More Saskatchewan women will have faster access to life-saving breast cancer screening thanks to new mammography machines added in the province’s two largest cities.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority has installed one additional mammogram machine at each of its breast screening centres in Regina and Saskatoon, improving access to screening services for women across the province.
Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said the new equipment—combined with the efforts of medical staff—will help deliver more timely care.
“The combination of these capital investments and efforts by our dedicated health care teams have allowed us to make strides in providing Saskatchewan patients with timely access to breast screening and diagnostics,” Cockrill said in a statement Friday. “We appreciate ongoing work by the SHA and Saskatchewan Cancer Agency to improve breast health services in our province.”
The additions come as eligibility for breast screening expands to include more women aged 40 and older over the next two years. The province's BreastCheck program, previously known simply as the provincial screening program, serves healthy women age 47 and up with no breast symptoms such as lumps or discharge.
Richard Dagenais, executive director of medical imaging for the SHA, said the expanded capacity will help meet the needs of an increasing number of patients.
“The additional equipment at SHA Breast Screening locations in Saskatoon and Regina will enable us to provide timely access to breast screening services and support the expansion of the breast screening age,” he said.
The new machines were purchased through the efforts of the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan, which has raised more than $2 million to date in a campaign aimed at improving breast cancer screening in the province. The campaign also supports the expansion of the province’s mobile mammography fleet.
“We especially thank PTI Transformers Inc. whose incredible gift of $1 million made these two new digital mammography machines possible,” said Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan CEO Nora Yeates. “It is thanks to our generous donors that we can ensure this vital new equipment will be available for Saskatchewan women.”
Screening mammograms are available at eight fixed sites and through mobile services across Saskatchewan. No physician referral is required.
More information about the BreastCheck program is available at SaskCancer.ca/BreastCheck or by calling 1-855-584-8228. Donations to the screening equipment campaign can be made at cancerfoundationsask.ca/donate.