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Home > About > News > Personal experience powers tech startup on woman’s health
January 31, 2025
Most of the world faced public health restrictions due to the global pandemic, isolation was common, stress was high and then Tracy Persson received the news no woman wants to hear.
The time was January 2021. Most of the world faced public health restrictions due to the global pandemic, isolation was common, stress was high and then Tracy Persson received the news no woman wants to hear – she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer.
Tracy Persson, who lives in Grande Prairie, was suddenly faced with the prospect of extensive treatment, a major medical condition and the pressures of the pandemic all at once.
“I had to endure 90 per cent of my treatment without any support from family or friends,” she says, reflecting on the experience. “It was an overwhelming experience.”
Tracy needed to track medical appointments, health information, medication and more. She turned to digital tools to help her but found them inadequate. Tracy’s treatment was successful, but she believed there must be a better way to support women like her, enduring complex medical conditions. Just six weeks after her treatment, she walked through the doors of Community Futures and the Grande Prairie Regional Innovation Network (GPRIN) with an idea.
Tracy Persson presenting My Breast Day.
Today she has channeled her experiences into a new technology company geared towards helping other women manage their breast health, whether they have cancer or not.
My Breast Day is a technology platform and app designed to provide tools and support for women to manage and track breast health. It’s a combination education platform as well as a resource providing tools to track appointments, medical information, medication and even a journaling section for notes and personal reflections.
“Going through the cancer treatment process was overwhelming but I’m grateful I was in an urban environment with supports. I can’t imagine people living in remote and rural areas. But everyone has a phone and can access digital apps.”
Tracy understands the challenges of living in remote communities as her family is from the Bigstone Cree Nation in Treaty 8 territory. Tracy had the idea and the passion, but didn’t know where to start when it came to developing a new technology business.
“I remember she had just ‘rung her bell’ for ending her treatment at the hospital and in her travels, she had a lot of time to think about the support women need,” recalls Jane Hunter-Uhryn, manager of the GPRIN, Regional Innovation Networks across Alberta, powered by Alberta Innovates, are designed to provide insight and guidance.
Tracy Persson, Founder of My Breast Day.
Tracy’s story resonated with Jane who recommended applying for an Alberta Innovates Digital Traction grant, valued at $50,000, a starting point to get from an idea to an early stage. From there, Jane helped connect Tracy to an app development company based in Grande Prairie as well as marketing and branding supports.
“It’s been a lot of coaching and referrals. There’s been a lot of people, not just us, but I’ve helped juggle the balls with her,” says Jane. “I wanted to create something user friendly, less clinical and geared towards the patient,” says Tracy. “They (GPRIN) have helped pair me with a great development team.”
My Breast Day also applied to and was accepted into the Telus Community Safety and Wellness business accelerator, which is part of the Alberta Innovates Scaleup Growth Accelerator Program. Tracy graduated earlier this year.
“It was amazing,” says Tracy of her experiences with the GPRIN and the accelerator program. “The support has been incredible. Without this help I think My Breast Day would have been a great idea, but I wouldn’t have started a technology company.”