Oct 16

Pre&Peri launches limited edition shirts in support of Women’s College Hospital Breast Centre

The Pink Resilient Sun Shirts are a symbol of hope and courage for women who have been affected by breast cancer.

By Jessica Alex

Caitlin Wemigwans, the founder of Pre&Peri, knows all too well the effects breast cancer has on women and their families.

Several of her family members have been diagnosed and treated for breast cancer over the years, which puts Caitlin at higher risk for the disease that kills an estimated 5,500 women in Canada each year.[1]

In fact, breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women in Canada (not including non-melanoma skin cancers) and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in Canadian women.[2] However, the earlier breast cancer is detected, the higher the chances of survival are.[3]

That is why organizations such as the Women’s College Hospital Breast Centre are needed.

The Breast Centre offers screening options for women like Caitlin who are at a higher risk of getting the disease.

Caitlin’s journey as high-risk for breast cancer

Researchers at Women’s College Research Institute found that women with a significant family history of breast cancer, despite lacking BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations, have a two to four times greater risk of developing breast cancer compared to those without a family history.[4]

With such a daunting prognosis, I wanted to find out more about Caitlin’s journey as high-risk for breast cancer.

Caitlin Wemigwans is the founder of Pre&Peri, is considered high-risk for developing breast cancer.

Jessica: What was the impact for you once you were told you were high-risk?

Caitlin: I wasn’t surprised to hear that I am at high-risk of developing breast cancer at some point in my lifetime because of my family history. I figured the probability of my developing breast cancer would be around 90% and accepted it as an inevitable part of my future. However, while I am still at twice the risk of the general population, it is estimated to be quite a bit lower than a 90% chance.

While my risk is estimated to be lower than I’d anticipated, I still get nervous with each test knowing that I have to wait for the results. Unfortunately, because I am high-risk, I have to get screening tests done more often than the average person and at a younger age.

Jessica: What's been your experience with Women's College Hospital Breast Centre?

Caitlin: I’ve been a patient in other departments at Women’s College Hospital for years and have only had good experiences. When my primary care provider told me about the Breast Centre, I was happy to become a patient in that department as well. So far, I have had a mammogram, breast MRI, and breast ultrasound at the Breast Centre. I still have a long road of screenings ahead of me, but so far, I have been treated with nothing but kindness and respect. I believe I am in good hands there no matter what the future holds for my health.

Jessica: Any advice for anyone else with a similar experience to you?

Caitlin: If you have a family history or otherwise qualify for screening for breast cancer, please do it! I know it can be scary to address for fear of bad results, but early detection is important and can save your life.

Giving back to Women’s College Hospital’s Breast Centre

To give back to the Breast Centre, Caitlin will be selling limited edition, limited quantity Pink Resilient Sun Shirts in support of Women’s College Hospital Breast Centre during October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For every Pink Resilient Sun Shirt sold, $10 will be donated to Women’s College Hospital Foundation’s Breast Centre Fund.

A very thoughtful gesture, I wanted to find out more about why Caitlin decided to start this campaign.

Caitlin wearing the Resilient Sun Shirt in Light Pink

Jessica: What inspired you to create this campaign?

Caitlin: When a close family member was diagnosed with breast cancer, they suggested I create a pink version of my Resilient Sun T-Shirt. As a long-time supporter of my business, they felt a connection to the message of the shirt and thought it could help more people if it was more widespread, especially during Breast Cancer Awareness month in October. I thought it was a great idea, but I didn’t have enough time to make the project a reality for October 2023 so I decided to launch Pre&Peri’s Pink Shirt Project for Breast Cancer Awareness this year.

Jessica: You mentioned your close family member having a connection to the Resilient Sun T-Shirt, can you explain the message behind the Resilient Sun T-Shirts?

Caitlin: The Rising Sun motif [on the Resilient Sun T-Shirts] represents reconnection, rebirth, and resilience.

Many people have felt a connection to the Resilient Sun T-Shirts I have offered prior to this project. Whether they have experienced medical conditions, mental health conditions, addiction, or any other hardship people encounter in life, they have felt connected to the message of resilience. For some, it can be a celebration of what they have overcome, for others it can be a reminder that they have that strength inside them to keep going.

Caitlin wearing the Resilient Sun Shirt in Raspberry

Jessica: Can you explain the significance of why you chose the long-sleeve shirts? Will you also offer short sleeves?

Caitlin: I originally planned to release only long-sleeve shirts for this project because of a conversation I had with a customer shortly after I started Pre&Peri. They felt a connection to the message of the Resilient Sun T-Shirt due to their experience with a medical condition but wanted to hide the evidence of their treatment with a long-sleeve shirt. At the time, I didn’t have the ability to stock another style but that conversation stuck with me. When I decided to do a pink version of the Resilient Sun Shirt, I knew right away that I needed to prioritize a long-sleeve shirt.

My customers like to have options so I decided to add a short-sleeve t-shirt in a lighter shade of pink.

Jessica: How can people support this campaign?

Caitlin: People can support this campaign by purchasing a Pink Resilient Sun Shirt from preandperi.ca or in person at one of the many events Pre&Peri attends as a vendor. If you are not in a position to purchase a shirt right now, that’s okay! You can share our posts on Instagram and Facebook or talk about our project with your friends and family in whichever way you prefer to connect.