Day of the Mammogram Event Invites Eligible Women to Get Screened in Northwestern Ontario

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Prevention and Screening Services at Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (TBRHSC), in partnership with Cancer Care Ontario, is inviting women aged 50 to 54 to book their mammogram appointment.

October 21^st has been chosen as the provincial Day of the Mammogram. Participating Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) sites across the province have dedicated this day to book cancer screening mammograms in an effort to increase screening rates.

“The provincial day of the mammogram is helping more women to get mammograms. We’re giving eligible women, between the ages of 50 and 74, the chance to take action, get screened, and increase awareness about breast cancer,” said Tarja Heiskanen, Manager of Screening and Assessment at TBRHSC. “In our region, four OBSP sites have dedicated this day to do an additional day of screening mammograms, as opposed to a day dedicated to diagnostic mammograms.”

The sites participating in Northwestern Ontario include: The Linda Buchan Centre at TBRHSC, Thunder Bay Diagnostics at the Thunder Bay Medical Centre, Riverside Health Care at La Verendrye General Hospital in Fort Frances, and the Screen for Life mobile cancer screening coach which is in Onigaming First Nation. Additionally, both Riverside Health Care and the Screen for Life Coach will be providing walk-in appointments (Riverside hours from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm). Altogether, the region was able to offer 30 additional screening mammograms to their regular schedule.

“We are really happy that are able to offer these additional screens to participate in the provincial Day of the Mammogram because we know that there are many women who have not been screened yet, or who are not up to date,” explains Heiskanen. “Women should also know that mammograms are available all year round at multiple sites, including the Screen for Life Coach which travels throughout the region from April until October.”

The OBSP recommends that women between the ages of 50 and 74 get screened for breast cancer with a mammogram every two years. Regular breast screening mammograms can help to detect cancer early, when it is less likely to have spread and potentially easier to treat.

To book your appointment call 1-800-461-7031. Just book it! For more information about cancer screening, visit www.tbrhsc.net/cancerscreening.

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