More women in Saskatchewan will soon get faster access to breast cancer screening. This is because new mammogram machines have been added in Regina and Saskatoon, the province’s two largest cities.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) installed one new mammogram machine at each of its breast screening centres in Regina and Saskatoon. This will help more women across the province get screened.
Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill said the new machines, along with the hard work of medical staff, will help provide care more quickly.
“Thanks to these investments and the efforts of our healthcare teams, we have made progress in giving patients timely access to breast screening and diagnosis,” Cockrill said on Friday. “We also appreciate the ongoing work by the SHA and Saskatchewan Cancer Agency to improve breast health services in the province.”
The new machines come at a time when more women aged 40 and older will become eligible for breast screening over the next two years. The province’s BreastCheck program, which was formerly called the provincial screening program, currently serves healthy women aged 47 and older who have no breast symptoms like lumps or discharge.
Richard Dagenais, executive director of medical imaging for the SHA, said the new equipment will help meet the growing demand.
“With these additional machines at Breast Screening locations in Saskatoon and Regina, we can provide timely screening services and support the expanded age range for breast screening,” he said.
The Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan helped buy the new machines. The foundation has raised over $2 million so far to improve breast cancer screening in the province. Their campaign also supports expanding the province’s mobile mammography units.
“We especially thank PTI Transformers Inc. for their generous $1 million gift, which made these new digital mammography machines possible,” said Nora Yeates, CEO of the Cancer Foundation of Saskatchewan. “It is because of donors like them that this important equipment will be available to women in Saskatchewan.”
Women can get screening mammograms at eight fixed sites and through mobile services throughout Saskatchewan. No doctor’s referral is needed.
