At Femtech Canada, we believe innovation in health starts by listening to those it’s meant to serve. We joined forces with Rethink Breast Cancer to bring together patients, advocates, and system leaders for an honest conversation about what it’s really like to navigate breast cancer care in Canada and how we can do better.
“Femtech Canada wouldn’t exist without my own experience with cancer,” shared Rachel Bartholomew, Femtech Canada’s founder and a breast cancer survivor. “Listening is the first step toward innovation.”
Every other month, we come together (virtually) as a community to share successes, connect with peers, and hear from leaders across the Femtech Canada network. These roundtables are open to startups, researchers, advocates, and anyone passionate about advancing femtech innovation in Canada.
Centering patient voice
Led by MJ DeCoteau, Executive Director of Rethink Breast Cancer, the panel consisting breast cancer survivors and Rethink community members Kira Page, Mara Ramirez and Caroline Falaiye explored the emotional, logistical, and systemic realities that patients face-from diagnosis through treatment and beyond. The message was clear: personalization and empathy must be at the core of care.
Whether it was delays in diagnosis due to age-related assumptions, challenges navigating digital tools like MyChart, or the abrupt emotional cutoff after treatment ends, panelists pointed to a recurring theme: support is often strongest during the clinical phase-and drops off when patients need it most.
Patients described an abrupt drop in support after active treatment ended.
“You go from constant monitoring to ‘See you in a year,’” said Mara. “That creates a whole new kind of anxiety.”
Caroline added, “There’s comfort in surveillance. You feel safer when someone’s keeping an eye on your health.”
Even years later, patients face challenges like brain fog, heart health concerns, and early menopause—issues still under-addressed by the healthcare system.
Technology isn’t a silver bullet—but it can be a bridge
Digital platforms have the potential to empower patients, streamline care, and close gaps. But as the panelists made clear, tech is only as effective as its design. Poorly moderated online communities, confusing interfaces, and lack of contextual support leave too many patients feeling isolated and overwhelmed.
While much of the discussion centered on digital tools and the challenges patients face in accessing and using them, the conversation also pointed to broader gaps—particularly in the areas of diagnosis and treatment. From missed clinical indicators to a lack of personalization in care pathways, there remains significant white space where innovation—digital or otherwise—is urgently needed.
There’s a growing need for thoughtfully designed, patient-driven solutions—ones that reflect the diversity of people living with breast cancer, and the complexity of their journeys.
The role of innovation: Co-creation, not assumption
One of the most pressing takeaways? Innovators must stop building in isolation. As Rachel Bartholomew, founder of Femtech Canada, emphasized: “Too many solutions are created for patients without being built with them.”
True impact lies in co-creation—with patients involved from the earliest stages of ideation, development, and testing. And it goes beyond technology. It’s about embedding patient experience into policy, clinical care, and every level of the innovation ecosystem.
Looking ahead
As Canada’s femtech ecosystem continues to grow, conversations like this are critical. They challenge us to listen, reflect, and act with purpose. The roundtable closed with a call to action: keep patient experience at the forefront, ensure inclusivity in every solution, and recognize that innovation is not just about what we build—it’s about who we build it for.
The next roundtable will be held on May 29. If you’re an innovator, founder, researcher, or advocate working in women’s health, we invite you to stay informed of our bi-monthly roundtable discussions register to receive our newsletter.
In the meantime, check out Rethink Breast Cancer’s support offerings for those navigating the realities of breast cancer care:
- Give-A-Care: The first line of products created specifically for people diagnosed with cancer. Build a personalized care package that acknowledges what they are really going through and gives them what they really need. Many products are also great for people who haven’t been diagnosed with cancer, but want to support an organization like Rethink.
- Rethink Breast Cancer Support Programs: Virtual Support Groups and Virtual Peer Support are offered free of charge, providing a place to learn, connect, and find community.