The Canadian Cancer Society created and launched the Thingamaboob in 2005 to help communicate to women in a tangible way how important regular mammograms are once you turn 50, as they’re the most reliable way to find breast cancer when it’s most treatable.

To help generate further awareness with women about this product, we’re stepping up our efforts and asking women to make a promise that once they turn 50 to get a mammogram every two years and use the Thingamaboob to help pass on the message to all of the special women in their life. By helping to pass on the message about the importance of mammograms, it means more women will think about going for breast screening and more lives will be saved.

Made of different sized beads, the Thingamaboob shows women the various sized lumps that can be detected through regular mammograms to a physical exam by a healthcare professional to checking your breasts. The Thingamaboob bead sizes have been reviewed by for accuracy by medical experts at Cancer Care Ontario.

Money raised from the sale of the Thingamaboob will go towards funding leading-edge research, including breast cancer, providing support services, such as offering over the phone or one-to-one support to women living with breast cancer, as well as prevention and advocacy initiatives.

As part of this campaign, the Canadian Cancer Society worked with Sandra Bell-Lundy, Between Friends* cartoonist, who generously donated her time and services by creating a series of three unique comic strips to help support this project. Helen and Maeve, the two characters featured within the comic strips, help illustrate in a light-hearted way what happens when two friends start talking about mammograms. We sincerely thank Sandra for her support of this campaign and for helping to bring this serious message to life in an engaging and meaningful way.

To learn more about breast cancer, treatment or support services, call the Canadian Cancer Society’s toll-free and confidential Cancer Information Service at 1 888 939-3333 or visit cancer.ca.