society breasts are seen as a part of beauty for women and when they were to be removed from a woman due to breast cancer that women was highly neglected and treated as a defective object. This brings out to the point of body image, where women are always judged by their body features and are not given equal right because of containing feminine organs. In the beginning not many facilities were provided to women with breast cancer and therefore feminist groups brought in the breast cancer movement to make a change in the society and provide patients of breast cancer with better treatment. For the reason of their hard work and effort women with breast cancer are now in a better position. There are better and faster treatments for breast cancer now than there were in the 19th century.

Being diagnosed with breast cancer today is an entirely different experience than it was 30-35 years ago. While partly due to advances in medicine, many significant changes are the result of what is termed the Breast Cancer Advocacy Movement. There were also different waves for breast cancer movements similar to the waves of feminism. Breast cancer movements

began to take place in the 1970s which was during the second wave of feminism. The first wave of breast cancer movement indicated Its OK to have breast cancer: You dont have to hide it. The intervening logic during this first wave was that women had the right to be active participants in their treatment decisions, and that women with breast cancer could speak out as survivors rather than stay hidden as victims. The second wave illustrated Its not OK to have breast cancer: We need to stop it from happening. This wave assisted individuals to understand their diagnosis, their treatment options, and what to expect in the future. (CancerLynx)

The earliest breast cancer organization founded in Canada is the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF), which was founded in 1986 by a group of volunteers who pursued to raise funds for breast cancer research The CBCF hosts an annual Race for the Cure, which is sponsored by CIBC, with races in multiple sites around Canada. CBCF states that it has risen over $24 million in 2008. These funds were used to support medical research and to fund other grassroots initiatives in Canada. (CBCF 2010)

Pat Kelly was an activist who was the founder of the Breast Cancer Support Services in Burlington, Ontario. Which might have been the first support group established in Canada. Kelly was 35 when she was diagnosed with cancer and was a mother of young children. She reports that she struggled to find information or support for women with breast cancer and this is what she discovered as author Sharon Batt accounts Kelly called the Canadian Cancer Society to find out what support and information they could offer her A Reach to Recovery volunteer soon called back. Pats pleasure turned to disappointment, then anger, when she learned that the volunteer was in her 70s and her only advice was not to lift anything with the arm on the affected

side. As the woman spoke, Pat was standing at the phone, holding her 18 month-old baby in the arm on her affected side. (Batt)

Another one of the earliest groups is Breast Cancer Action Montreal (BCAM), which was founded in 1991 by Sharon Batt and three colleagues. Initially, BCAM sought to bring breast cancer into public consciousness, engage in political advocacy and build a network of activists. One of its current efforts is FemmeToxic, which seeks to involve younger women and girls (ages 12 to 25) in the breast cancer movement through a critical focus on possible carcinogens in cosmetics and personal care products (BCAM 2010).

In 1992, the Canadian House of Commons revolved its attention to the issue of breast cancer, indicating the commitment of the Mulroney government to address the issue. The Standing Committee on Health and Welfare, Social Affairs, and the Status of Women held hearings on breast cancer and developed a report with 49 recommendations for action. They include increasing funding for medical research, re-examining medical school curricula on breast cancer, educating the public and promoting survivor support groups (Greene 1992).

In the early 1990s, the number of breast cancer groups formed across Canada grew. By 1993, the Canadian Breast Cancer Network was formed. Its purpose is to serve as a clearinghouse for all breast cancer organizations, and to provide information to women newly diagnosed (CBCN).

The accomplishments gained by the activist movements for breast cancer are the two-step surgical procedures are the rules advocated by Rose Kushner. There are also breast-conserving surgical treatments are offered whenever possible. Sentinel node biopsies are also becoming the

standard of care, reducing the risk of lymphedema. Physicians are generally more sensitive to the need for a quick turnaround of pathology reports and not letting patients unnecessarily wait for information. Many hospitals have established breast cancer centers that allow patients to meet with their surgeon, plastic surgeon, medical oncologist, and radiation oncologist in the same room at the same time. Activists decisions are taken under consideration in the allocation of research money and second opinions are widely accepted. More research is done on breast cancer frequently.

In conclusion breast cancer movement has come to public awareness and is a common and serious disease. Moreover there are many support groups for breast cancer treatment which are readily available and there is support for women as they go through treatment and recovery. Government investment in breast cancer research and support also continue. Women are now more open about breast cancer and believe that they should not be suppressed because of a feminine feature disorder. These movements have helped women from every society and race. Breast cancer has increased its popularity by symbols such as the pink ribbon and also because of different fundraisers which assist in improving biological and technological research.