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Thursday,
May 1, 2003
With Addition Of Mobile Screening Van:
Free Mammograms Offered For Woman Over 40
by Lisa Arsenault
AMHERST
- One out of every eight women in Nova Scotia will develop
breast cancer in her lifetime, and now screening for early
detection has become more accessible.
In partnership with the Cumberland Health Authority, the Pictou County Health
Authority and the Colchester-East Hants Health Authority, the Nova Scotia Breast
Screening program now has a mobile screening van which will be traveling throughout
the districts offering free mammograms (breast x-rays) for women over 40.
Ann Hamilton-Wood, director of public relations for the Cumberland Health Authority,
said in an interview Tuesday the purpose of the program is to take breast screening
to communities where it hasn't been available.
Two female technicians will be traveling throughout Central and Northern Nova
Scotia with SOPHIE, a completely mobile breast screening unit, Hamilton - Wood
said. The equipment is removed from the van and brought into the facilities where
the screening is scheduled so women don't have to climb into the van as with
many traveling screening programs.
"It makes it much more accessible," said Hamilton - Wood.
"all they need are an electrical outlet and a phone line."
Results are sent to halifax via the internet and then to the patient's
family doctor.
While there is breast screening equipment at the Cumberland Regional Health Care
Centre, patients there must be referred by a family doctor or other health professional
for mammograms. However, with the mobile breast screening program, women make
their own appointments, Hamilton - Wood said.
The mobile program is for women who are over 40 years of age; residents of Nova
Scotia; have no symptoms of breast cancer; and no breast implants. Also, a minimum
of 12 months must have passed since the last mammography and a minimum of two
years since the last breast surgery.
Hamilton - Wood said while women under 40 do not qualify for this particular
program, anyone with a personal or family history of breast cancer should schedule
screening through their family doctor.
The mobile breast screening program made its first stop in Springhill on MArch
31, 2003, and is now a permanent program throughout the three health districts.
SOPHIE will be at the Wentworth Community Centre, May 5; the Advocate Bayview
Memorial Health Centre, May 12; the Parrsboro South Cumberland Community Care
Centre, May 13-14; and the Amherst Family Health Clinic, May 26-28. The program
will be back in Cumberland County in the fall, with dates and locations to be
announce. The schedule will also continue in the years to follow.
Mobile unit appointments are booked as early as one month in advance by calling
the Nova Scotia Breast Screening Program number toll-free at 1-800-565-0548.
The Colchester-East Hants, Cumberland and Pictou County health authorities launched
the program with support from a variety of organizations including the Canadian
Breast Cancer Foundation - Atlantic Chapter; the Colchester Regional Hospital
Auxiliary and the Colchester Regional Hospital Foundation.
Other related articles:
January 28, 2003
www.breastscreening.ns.ca |
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