SOUTHEAST SASKATCHEWAN - The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency's (SCA) mobile mammography bus is in southeast Saskatchewan this winter, giving women over the age of 50 the opportunity to be checked for breast cancer.
The bus has been at the Hotel Estevan's parking lot in east Estevan since Jan. 2 and will remain until Feb. 16. Laurie Pearce, an early detection co-ordinator with the agency's breast cancer screening program, said all of their appointments for January are booked, but there are still some available for February.
It will also be in Carnduff and Carlyle later this winter. The dates for Carnduff are Feb. 20 until the morning of March 6, in the parking lot of the Carnduff Park. The dates for Carlyle after the afternoon of March 6 until March 28. The bus will be in the parking lot of the Carlyle Curling Rink.
Carnduff invites were mailed on Monday and appointments are now open. Carlyle invites will go out the week of Jan. 24 with appointments opened that same week.
Women are welcome to call in to book as soon as they receive that invite in the mail by calling 1-855-584-8228. While in Estevan, the bus has been open Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m.-8 p.m., and for a brief period on Friday mornings. The bus technicians are from Saskatoon and travel home for weekends.
Pearce is pleased with the response from people in the southeast so far this winter.
"Women get their invite letters about six weeks prior to our visit, and most women, they've been on the bus before, and they know approximately when it's coming again," said Pearce.
The SCA usually has a very good response in terms of filling all appointments.
"It helps us determine how long we should be in the community," said Pearce.
Pearce said a screening mammogram can detect changes in a woman's breast before she can see or feel them. She compared the test to going to the dentist or an optometrist when it comes to a healthy lifestyle.
"Screening mammograms are for healthy, well women, so if women are experiencing a symptom of [breast cancer], they would need to go to see their doctor or their nurse practitioner to discuss those concerns, but if they're feeling healthy and well, then they can certainly book with us," said Pearce.
"It's self-referral by calling our toll-free number. They don't need a physician or a nurse practitioner's referral to book with us. And it's a quick test. It takes about 20 minutes in total for the whole process, from the time they get on the bus to the time they leave."
People are appreciative about the efforts of the agency and the people who work in the screening bus.
"Women are very happy to be able to have this test done closer to home, just like any test they might need, rather than having to travel."
The bus goes out to over 42 sites in the province, appearing in communities every second year. Pearce said this is a program provided by the cancer agency for many years.
For more information about the screening program for breast cancer and where the mobile bus stops throughout 2024, please visit saskcancer.ca.
