Mobile mammography clinic comes to W. Kelowna, Peachland

Westside women can join the mammolanche when B.C. Cancer Breast Screening’s digital mobile mammography service comes to the Westbank Lions Community Centre Saturday and Monday, and Jan. 11 and 12.

Women typically have to travel to Kelowna Medical Imaging for a mammogram. Having the digital mammography coach visit West Kelowna and other communities means women can get a mammogram closer to home.

The mobile units include a reception area, dressing area and mammography examination room and are equipped with a wheelchair lift.

Women can walk onto the coach and have their screening mammogram performed with state-ofthe-art equipment.

Ann Hansen has been the mobile clinic co-ordinator in West Kelowna since Oct. 2010.

She became involved after hearing West Kelowna would be unable to hold mobile mammography clinics without a local co-ordinator.

“Being a cancer survivor myself, I could not let that happen,” she said.

Three to four times a year, women from Our Lady of Lourdes church volunteer as hostesses , assisting technicians, checking off names and being pleasant greeters.

Jean Buys has been a hostess at almost every clinic.

“We actively encourage young 40-year olds to start getting screened and even offer to accompany them on their Àrst visit,” said Hansen.

The B.C. Cancer Breast Screening website says regular screening can find lumps two to three years before a woman or her doctor can feel them.

Women can reduce their risk of breast cancer mortality by 25 per cent by getting regular screenings as the chances of successful treatment are better when breast cancer is found and treated early.

According to the Canadian Cancer society, breast cancer is the most common cancer among Canadian women, excluding non-melanoma skin cancers, and the second leading cause of death from cancer in Canadian women.

In 2017, more than 26,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer and 5,000 women died from breast cancer.

On average, every day 72 Canadian women were diagnosed with breast cancer and 14 Canadian women died from breast cancer.

The mobile mammography coach will also be at the Peachland Community Centre Thursday and Friday as well as Jan. 14.

Screening mammograms are available to B.C. women 40 years and older. No doctor’s referral is required.

To book your appointment, call 1-800-6639203.

To learn more about breast cancer screening, go online to screeningbc.ca.